Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsImmune ResponseTriggersFlare-UpsRemissionTreatmentsComplicationsPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Immune Response
Triggers
Flare-Ups
Remission
Treatments
Complications
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Psoriasisis a lifelong skin condition that never goes away. Though it typically cycles between periods of worseningsymptoms(flares) and improvement (remission), the underlying disease process is always there and prone to triggering.
This article discusses how long psoriasis flare-ups and periods of remission can last. It also explains psoriasis triggers, treatments that can help reducesigns and symptoms, and what can happen if the condition is not managed.
Dave Bolton / Getty Images
Why Psoriasis Is Not Curable
Psoriasis is anautoimmune diseasewhere the immune system attacks healthy skin tissue. Treatments can help regulate your overactive immune system response, but they cannot permanently correct it.
Some people think remission means that psoriasis is cured, but psoriasis remission often means skin will clear almost completely.In some, symptoms may be drastically reduced, but not gone entirely.
Regardless, skin plaques will return with time.
Does Manuka Honey Help Psoriasis?
What Triggers Psoriasis?
People with psoriasis often have periods when their skin symptoms worsen. Flare-ups, or flares, are often the result of specific triggers. Common psoriasis triggers include:
How Long Does a Psoriasis Flare Last?
Psoriasis plaques frequently appear on the scalp, low back, knees, skin folds (armpits, under the breasts, groin, etc.), and genitals.
Additional symptoms of a psoriasis flare include:
Prompt treatment for psoriasis flare-ups can help people achieve remission or reduce symptoms to manageable levels.
What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints and entheses—the areas where tendons and ligaments connect to bone. Up to 30% of people with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis.
What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints and entheses—the areas where tendons and ligaments connect to bone. Up to 30% of people with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis.
Plaque Psoriasis: Pictures and Symptoms of the Types You May See on Your Body
How Long Does Psoriasis Remission Last?
With treatment, psoriasis can go into remission for months or years.On average, remission of psoriasis symptoms lasts from one to 12 months.
For some people, symptoms may not disappear entirely, but subside to the point that they are no longer troublesome. This is called “almost complete skin clearance,” and people in this group might be classified as being in remission.
Most people achieve remission when treatment has successfully isolated the part of the immune system thatcauses psoriasis. With the proper treatment, many enter remission and experience no visible symptoms for some time. But remission is never permanent, and signs are likely to return.
While rare, some people may experience spontaneous remission from psoriasis.This means that psoriasis has cleared without treatment. In these cases, the immune system has likely turned off its attacks on the body.
How Is Psoriasis Treated?
Psoriasis treatment options include topical medicines, phototherapy, systemic medicines, biologic drug therapies, and corticosteroids.
Topical Psoriasis Treatments
Topical medicinesare medicines applied to the skin. Topical treatments for mild to moderate psoriasis include:
Phototherapy
Systemic Drug Therapy
Psoriatic Disease Drugs in the Pipeline
Biologics
Biologic medicinestarget specific parts of the immune system to treat psoriasis. They are described in terms of what they target, such as anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or inhibitors of interleukin (IL)-12, (IL)-23, or (IL)-17.Examples of biologics prescribed to treat psoriasis include:
Orencia(abatacept) is a biologic drug that’s FDA-approved for use in treating psoriatic arthritis.
At-Home Treatments
Lifestyle changes can also help manage symptoms of psoriasis. Changes might include eating a healthy, balanced diet and avoiding triggers like stress, cold weather, and smoking.
Home remedies like aloe vera andoatmeal bathscan help reduce redness and itching. Moisturizers can treat dry skin.
What Happens If You Stop Treating Psoriasis?
If a person stops treating psoriasis, it is possible it willprogressand worsen with time. Psoriasis inflammation can also progress, which increases your risk for complications that affect the rest of the body.
Untreated moderate-to-severe psoriasis can develop into psoriatic arthritis. PsA can be painful and disabling, and people with both conditions have a more significantly impacted quality of life.
Additional complications of untreated psoriasis include an increased risk for:
Psoriasis and Inflammation
How to Prevent Psoriasis From Returning
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to managing psoriasis. If you are lucky enough to experience remission, you can take steps to keep your skin healthy and clear. Try the following strategies:
If Psoriasis Strikes AgainIf psoriasis returns, the best course of action is to treat it right away. You have many options for treatment, and new medication options are becoming rapidly available. Try different things to figure out what best keeps symptoms at bay and to prevent psoriasis skin plaques from worsening or returning.
If Psoriasis Strikes Again
If psoriasis returns, the best course of action is to treat it right away. You have many options for treatment, and new medication options are becoming rapidly available. Try different things to figure out what best keeps symptoms at bay and to prevent psoriasis skin plaques from worsening or returning.
Summary
Psoriasis flare-ups can last a few weeks or months. Prompt treatment can help the skin to clear up faster. Remission commonly lasts between one month and one year. This may involve complete or only partial reduction of symptoms.
Frequently Asked QuestionsPsoriasis needs treatment. It rarely goes into remission without it. Even if it does, symptoms are very likely to return at some point.There is no quick solution for psoriasis, but topical treatments can help manage symptoms. Medication can help reduce the length of a flare-up and slow down the immune system’s inflammatory response.Psoriasis can’t be passed from person to person, but it spreads on one’s own skin because of an internal immune system response. Medications like methotrexate and biologic drugs may slow down that process.
Psoriasis needs treatment. It rarely goes into remission without it. Even if it does, symptoms are very likely to return at some point.
There is no quick solution for psoriasis, but topical treatments can help manage symptoms. Medication can help reduce the length of a flare-up and slow down the immune system’s inflammatory response.
Psoriasis can’t be passed from person to person, but it spreads on one’s own skin because of an internal immune system response. Medications like methotrexate and biologic drugs may slow down that process.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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