living with psoriasis: the risks of letting self-consciousness about symptoms impede treatment
after suffering for years with psoriasis, singer/songwriter daryl scott advises anyone with the skin condition to talk openly to their physician about symptoms no matter where they appear
4 minute read
“having open conversations with your doctor is important — fighting embarrassment starts at the doctor’s office,” says daryl scott, seen here with his dermatologist, dr. melinda gooderham. photo: nick kozak
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this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
as a professional musician, daryl scott is used to performing in front of large crowds. yet, due to a skin condition that can appear in raised, red or purplish patches, the award-winning guitarist and songwriter has struggled with anxiety and extreme self-consciousness over his appearance. scott, like an estimated one million canadians, lives with psoriasis, an autoimmune disease in which certain infection-fighting cells go into overdrive. it affects women and men equally, yet we tend to hear less about the struggles in men. with a public-facing career, scott has always been hyper-aware of his symptoms. “i’ve been on stage when you can see the red blotches,” he says, “and you’re sweating, and itching, all while trying to entertain the crowd.”
at summer music festivals, with audiences close to the stage, scott says he would immediately start thinking about his skin. “all of a sudden, in the middle of a set, i’d think, maybe i’ll just keep my shirt on — sometimes even a long-sleeved shirt — no matter how hot it is,” he recalls.
scott understands why people hold back during doctor visits, especially when the psoriasis is in delicate skin-on-skin regions (such as the groin, genitals, buttocks and armpit) from sharing with their health-care providers those affected areas. “if someone already feels very awkward, i can see how, if it shows up in unmentionable places, they might feel their dignity or manhood was affected,” he says.
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scott’s sentiments are reflected in a recent canadian survey, which revealed that embarrassment is the no. 1 reason preventing patients with psoriasis with skin-on-skin contact — known as intertriginous psoriasis — from showing their health-care provider all areas of their body affected by the condition.
a significant number of canadians are living with poorly controlled symptoms of the disease.
“at least a third of people living with psoriasis have difficult-to-treat areas and patients don’t like to talk about it,” says dr. melinda gooderham, a dermatologist and principal investigator at the skin research centre in peterborough.
topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of psoriasis treatment, dr. gooderham points out that regimens can get complicated. “one of the issues is that a steroid cream that’s strong enough for your elbows, for example, can’t be used on your face and groin,” she explains. similarly, a topical treatment that’s mild enough for the face may not be effective on psoriasis on the elbows or knees. as a result, “some patients end up with two or three different prescriptions and some patients just give up and end up living with the symptoms,” dr. gooderham says.
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one of the many challenges of treating psoriasis is finding the right regimen for the individual patient. the survey of more than 500 canadians showed that more than half the participants would prefer topical treatments to any other type of treatment and on average, patients are using two types of topical treatment, with a small number reporting using as many as 10. those who have already tried topical treatments for their psoriasis and are looking for more effective and more convenient topical treatment options.
“until now there has been a gap,” says dr. gooderham who is actively involved in clinical research and believes patients should have the opportunity to live a better quality of life. “we are starting to see the emergence of a new era for patients with topical advances that reflect what they want. options that are steroid-free offer the possibility for better skin clearance and relief from the symptoms of psoriasis that are not irritating or messy to apply and can be used anywhere on the body.”
when control of scott’s psoriasis symptoms started to relapse due to his schedule, dr. gooderham, his dermatologist, enrolled him in a clinical trial she was involved in, and had him on a newer-generation, non-steroidal cream.
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“thanks to our open relationship, she knew all about how much time i spent on the road and around people. it was a great match,” scott says. “i started to get really good results.”
scott urges anyone who’s bothered by psoriasis symptoms not to let embarrassment keep them from seeing their doctor. “there’s no reason to suffer in silence. your doctor genuinely wants to help you,” he says. “the more your doctors know about your condition, the better informed they are to help you find a solution,” he stresses.
dr. gooderham encourages people living with psoriasis to ensure their primary-care provider is aware of all areas of the body impacted by symptoms. “there are always treatment advances that bring innovation for patients,” she says. “if it’s been a while since you’ve seen a health-care provider about your psoriasis, it’s time to go back, because there are options.”
all treatment options have benefits and risks that vary by individual. patients should consult their health-care provider to determine the most appropriate option.
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a research-based pharmaceutical company.
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