Can psoriasis make you feel sick?

Psoriasis and sickness:

Usually with psoriasis, we expect patches of dry skin that develop scales. A lot of it has to do with our primary layer of defense. But can psoriasis make you feel sick? Depends on the type of psoriasis you have. Some only show up as patches from time to time, some show up once and never show up again and some will produce sickness in your body.

Psoriasis is a disease related to your immune system. Your immune system starts working against the healthy cells within your body and this results in rapid skin cell growth. Since the immune system is compromised, or rather busy doing what it shouldn’t be doing, it is easy for your body to not only feel sick from psoriasis but also catch other diseases easily as well. All of this is because of the heightened vulnerability of the body. Let’s look at different types of psoriasis and what they do to our body.

Types of psoriasis and their effects

Plaque psoriasis:

This is the most common type of psoriasis that occurs. About 80% to 90% of people who develop psoriasis, have this type. Some of the symptoms are patches of raised dry skin, scales and smaller patches joining together to form larger ones. Itchiness and inflammation is part of the process.

Guttate psoriasis:

Tiny bumps appear on the body that cover the torso, legs and arms. These bumps are scaly and small, pink in colour and are temporary which means they will clear in a few weeks. When guttate psoriasis clears, it never returns. And it usually affects children and young adults.

Pustular psoriasis:

This type of psoriasis causes the formation of bumps filled with pus. They usually form on the hands and feet. The skin may appear to be infected, but it is not as there is no bacteria residing inside. These bumps are just pus filled. This is a rare type of psoriasis which is life threatening. Anyone with pustular psoriasis feels very sick and may develop fever, muscle weakness and fever. This is a very serious condition and requires immediate medical assistance.

As we can see, not all psoriasis cause sickness. But the one that does, is very harmful and life threatening. It can cause your body to swell up with pus bumps that burst open and cause pus leakage. Headache and fever are common symptoms along with depression and muscle ache.

Remedies:

To help alleviate fever, you will need a lot of rest and keep yourself hydrated. Certain over-the-counter medication can also help like ibuprofen, but it is advised that you have a word with your doctor before trying any drug. Resting can also help muscles heal and headaches can be helped by increasing the amount of water and reducing the intake of alcohol in your body. Getting adequate sleep and using essential oils to soothe and rest your body can also help with headaches.

Psoriasis can make you feel sick and treating it is very important. Pustular psoriasis is no joke, and if you have it, it requires immediate medical care.

Relevant article:

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/what/symptoms