The Emotional Impact of Psoriasis

Psoriasis has a physical impact on the skin, but it also affects people's feelings, behaviors and experiences. The National Psoriasis Foundation is here to help with services, advocacy and information.
It is important to recognize and acknowledge the social effects of psoriasis in order to cope with the disease. Not all people react the same way toward psoriasis. Very little is known about why this is the case. Some people may be able to handle the emotional and social aspects of having psoriasis, while others struggle with these issues.
Psoriasis marks people as different because the skin looks different from other people's skin. Some people may react with insensitivity and ignorance to people with psoriasis because they don't know what it is; it is something they're not used to seeing, or they are afraid they may "catch" it.
There are many ways to cope with these reactions, and to prevent psoriasis—and reactions to it—from affecting an individual's self-esteem.