Plenty of patient-to-patient ideas are offered throughout this website, but we will mention just a few here for those recently diagnosed to keep in mind.

Comply with your treatments. Studies show that in many cases where treatments “fail” to work, the patient has been lax about adhering to the treatment schedule or following all the procedures set out by the physician. Give yourself the best chance for success by complying with your treatment regimen, and alerting your physician as soon as possible if you are not able to stick to it for any reason.

Keep trying. As we said before, while no treatment seems to work adequately for everyone, the vast majority of people are now able to find a treatment that offers them substantial relief. So if a treatment fails, try something else. And if you lose faith in your dermatologist or rheumatologist, try a different one. Tell your physician your treatment goals. “I just want psoriasis off my face and hands.” “I need the horrible itching to go away.” “I want to be completely clear!” “I want to have as little psoriasis as possible for my wedding.” “I want my psoriatic arthritis controlled so I can wrestle with my children.” “I don’t want to be sad every day anymore.” Be clear about your priorities, as that will help select the appropriate treatment, and allows the physician to be candid with you about your chances to achieve your treatment goals.

Stay moisturized; avoid sunburn; try to limit harsh scratching as much as possible. As varied as psoriasis can be, some “truths” seem universal. These are three of them.

Finally: Don’t lose hope. Seek support from loved ones, and from other people with psoriasis. Brighter days are ahead.