What happens if psoriasis is left untreated?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes red, scaly patches on the skin, often on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back. It can also affect the nails, joints, and eyes. Psoriasis is not contagious, but it can have a significant impact on the quality of life of those who have it.

What happens if psoriasis is left untreated? Psoriasis can lead to various complications, some of which are serious and may require medical attention. Here are some of the possible complications of psoriasis:

Psoriatic arthritis: This is a type of inflammatory arthritis that affects up to 30% of people with psoriasis. It causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints, especially in the fingers, toes, wrists, ankles, and knees. Psoriatic arthritis can damage the joints and lead to disability if left untreated.

Eye problems: Psoriasis can affect the eyes and cause conditions such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, uveitis, and dry eye syndrome. These can cause symptoms such as redness, itching, burning, dryness, and blurred vision. If left untreated, eye problems can lead to vision loss or blindness.

Skin infections: Psoriasis can make the skin more prone to infections, especially if there are cracks or open sores. Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections can worsen psoriasis and cause complications such as cellulitis, impetigo, and herpes zoster.

Cardiovascular diseases: People with psoriasis have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, and stroke. This is because psoriasis is associated with chronic inflammation and metabolic syndrome, which are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Treating psoriasis can help lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Kidney disease: Psoriasis can affect the kidneys and cause chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is a condition where the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste and fluids from the blood. CKD can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, swelling, itching, and muscle cramps. If left untreated, CKD can progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which requires dialysis or kidney transplant.

Depression: Psoriasis can affect the mental health of those who have it and cause depression. Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest. Depression can affect the ability to function in daily life and increase the risk of suicide. Treating psoriasis can help improve the mood and self-esteem of those who have it.

These are some of the possible complications of psoriasis if left untreated. However, psoriasis is a treatable condition and there are various options available to manage it. These include topical creams, oral medications, injections, light therapy, and lifestyle changes.