Psoriasis patients worry about being stigmatized.

Family life became increasingly difficult, and conflicts intensified. Her husband constantly criticized her, her in-laws were unsympathetic, and she became withdrawn and decided to return to Hanoi and enroll in a different course of study.

The patient was afraid to share her story with her family, only using the excuse of going to school to return to Hanoi. Her symptoms of depression gradually became more apparent and were discovered by her family when they came to visit. She preferred to lie alone, avoided social interaction, and was afraid of light and noise.

Because of this psychological state, she was also reluctant to see a doctor and did not adhere to treatment, so her psoriasis worsened. Furthermore, her husband did not contact her or show any concern.

Her psychological problems also worsened. Despite being taken by her family for examination and treatment, her improvement was limited. When she was admitted to the hospital, what struck us was a rather pretty, attractive girl, but she looked lifeless, listless, and devoid of vitality, with widespread psoriasis lesions covering almost her entire body.

In addition to treating psoriasis, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tuyen, from the Department of Skin Diseases in Women and Children at the Central Dermatology Hospital, coordinated with relevant agencies to arrange for her to see a mental health specialist, where she was diagnosed with schizophrenia – a severe and difficult-to-manage condition.

Psoriasis is a benign, fairly common, non-contagious, but chronic disease. However, its impact on patients is often more severe than other chronic diseases because of the visible lesions on the skin. This causes significant psychological effects.

This impact stems not only from the physical damage caused by the disease but also from the stigma and lack of understanding from those around them.

Therefore, people with psoriasis are prone to problems such as feelings of shame, lack of confidence, reduced self-esteem, low self-worth, sometimes social isolation, discrimination, reduced opportunities in work and social interaction, difficulties in daily life... and in many severe cases, it can even cause depression and suicidal thoughts.

Furthermore, these psychological issues can worsen psoriasis, making the disease more difficult to control and creating a vicious cycle that leads to increasing depression in patients.

The story we mentioned above is a typical example of this problem; if those around her had offered support, encouragement, and companionship, perhaps the young woman's situation wouldn't be as dire as it is now.

With psoriasis, there are now many new treatment methods that can achieve over 90% or even complete lesion clearance. However, equally important are understanding, fair treatment, and non-discrimination from society, and especially the support of loved ones.

According to experts, psoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy, scaly patches of rash, primarily on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp. 2% to 3% of the population suffers from psoriasis. Psoriasis was first described by the brilliant Roman scientist Aurelius Cornelius Celsus.

Psoriasis occurs when skin cells are replaced faster than normal. Normally, skin cells are created and replaced every 3-4 weeks, but this process only takes about 3-7 days in psoriasis patients. This causes the body to increase the production of skin cells, leading to an accumulation of skin cells that create flaky, rough patches covered in scales.

Scientists have noted that people with psoriasis experience a disorder of the immune system. The immune system, the body's defense mechanism against disease and infection, mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells in people with psoriasis.

Psoriasis can run in families. Approximately one-third of people with psoriasis report a family history of the condition. Studies of identical twins show a 70% chance that one twin will develop the disease if the other has the disorder; this rate is 20% in non-identical twins. These findings suggest both genetic susceptibility and environmental responses in developing psoriasis.

In addition, other factors such as skin injuries, throat infections, and the use of certain medications can also cause the disease.

Psoriasis is a common disease, but it is difficult to treat. The condition can cause pain, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating. It tends to go through cycles, flaring up for weeks to months, then subsiding for a period of time.

With the development of science and technology, many new drugs have been discovered and applied in treatment to reduce the discomfort and complications caused by the disease; however, the high cost of these drugs means that many patients cannot afford treatment with these new medications.

Psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of psoriatic arthritis, lymphoma, cardiovascular disease, Crohn's disease, and depression. Psoriatic arthritis alone affects 30% of people with the disease.

Young people with psoriasis may also have an increased risk of developing diabetes.

People with psoriasis have a 1.58 times (58%) higher rate of hypertension compared to those without the condition.

Psoriasis remains a chronic disease requiring long-term medication. It lasts a lifetime for sufferers. However, due to the scaly appearance of the skin, patients often feel self-conscious and insecure, leading many to abandon treatment, resulting in severe flare-ups, complications, and a significant impact on their quality of life.

For those who are not yet sick, it may be necessary to strengthen their immune system and limit infections and injuries to avoid affecting their immunity.

For individuals in high-risk groups, such as those with a family history of the disease, screening and early detection are crucial for prompt treatment and preventing the disease from becoming more severe.

For those who have already been diagnosed, there is no need to panic or worry. Instead, it is important to consult with a dermatologist or skin care specialist to discuss treatment options and ways to prevent complications and the disease from progressing to a more severe stage.

Patients should take medication as directed by their doctor, avoid sunlight, maintain good skin hygiene, refrain from alcohol and smoking, limit consumption of fatty and oily foods, and increase their intake of foods containing folic acid and omega-3 fatty acids from fish such as mackerel and salmon.

People with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis need a diet supplemented with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), such as salmon, herring, mackerel, extra virgin olive oil, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.

Many patients improved after consuming less tobacco, caffeine, sugar, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, chili powder, and white potatoes, but also taking probiotics and vitamin D.

When adopting a gluten-free diet, the severity of the disease is often reduced in people with celiac disease and those with anti-gliadin antibodies. Patients need to avoid high-calorie foods, alcohol, red meat, and dairy products due to their saturated fat content.