Does Psoriasis Mean I Have AIDS or HIV?
Psoriasis is a condition with quite a bit of mystery surrounding it still. Lately, I have heard questions from people wondering if they have some life-threatening condition because they just found out they have psoriasis. I can’t blame them for asking these questions – I didn’t even know what psoriasis was when the doctor first told me I had it.
So, does psoriasis mean you have AIDS or HIV?
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Even though there is no connection between psoriasis and AIDS/HIV, some people do have both of the diseases. People with AIDS tend to have worse psoriasis symptoms because their immune systems are disordered. I read that HIV-positive individuals with exacerbated psoriasis are more prone to developing new systemic infections. These infections can trigger even more extensive psoriasis break-outs.
But, no just because you have psoriasis does not mean you have AIDS, HIV, or any other disease. Psoriasis is a disease that happens on its own, and does not signify that you have something worse. There is no reason to freak out or become extremely stressed because you have psoriasis – there are many effective treatments and ways to keep the condition under control. So, don’t worry – you aren’t dying!
Does Psoriasis Have a Burning Smell?
I have honestly heard this question asked twice in the last two days. This article is going to be much shorter than my normal articles on this site, since I feel the answer is very straightforward. No, psoriasis DOES NOT have a burning smell! If you have psoriasis and smell burning, make sure your house isn’t on fire. I have had psoriasis for over four years now, occasionally pretty widespread on my body, and I have never once had a burning smell. No one around me has ever asked about a burning smell either, so I feel pretty safe thinking there hasn’t been a strong scent from the psoriasis.
There is a chance that some of the areas of your body where you have psoriasis might have a slight odor. I have read that some people’s skin smells a little “different” when it is flaky and really dry, so keep that in mind. But, does psoriasis have a burning smell? No, it shouldn’t, but it could smell a little different than normal, healthy skin does. Just try to get some exercise, eat a nutritious diet with lots of fruits and veggies, and use the same creams and lotions you usually use, and I think you will see some improvement in your psoriasis pretty quickly – and get rid of any unwanted odors caused by flaky skin.
Does Psoriasis Get Worse With Age?
I know the frustration of not getting clear-cut answers to most of the psoriasis-related questions I have. Doctors and other medical people just can’t seem to agree on many psoriasis issues. I’ll be touching on the (possible?) connection between psoriasis and age today. Every single case of psoriasis is different. Some people will have highly visible psoriasis patches on their skin, others will have nearly clear skin their whole life. Some people will have psoriasis that gets better through the years, some people will notice that their psoriasis is getting worse the older they get. What I am saying is that psoriasis is unpredictable. You can’t predict how your psoriasis is going to be five years from now.
I have talked to many people about this subject in the past four years. For me personally, my psoriasis went from light to moderate, then back to reasonably light, and that’s where it has stayed for the past few years. The majority of the people I have talked with seem to think their psoriasis has gotten mildly worse as they age. Sometimes, you will see that your psoriasis has spread to a new area of your body that you have never had it before. Occasionally, it will go away just as quickly as it came. But sometimes, it will remain for months and months and nothing you will do will have any effect on it. I was browsing a psoriasis forum online and saw a poll asking “Has your psoriasis got worse over time?”, and 16 of the 26 participants voted “Yes”. Not one voter straight-up voted for “No”. Of course, this is such a small sample size, so who really knows what the results would be if 2000 people had voted. It is also tricky because many of the people whose psoriasis has gotten better might not be online on a psoriasis forum. So, does psoriasis get worse with age? My answer: Maybe. It definitely could. But yours could better also!
So I guess you can see there are no “rules” when it comes to psoriasis. Always strive to maintain the healthiest lifestyle you can. It helps to keep goals written down. For example, I currently drink way too much soda and eat fast food about three (or more) times a week. My written goals for the coming year are to have no more than 12 ounces of soda a day and no more than 2 fast food meals a week. Just doing little things like this will really pay off in the long run for not only your psoriasis, but your overall health. You should not be resigned to thinking that your health has to worsen as you get older.
Does Psoriasis Weaken Your Immune System?
I have always been interested in learning about the role psoriasis plays in regards to other parts of the body. I have heard a good amount about psoriasis affecting the immune system, so I thought I would tackle that connection here. For those not familiar, a person’s immune system is made up of proteins, tissues, organs, and special cells. It defends us against germs and microorganisms every minute of our lives. Through a series of steps known as the immune response, our immune system attacks organisms and other substances that invade our body systems and lead to disease. The immune system normally does a great job of fighting off infections and keeping us healthy, but sometimes it encounters problems that lead to illness.
