Sex and Intimacy Sex and Intimacy With Genital Psoriasis Not surprisingly, genital psoriasis can complicate your sex life . Indeed, research has found that people with psoriasis (anywhere on the body) have physical and psychological comorbidities associated with a higher risk of sexual dysfunction and that psoriasis itself may play a role in its development.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a0f6d91c-3fe7-465a-bf01-b85b543d7d47 If genital psoriasis is causing issues with intimacy, “sometimes it helps for a patient and their partner to come to a doctor visit together,” Ellis says. One important thing to share with a partner: Genital psoriasis is not contagious. More tips to make sex easier:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299c1b7ac3-a5e9-4939-8eb5-bb98c621856e Avoid sex when the genital area is inflamed or raw. Use topical medication in genital areas only as directed by your doctor. Don’t try to speed healing by using more. Keep your genital area clean; wash gently after any sexual activity. Use a lubricated condom to avoid irritating inflamed areas.
Lifestyle and Prevention Lifestyle Changes and Prevention of Genital Psoriasis There’s no known way to prevent psoriasis, but in addition to medication, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of flares. The location of genital psoriasis can intensify symptoms. “One of the characteristics of psoriasis is the tendency for it to get worse with any kind of skin trauma,” Ellis says. In the groin area, that trauma can be caused by too-tight clothing, skin rubbing on skin, athletic activity, and sex. “All of these may make symptoms worse,” Ellis says. Wearing loose clothing can help. Keeping skin hydrated is also an important part of managing genital psoriasis, says Ellis. Here are some tips for caring for skin when you have genital psoriasis, according to the American Academy of Dermatology:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629eb89b8b7-cd2e-45ba-9e5d-5f6e74c38500 Use a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. Avoid potentially irritating deodorant or antibacterial soaps and body washes. Apply fragrance-free moisturizer to the psoriasis after bathing, when skin is still damp. Also apply when the area feels dry to reduce rubbing and irritation. A good rule of thumb for products: the fewer ingredients on the label, the better. Use soft, high-quality toilet paper, to help avoid irritation. Avoid contact between genital psoriasis and urine or feces. To help ease bowel movements, consume a high-fiber diet or a fiber supplement. Avoid long, hot baths. Apply cool compresses to dry and itchy areas.
Treatment Treatment and Medication Options for Genital Psoriasis The skin in the genital area tends to be thinner and more sensitive than other areas of the body, so it may require a somewhat different treatment plan.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762935c13b8b-3da6-4b66-b0d5-1eeae473fbc8 “It also tends to be more responsive to treatment,” says Ellis. “You have to proceed gently, but you can often get symptoms to clear up completely.” Medication Options for Genital Psoriasis Some of the most common therapies for genital psoriasis include topical medications that are applied directly to the affected area or systemic medications that affect the whole body.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291d212c5c-45a9-4d0a-a73b-c214e0ecb3ace60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762935c13b8b-3da6-4b66-b0d5-1eeae473fbc8 Topical medications include: A mild corticosteroid cream Prescription topicals like tapinarof (Vtama) and roflumilast (Zoryve) Calcipotriene cream (vitamin D cream) Pimecrolimus (Elidel) cream or tacrolimus (Prograf) ointment Systemic medications include: Stronger oral medicines, such as cyclosporine (Neoral), methotrexate (Trexall), apremilast (Otezla), deucravacitinib (Sotyktu), icotrokinra (Icotyde), or retinoids An infused or injectable biologic “All the treatments we use for other types of psoriasis may be used for genital psoriasis,” Ellis says.
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: Genital PsoriasisMayo Clinic: PsoriasisAmerican Academy of Dermatology Association: How Can I Treat Genital Psoriasis?National Psoriasis Foundation: Flaring Up Down Below With PsoriasisJohn Hopkins Medicine: Foods to Eat and Avoid if You Have Psoriasis
Symptoms Signs and Symptoms of Genital Psoriasis Genital psoriasis can affect the following areas:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629df02eebd-a8e8-479a-b45d-d6d197ca9a3b Penis, scrotum, or vulva Pubis (the skin above the genitals) Crease between the buttocks, including the skin around the anus Inner and upper thigh Crease between the thigh and genital area Of the various types of psoriasis , inverse psoriasis and plaque psoriasis commonly appear on the genitals. Inverse psoriasis, which develops in the skin’s natural folds, or in places where skin rubs against skin, doesn’t have the telltale dry scales of plaque psoriasis, because it occurs in areas where there is excess moisture. Unlike plaque psoriasis, “inverse psoriasis often looks like a rash with sharp borders,” says Jeffrey I. Ellis, MD , a dermatologist at Northwell Health in Hicksville, New York. On lighter skin, plaque psoriasis can look red with silvery scales. On darker skin, plaques may look purple, gray, or dark brown.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629df02eebd-a8e8-479a-b45d-d6d197ca9a3be60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296b83d60d-0487-47ab-94ec-5b6ea11506a3 You may experience pain or discomfort, itching, and cracking skin.
Diagnosis How Is Genital Psoriasis Diagnosed To diagnose genital psoriasis, your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam, assessing the appearance of your skin. They may also perform a skin biopsy (removing a small piece of skin to be examined under a microscope) to rule out other conditions that can affect the skin on and around your genitals.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299ab9b6e1-3fcd-4dea-ad9f-f3aec657843c Genital psoriasis may be misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed. “Many people go undiagnosed for a long time because they’re too embarrassed to tell their doctors about their symptoms [such as soreness, itching, and burning],” says Dr. Ellis. Inverse psoriasis, in particular, can be tough to diagnose — doctors often find it necessary to do a biopsy, according to Ellis. “When it appears in the groin area, it is often mistaken for a fungus, like jock itch . When it appears on the genitals, it may be mistaken for a sexually transmitted disease,” says Ellis. Because genital psoriasis can be mistaken for other conditions, you may want to see a dermatologist (rather than your primary care physician or gynecologist) to diagnose and treat it.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290aa0c0a5-1647-44bf-bbcc-4834e319a9f3
Causes Causes of Genital Psoriasis Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition, in which your immune system is overactive. It’s not clear what causes the immune system to go into overdrive, but there are certain triggers that can lead to psoriasis flares. Psoriasis triggers include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976298c7ccde2-a008-4633-b07a-cb8168da228e Stress Certain medications Injuries or trauma to the skin Infections Changes in weather Diet Psoriasis around the genitals specifically might be triggered by an overgrowth of yeast in the area or friction from sexual intercourse or tight clothing.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762913c1e235-0a9a-4e97-b40e-0e96d285dadc
Prognosis Genital Psoriasis Prognosis Psoriasis is a chronic, lifelong condition. There’s no cure for it, but the right treatment can make it manageable. With treatment, flares typically last several days to weeks.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762926507ef0-b4fa-4997-b893-f4704cd0d2b5 The bottom line: “Let your dermatologist know about any symptoms,” Ellis says. “We have amazing treatments.”
Additional reporting by Paula Derrow .
Genital psoriasis is a common problem for people with psoriasis . Research shows that about 60 percent of people with psoriasis develop the condition on their genitals at least once in their lifetime.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d9931dee-5786-4da8-9858-86bf9fd0a1d9 Psoriasis affecting the genital area can occur at any age. It tends to be more prevalent in male individuals but more severe in females. It can negatively impact quality of life and it tends to be underdiscussed and undertreated, because of its sensitive nature. But the good news is that there’s effective treatment for managing symptoms.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d9931dee-5786-4da8-9858-86bf9fd0a1d9
