{"id":121519,"date":"2023-08-14T22:43:12","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T02:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=121519"},"modified":"2023-08-14T22:43:12","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T02:43:12","slug":"more-than-mere-itching-psoriasis-can-hurt-self-esteem-life-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=121519","title":{"rendered":"More than Mere Itching: Psoriasis Can Hurt Self-Esteem, Life Quality"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Capital Blue Cross \u2013 \u00a0THINK<\/a>\u00a0(Trusted Health Information, News, and Knowledge) is a community publication of Capital Blue Cross. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and news on the latest health and insurance issues.<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n

Psoriasis varies widely in severity, from an ongoing inconvenience to a debilitating condition that can limit activity, harm self-esteem, lower a person\u2019s quality of life, even impact job performance. But a range of treatments are available to help.<\/div>\n
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For some, psoriasis is little more than mildly irritating, persistent itching.<\/p>\n

For others, like Glenn Speer of New York City, the chronic skin condition can bring excruciating, even debilitating, pain that can significantly limit activity and lessen life quality.<\/p>\n

Psoriasis often manifests as red, scaly patches (called plaques) on the knees, elbows, trunk, back, and scalp.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt itches, bleeds, and sheds,\u201d Speer told Everyday Health in a 2021 feature story. \u201cIt\u2019s very uncomfortable and painful \u2026 it was so overwhelming at times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now in his late 60s, Speer first suffered his symptoms in his late 20s and was diagnosed at 30. At its worst point, Speer\u2019s psoriasis plaques covered 75% of his skin surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was hard for me to do the things I liked to do because I was in tremendous pain,\u201d he told Everyday Health.<\/p>\n

A Too-Common Affliction<\/b><\/p>\n

Approximately 7.5 million people in the Unites States suffer from psoriasis, reports the American Academy of Dermatology. While it primarily strikes white adults, it can afflict all ages and races, and recent research suggests people of color are more susceptible than previously believed.<\/p>\n

Dr. Denise Harr, Capital Blue Cross senior medical director, says psoriasis occurs when a problem with the immune system causes white blood cells to attack the body\u2019s skin cells, creating inflammation and areas of thick, flaky skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cPsoriasis normally continues for life,\u201d Dr. Harr said. \u201cIn the worst cases, it can interfere with sleep, cause embarrassment, and even lower self-esteem due to its effect on some people\u2019s outward appearance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speer can relate.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously it\u2019s depressing not to be able to function the way you\u2019d like to,\u201d Speer said. \u201cYou feel you\u2019re out of sync with the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tough to Work with<\/b><\/p>\n

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), psoriasis can sometimes hurt work performance by harming self-image and limiting certain physical activities. One study published by the NIH estimated that psoriasis costs $11.2 billion annually in lost productivity, and that it costs the U.S. economy $35.2 billon a year overall.<\/p>\n

Speer, a freelance editor and fact-checker, said his severe psoriasis prevented him from typing at times.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich is a drawback in journalism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Critical to containing psoriasis\u2019 costs and symptoms is health insurance that covers treatments. Capital Blue Cross, for instance, covers a variety of psoriasis medications and therapies for many group employer and individual plans that choose Capital\u2019s pharmacy benefits. Specific coverage through Capital\u2019s drug benefits depends on the plan.<\/p>\n

Less Pain, More Activity<\/b><\/p>\n

For Speer, 21st Century improvements in psoriasis treatment have translated to less pain and more activity later in life. Two decades of properly tweaked and fine-tuned medications have reduced his psoriasis plaques to near zero, and when he was 56 he joined his first noncompetitive softball league.<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil a couple of years ago,\u201d he told Everyday Health, \u201cI never thought I\u2019d be able to do something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Small patches and pains still pop up now and again, but Speer counts his blessings, not his flare-ups.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompared to what I had, I can\u2019t complain,\u201d he said. \u201cI went from 75 to 1 percent covered (with psoriasis plaques). That\u2019s a miracle.\u201d<\/p>\n

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You can find more useful articles at https:\/\/thinkcapitalbluecross.com\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Information provided to TVL by:
\nJERRY REIMENSCHNEIDER
\nSenior Public Relations Specialist | Brand & Market Strategy
\nhttps:\/\/www.capbluecross.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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