My Life With PsA: Revenge Of The Psoriatic Rash

I was diagnosed with both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis over 20 years ago. Since that diagnosis, I have been lucky to never experience psoriasis on my face. Well, never say never.

Just a few days before Thanksgiving, I felt and noticed a burning sensation on the side of my nose. We were at Disneyland, and it was dark. I tried taking a photo, but shadows hid what I was trying to see. It was upon touching it that I knew exactly what it was, psoriasis.

Upon arriving home, I discovered that my nose wasn’t the only area. I had plaques on my chin, cheeks, temples, and forehead.

Psoriasis & psoriatic arthritis

Psoriasis first entered my life with a bang! In less than a week, a small but angry rash spread over my entire body. Except for my face, there wasn’t a clear area on my body. After applying a medicated cream for a few weeks, it all disappeared.

Throughout my life with psoriatic disease, I have suffered psoriasis outbreaks, but nothing like its onset. It mostly appeared on my spine for the first ten years, mainly near the areas where my PsA is the worst.

It began venturing out during the second ten. Arms, legs, scalp, and abdomen all became hot spots for plaque psoriasis. And if that wasn’t enough, inverse psoriasis began breaking out under my breasts.

Revenge of the psoriasis plaque

The timing of this flare would almost be humorous if it weren’t on my face! The day that I noticed the flare-up on my face was when the severity of my endometriosis flare decreased a notch! A week later, my endo pain has remained lower, and my face has yet to clear.

I won’t say that I am not vain. I may say that I do not care if people see my plaques, but I do not want them on my face. With that being said, if this is the price I have to pay to have relief from the other flare, I will deal with it.

However, as those who also have psoriasis understand too well, it is more than a rash. It creates pain and problems inside and outside the body.

The unpredictability of psoriatic arthritis

The unpredictability is the part I hate about having multiple chronic conditions. One finally behaves, and then one or all of the others start vying for my attention! There is no break, just a vicious cycle of torment.

It would be easier if the cycles didn’t vary. Can you imagine knowing the severity and duration of each flare? Instead, every flare and day is a surprise. I try to roll with the punches, but I cannot help getting knocked down now and then.

As for this latest punch, I am still standing (figuratively speaking, that is). A psoriasis flare on my face is not going to stop me from leaving the house. It is not going to dictate what I can or cannot physically do. What it has done is added to my list of areas that need extra attention and treatment.

One in three people with psoriasis also has psoriatic arthritis. Are you one of them?