When it comes to psoriasis, sometimes people say things out of love, and sometimes they are just being rude. Regardless of the intent, they are usually misinformed about the condition. Here are the nine most inaccurate statements I’ve heard about psoriasis, as well as some facts to back up the truth.
Psoriasis is only dry skin
This is the most frequent inaccurate statement I hear from those around me unfamiliar with psoriasis. The truth is that psoriasis goes much deeper than the skin. It’s caused by an overreactive response by the immune system which affects the skin. As with all autoimmune diseases, psoriasis involves different biological systems, affecting the whole body in a challenging way, and is often linked to other diseases.
Psoriasis is a cosmetic issue
Merriam-Webster describes the term cosmeticas “visually appealing,” “done for the sake of appearance,” or “correcting defects.” Although psoriasis is a very visible issue, it’s not cosmetic. Psoriasis can increase the risk for other health conditions, such as depression, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis. It is much more than a cosmetic issue.
To read more on the 7 other crazy comments, check out my article for HealthCentral.com
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