How to Relieve Pain From Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

Living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis can be difficult and painful, both physically and emotionally. Flare-ups can be unpredictable and interfere with your daily activities, such as work, school and socializing. In addition to the physical symptoms, you might experience feelings of embarrassment or low self-esteem due to the appearance of your skin.

While there’s currently no cure for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, there are several treatment options available that can help manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. These treatments may include topical creams and oral medications. Continue reading to learn more about how to relieve pain from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

Treating Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes thick, scaly plaques on the skin. There is no cure for psoriasis, but treatments may help manage symptoms. The type of treatment recommended will depend on the severity of your symptoms and other factors, such as your overall condition.

If you’re living with plaque psoriasis, you’ll want to work closely with your healthcare provider to find the best treatment plan for your symptoms. Your healthcare provider can help create a personalized plan based on your treatment goals and preferences.

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes are non-medication options that may help relieve pain and other symptoms. Here are some tips:

• Maintain a Balanced Diet: Eating a healthy, balanced diet may help reduce psoriasis flares. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains while avoiding processed foods, sugary drinks and saturated fats may help manage psoriasis symptoms.
• Exercise Regularly: Exercise can support overall health and may also help reduce psoriasis symptoms. Regular physical activity may help reduce inflammation, improve joint flexibility and boost mood. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking or cycling, most days of the week. If you experience pain while exercising, consult your healthcare provider first.
• Limit Alcohol Consumption: Drinking alcohol may trigger psoriasis flares and make symptoms worse. Limiting alcohol consumption or avoiding it altogether may help manage psoriasis symptoms.
• Quit Smoking: Smoking may also make psoriasis symptoms worse and increase the risk of developing other health problems. Quitting smoking may help reduce psoriasis flares and improve overall health.
• Reduce Stress: Stress may trigger psoriasis flares, so finding ways to manage stress may be helpful. Some effective stress-management techniques include meditation, deep breathing and yoga.

If you’re experiencing moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, making healthy lifestyle changes may help manage your symptoms. However, if you find that you’re still experiencing symptoms that affect your daily life, you may want to speak with a healthcare provider who may recommend medications.

Medications

There are various medications available to treat pain and other symptoms of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. These medications can be used alone or in combination with other therapies. Consult a healthcare professional to guide you on the most appropriate medication for your condition.

Some examples of medications for plaque psoriasis include:

• Topical corticosteroids: These are commonly used as a first-line treatment for plaque psoriasis. They work by reducing inflammation and slowing down the growth of skin cells. Examples of topical corticosteroids include Kenalog® (triamcinolone), Alphatrex® (betamethasone) and Ultravate® (halobetasol).
• Vitamin D analogs: These are synthetic versions of vitamin D that help to slow down the growth of skin cells. They are often used when other topical treatments have failed. Examples of vitamin D analogs include Dovonex® (calcipotriene) and Taclonex® (calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate).
• Retinoids: These medications are derived from vitamin A and work to slow down skin cell growth and reduce inflammation. They are often used in combination with other therapies. A commonly used topical retinoid for plaque psoriasis is Tazorac® (tazarotene).
• Biologics: These medications target specific parts of the immune system involved in the development of psoriasis. Biologics are typically reserved for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis that has not responded to other therapies. Examples of biologics include Humira® (adalimumab), Enbrel® (etanercept) and Stelara® (ustekinumab).

Consult a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment. Some medications may not be appropriate for certain people, such as pregnant women or people with certain medical conditions.

Recognize Your Triggers

If you have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, you may often experience flare-ups triggered by certain things. Knowing what triggers your psoriasis may help you manage your condition better.

Some common triggers of plaque psoriasis include:

• Stress: Emotional stress can trigger psoriasis flare-ups or make existing symptoms worse.
• Infections: Certain infections, such as strep throat, may trigger psoriasis symptoms.
• Medications: Some medications, such as lithium, beta-blockers and antimalarials, can cause psoriasis symptoms.
• Injury to the skin: Any injury to the skin, such as a cut, scrape or bug bite, may trigger psoriasis symptoms in that area.
• Weather conditions: Cold and dry weather can cause psoriasis symptoms to worsen.
• Smoking and alcohol: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can trigger psoriasis symptoms.

You may want to keep a record of your psoriasis symptoms and the triggers that may have caused them. That way, you can identify certain patterns and avoid triggers that worsen your symptoms. Your healthcare provider can also help develop a treatment plan that identifies and prevents specific triggers.

Inside Rx Is Here to Help

Inside Rx is a program that offers discounts on prescription medications to help individuals save money on their healthcare costs. This program is available to everyone, regardless of insurance status or income level. Inside Rx offers discounts on a wide range of medications, including those used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

The Inside Rx savings card can be used at nearly 60,000 participating pharmacies across the United States. With this card, you can save up to 80% on both brand and generic prescription medications. The card is easy to use and can be downloaded instantly, printed out or even downloaded as a mobile app to show at the pharmacy.