The Connections of Psoriatic Disease: What Does Remission Look Like?

Our community and dedicated community members here at Psoriatic-Arthritis.com and our sister site PlaquePsoriasis.com help us understand the deep and painful connections of psoriatic disease. In addition to engagement within our forums, stories, and comments, we gain valued insight from our annual In America Survey, which surveys real people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

We do not take this responsibility lightly. Our top priorities have been to reshare information we have learned back to the community to provide emotional support, important resources, and that right kind of reassuring validation.

Remission looks different for everyone.

Along with social listening and official survey results, we are eager to share some of the connections and disconnections we have found across the psoriatic communities. So much, in fact, that we have created a few articles. We have covered the topic of progression and have taken a look at the connection of psoriatic flares. In this article, we will be focusing on the painful reality of remission and all that comes with it.

For some people, psoriasis remission means your skin will clear almost entirely. With psoriatic arthritis, it depends on severity. Some people may have a very mild form of PsA and get it under control relatively quickly, whereas others may have very severe disease and have to try several medicines and combinations of medicines to find relief.

If it feels unreachable, that is because it is

There are no clear criteria for defining remission, and symptoms may not disappear for everyone. For some people, symptoms may subside enough to no longer be bothersome. This may still be classified as remission depending on your experience and history with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Only a small glimpse of relief

Psoriatic disease is unpredictable, and remission has no timeline. Sometimes, remission can be lengthy. You may not experience symptoms for months or even years. Remission can also be short-lived. You may start experiencing symptoms again within a few weeks of them disappearing.

What else does the community have to say?

Sometimes, PsA remission never happens. It seems to be the way of the psoriatic world. We asked our Facebook community, "When pain isn’t as significant and when my skin feels healthy. What does remission look like for you?" Here are a few of their responses:

"For me, remission is significantly less pain, no swelling, and less fatigue."
"I’ve never been in remission from this pain. Does it really happen!?"
"Minimal itching & my legs are clear enough to be able to shave them."

Learn more about PsA remission

Direct from PsA advocates, let us take a look at the reality and their thoughts around remission. Elizabeth shares that why remission may be possible, relapse can come just as easy. And what about remission guilt and the fear of the next potential flare? Holland shares some of her biggest remission fears.

Diane blatantly addresses the painful elephant in the room "What does remission even look like?"

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