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Staying Well with Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

Smart self-care tips and lifestyle habits can also help ease your symptoms and improve your overall health.

A senior woman talks to her doctor about a plan for managing psoriatic arthritis

What's the most important way to stay well with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis? It's setting up a treatment plan with your doctor, sticking to it and letting your doctor know if it's working.

But don't stop there. Get personalized advice for managing psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis with our award-winning mobile and web app, AskMD.

Smart self-care tips and lifestyle habits can also help ease your symptoms and improve your overall health. Your doctor can offer advice about what may work best for your condition.

You may want to ask your doctor:

  • How can I protect and soothe my skin at home? When bathing? When it's hot? When it's cold?
  • Which lifestyle changes are most likely to help my symptoms?
  • Are there any triggers I should avoid to help my symptoms?
  • How can I get help for managing stress, depression, losing weight or quitting smoking?
  • Will avoiding alcohol help my symptoms?
  • What can I do to ease fatigue and boost my energy level?
  • What kinds of exercise are safe for my joints?
  • What can I do to take stress off my joints and make daily activities easier?
  • Which vaccinations should I get?
  • If I have psoriasis, what should I know about my risk for psoriatic arthritis and other health problems (such as heart disease and skin cancer)?
  • If I have psoriatic arthritis, what should I know about my risk for other health problems (such as eye or heart problems)?
  • What else can I do to stay as well as possible?

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Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: Getting Started

If you're living with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, you know the effects aren't just physical. Not only do skin and joint symptoms hurt and itch, but they also take a toll on your emotions and social life and stop you from doing the things you enjoy. Relationships, goals, dreams, your stress level and your overall health can suffer.

While there's no cure for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, the right treatment can ease symptoms and help prevent flare-ups. It can also do wonders for your quality of life. And if you have psoriatic arthritis, starting treatment as early as possible can prevent lasting joint damage.

Use this guide to start a life-changing conversation with your doctor about the care you need—so you can get back to living.