Left untreated, you may be at a higher risk of developing comorbidities associated with psoriasis. These can include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

You might assume that psoriasis only affects your skin. After all, you see it appear on your skin as scales, plaques, and pustules. But the effects of this condition include more than just your skin.

Other conditions can result, such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA), as well as other comorbidities.

Keep reading to learn more about the importance of treatment, as well as which treatments you may be prescribed

PsA is a disease that affects the joints. It is the most common comorbidity of psoriasis. Symptoms include pain, inflammation, and stiffness in your joints. It affects approximately 1 in 3 people with psoriasis.

Other health conditions — called comorbidities — may arise with psoriasis, such as:

  • cardiovascular disease
  • diabetes
  • cancer
  • hypertension
  • inflammatory bowel disease
  • dyslipidemia
  • metabolic syndrome
  • mental health conditions like depression and anxiety
  • obesity
  • kidney disease
  • liver disease

These wide-ranging health implications require you to manage your psoriasis effectively, which will most likely involve a variety of treatments.

Delaying treatment or ignoring symptoms can worsen your condition. This is especially true if you have psoriatic arthritis, as leaving it untreated can lead toTrusted Source irreversible damage.

When symptoms develop, talk with your doctor. Your doctor will then work with you to create an effective treatment plan.

Treatment plans for moderate to severe psoriasis target many areas of the body.

The newest drugs for psoriasis can even target specific partsTrusted Source of the immune system rather than the entire immune system. This evolution of psoriasis treatment is helping researchers better understand psoriasis.

It’s now recommended that doctors approach psoriasis treatment at many levels. Doctors should look at a variety of factors when managing psoriasis, including:

  • screening for comorbidities
  • screening for PsA
  • screening for current medications you take
  • screening for triggers, such as stress, infections, obesity, and smoking
  • using a combination of treatment methods

This treatment approach reflects how complicated psoriasis is and how many factors lie beyond your skin.

Combination therapy is typical for psoriasis. This approach incorporates a variety of treatment methods to manage your psoriasis. Your doctor may use several approaches, such as:

  • topical treatments
  • oral medications
  • light therapy
  • biologic therapy

Some believe complementary and alternative therapiesTrusted Source can help psoriasis. Some of these options lack scientific backing. Methods thought to improve psoriasis include:

  • maintaining a nutritious diet
  • exercising regularly
  • using stress-reduction techniques
  • adding dietary supplements

Talk with your doctor before trying complementary therapies, as they may impact your management plan.

Your doctor may decide that your mild psoriasis only needs first-line treatments. Several options exist.

You may start with an over-the-counter topical like:

A prescription topical may be better for your psoriasis. Prescription topicals have a higher concentration of active ingredients. Some contain steroids.

Light therapy can be administered at your doctor’s office or even at your house with the right equipment. Ultraviolet light therapy can improve psoriasis, but it should be done with guidance from your doctor.

Mild psoriasis still requires careful monitoring by you and your doctor. Schedule regular appointments to review your treatment plan.

More widespread psoriasis will require medications that treat the immune system and other parts of the body to prevent the condition from getting worse or causing other health issues.

Systemic medications are commonly used for people with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Some systemic medications have been available for decades. You can take them orally, through an injection, or intravenously. They target your entire body and modify your immune system.

Biologics are the most recent treatment developed for psoriasis. They are made from living cells and target specific parts of your immune system, like T cells and proteins known to trigger psoriasis. These drugs are administered via injection or intravenously.

It’s imperative that your doctor consider many factors when treating psoriasis. On the surface, it seems like just a skin condition. But there can be more serious implications if you don’t treat it.

Unmanaged or undermanaged psoriasis can lead to the condition getting worse. It can also lead to the development or worsening of PsA and other comorbidities.

Here are ways you can manage your psoriasis:

  • Make sure your doctor creates a management plan that works for you.
  • Follow the treatment plan.
  • Update your doctor frequently on how the treatments work and suggest modifying them if needed.
  • Contact your doctor when you experience a psoriasis flare.