Busting Psoriasis Treatment Myths: Setting the Record Straight

Psoriasis is a chronic condition, but online scams offering “miracle cures” and fake treatments are everywhere. While these can be tempting, staying informed can help protect you from harmful products and wasted money.

In today’s online world, misinformation and scams are everywhere, often preying on vulnerable communities. For those of us living with psoriasis, the internet is both a blessing and a curse!

There’s an incredible amount of information available within online psoriasis communities. Many can offer valuable advice and support. But they can also foster harmful myths and scams that take advantage of us when we’re seeking relief.

I hope to bring awareness to the different types of misinformation affecting the psoriasis community to help prevent you from falling for these harmful scams.

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Scammers in online psoriasis support communities

One of the more common tactics I’ve seen in my psoriasis advocacy and social media posts involves scammers posting comments — even as fake members of online support communities — encouraging you to contact them for a cure via WhatsApp.

These comments usually promise miraculous results and ask for a transfer of money in exchange for treatment.

The commenters ask you to contact them or a doctor at a WhatsApp number, where you’re pressured into paying for unproven and sometimes dangerous remedies.

When those types of comments are posted, I get incredibly angry because my goal on social media is to spread awareness and positivity. These types of comments do the opposite.

In a recent Facebook post from the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), a person commented and tagged the so-called “Dr. Agbadu Herbal Medicine,” urging people to reach out to the scammer via WhatsApp to buy a “guaranteed cure.”

I’ve also received Facebook comments like this: “Natural remedies do work. If they didn’t, we wouldn’t have used them for thousands of years. Pharmaceutical companies wouldn’t study plants, take extracts, and patent them as drugs. I was totally cured from a deadly disease and neuropathy by Herbalist Osewen. His remedy is surely the best.”

With these types of comments, there’s usually a request to DM them for more information so they can try to sell you a fake cure with unfounded claims.

Dangerous fake cures in ads, blogs, and social media

Another major source of misinformation involves the promotion of fake cures through online ads or blogs.

Over-the-counter (OTC) creams and supplements are frequent culprits. Some of these products are not only ineffective but potentially harmful.

A notorious example is the Chinese Yiganerjing cream that’s been posted and “recommended” all over my social media. It’s often sold without an English label, making it difficult to know exactly what you’re applying to your skin.

The cream has been found to contain powerful steroids that can cause skin thinning and other health issues if used improperly.

Beyond comments and ads, I’ve also received direct messages and emails pushing dangerous products from unregulated online pharmacies, usually based in Mexico or Canada. At first, I tried blocking these messages, but the volume has become so overwhelming that I now bulk delete them every few days.

My social media platforms are also full of claims that psoriasis can be “easily cured” through extreme diets, like the lion diet — a regimen of exclusively eating meat.

A recent comment I’ve seen on the NPF Facebook page stated, “Easily cured on the lion diet. DM for more info.” When you’re desperate for relief, these scammers prey on your hopes to find a sustainable treatment.

Another widespread pseudoscience claim is that drinking celery juice daily will cure psoriasis. I spent some time looking into this because it felt easy to do. But after researching, I found no scientific evidence supporting celery juice as a treatment for psoriasis.

Following this kind of advice can lead you to abandon effective treatments and waste money on unnecessary products.

Victim and hygiene blaming

Misinformation about the causes of psoriasis is equally damaging.

Some scammers or misinformed people claim that psoriasis is caused by poor hygiene or internal mold — a myth that leads to victim-blaming. I often get comments on posts that say, “You have mold in your body.”

Others attribute psoriasis to lifestyle factors like diet, lack of exercise, or stress, ignoring the fact that it’s an autoimmune condition.

Another harmful assumption is that psoriasis flares are triggered because you’re not following your treatment plan properly, like forgetting a dose or using your medication incorrectly. Flares can be caused by more than just forgetting a pill now and then. This applies unnecessary guilt and stress when we’re already juggling so much.

Celebrity clickbait and misleading health claims

Celebrities are often used as clickbait in the health and wellness world, especially when it comes to psoriasis.

Headlines may claim that a celebrity has found the secret to curing psoriasis, but these stories rarely provide any credible information.

For example, Kim Kardashian, who’s been open about her psoriasis journey, once posted about using a tanning bed to manage her symptoms. While tanning beds may offer temporary relief for some people, they can also increase the risk of skin cancer, making this an unsafe and incomplete solution for psoriasis management.

Other headlines, like “Singer LeAnn Rimes, 40, Shows Off Glowing Skin in Bikini Amid Psoriasis Battle: How She Manages Rare Condition,” both spread misinformation and distract people from the reality of living with the condition. Psoriasis is not a rare condition, it affects millions worldwide.

Using clickbait focused on “glowing skin in a bikini” minimizes the challenges faced by those of us with psoriasis, reducing a complex health issue to sensationalized imagery rather than offering meaningful support or accurate information.

Psoriasis is “just a skin thing”

It’s a common misconception that psoriasis is “just a skin thing,” especially among those new to the community.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects not only your skin but also your joints and other organs.

Psoriatic arthritis, for instance, can cause severe joint pain and stiffness, leading to permanent damage if left untreated. Educating people on the complexities of this condition is crucial to combat misinformation and the stigma placed on people living with psoriasis.

Where to find reliable information

So how can you avoid falling into the misinformation trap? The best defense is to arm yourself with knowledge from reputable sources.

The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), Healthline.com, BezzyPsoriasis.com, and the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) all offer reliable, science-backed information.

It’s also important to reach out to healthcare professionals directly such as dermatologists, rheumatologists, and primary care doctors.

Personal medical advice straight from the professionals is key to navigating the overwhelming amount of health-related content on the internet.

Takeaway

The rise of misinformation and scams within the psoriasis community is a concerning trend that impacts not only our physical health but also our mental and financial well-being.

It’s frustrating to constantly be a target for scammers who want to make money.

The promise of miracle cures or simple lifestyle changes that can eliminate psoriasis sounds incredible to us all, but it’s essential to approach these claims with caution. Report scammers, block them where possible, and above all, do your research before trying any new treatment.

Reliable information and professional medical advice remain the best tools for managing this chronic condition effectively.

When I hear about new ideas, I ask my doctor at my next visit to confirm their validity. And often, they’re not valid.

By staying informed and alert, we can fight these harmful myths and scams and focus on managing our psoriasis with evidence-based care.