It seems like ever since I first got psoriasis four years ago, my body is not as efficient at fighting off colds and other minor illnesses. My throat seems to be the main culprit. I once smoked a couple cigars when I was out with my friends, and my throat was sore for 10 days afterwards. I never had a problem with getting sick before I had psoriasis, so I know through experience that for some reason or another, my immune system just isn’t what it once was.
Lifestyle plays a major role in the functioning of the immune system. If you are consistently eating poorly and partying hard on the weekend, your immune system is not going to be as effective as it should be. Toxins accumulate in the body, weakening the liver. Stress and exercise also play an important role in the health of your immune system. Individuals with psoriasis should always try to get at least moderate-intensity exercise. I have recently added in some meditation to my daily life for stress relief, and I can already notice a major difference in how I feel. Treat your body better, and your body will work harder for you.
Whenever I feel a slight cold or sore throat coming on, I always make sure to get extra Vitamin C in my diet. I prefer a supplement since that is an easy way to get it, but extra fruits like oranges and berries are just as good. Traveling is another time I seem to get a little under the weather frequently. This makes sense if you think about it: the millions of germs everywhere you go, the hotel rooms, the airport, the restaurants, and more. I have started taking extra Vitamin C about a week before my trip, and I have felt great for the duration of the past few vacations.
The current knowledge surrounding psoriasis and the immune system is incomplete. I personally feel that I get sick a little bit more now than I did before I had psoriasis. What do you guys think? Does psoriasis weaken your immune system?
Beer, Liquor, and Other Alcohol – Their Effect on Psoriasis
I have been extremely interested in the ways various food and drinks can affect psoriasis. Alcohol seems to be one of the most talked-about things in the psoriasis community, so I thought I would share my story about the role alcohol has played with my psoriasis. I will go through a couple common questions first, and then talk about how I have dealt with maintaining a social life while still trying to keep my skin clear.
Does Beer Cause Psoriasis?
No, beer does not cause psoriasis. As a matter of fact, no one is sure what causes psoriasis yet. There are many risk factors for psoriasis, mostly genetic, but no one knows what exactly it is caused by. While beer is likely harmful to someone with psoriasis, it does not directly cause it.
What Effect Does Alcohol Have on Psoriasis?
I was in college in 2007 when I was first diagnosed with psoriasis. My ears and scalp were really itchy and flaky, so I headed down to the health center to get the situation checked out. I just thought I had dry skin from the changing weather. Well, of course that was not the case, and my life was changed forever. I continued my same lifestyle of going out at night about three times a week, drinking way too much alcohol in the process. My skin gradually got worse and worse. My scalp was incredibly dry and flaky, and I was getting red spots on my shoulders, back, and even my face. I made a decision to change quite a bit – no more than four drinks when I went out, only going out two nights a week, and consuming a healthier diet. It is possible to still have fun without getting absolutely loaded.
I decided to do some research and look into why my psoriasis was getting worse. I quickly saw many different threads on various forums talking about the link between alcohol and psoriasis. It also seems like psoriasis has more question marks that many of the other conditions/diseases out there. Not many people know why certain things happen in people with psoriasis. It makes sense that alcohol would be bad for psoriasis; it is harmful to our health already, so it should be no surprise that is can affect every other area of our body. Of course, every person’s reaction to something is going to be different, so what affects one person a lot might only affect the next person just a little bit.
In the years since I graduated from college, I try to only consume a few drinks when I go out. Even then, my psoriasis still acts up a little bit, with my scalp much more flaky and more redness on my shoulders. The more I drink, the worse my skin is. I know that I need to limit my alcohol if I want my psoriasis to be better. It is hard to make a decision not to drink when you are going out with your friends at night, because it makes you feel different and abnormal, but that is what needs to be done sometimes.
If you are serious about getting your skin more clear, I highly recommend avoiding alcohol. Not only will it make your skin look more vibrant and pristine, but it will affect your health positively in other ways as well. Psoriasis is a condition that needs to be healed within us, and watching what we put in our bodies is the best way to accelerate that process. Your psoriasis can be improved – make the lifestyle changes needed to get you where you want to be!