Intimacy

Depending on when you develop psoriasis, you may face different challenges to intimacy in your life. For a teen new to the relationship game, psoriasis can seem like a death sentence to any kind of love life. For someone already in an established relationship, it can be a cause of distress and even friction. Or, it may simply be dealt with in stride as just another one of life’s twists.

Dating

Let’s first take a look at psoriasis and the dating game. What can you do to get over your own negative thoughts and get out there? Here are a few ideas:

  • Look at any negative thoughts you may be having that are getting in your way. We all fear rejection, but it doesn’t have to stop you, and it my not be psoriasis that makes the difference.
  • Test that negative thought. Resist jumping to conclusions like “No one will ever want to be with me because of my psoriasis.” That’s a worst-case scenario, and lots of other possibilities are out there. It might be too easy to hide behind your skin condition if you are nervous about dating in general.
  • Pick the thought apart. Chronic conditions don’t stop people from having success at making friends and dating. Rejection is out there waiting for everyone some of the time. Besides, if someone won’t get involved with you simply because you have psoriasis, they may not be the quality of person you are looking for in the first place.
  • Take the plunge. What’s the worst that can happen? You may have to accept a little rejection, but not taking a chance will guarantee no results.
  • Don’t wait too long to bring up your psoriasis. This will help avoid any uncomfortable situations where your skin condition is truly a surprise.

In a relationship

If you are in a relationship already, there are ways to help keep intimacy alive and well in your life, including some of these tips:

  • Conserve your energy for sexual encounters.
  • Choose a time when you are less symptomatic.
  • Work out a signal to help your partner know what’s painful and what’s pleasurable. Sudden pressure on a painful patch can disrupt sexual activity.
  • Explore the use of sexual aids, such as lubricants, to ease psoriasis-related problems.

Maintain an open discussion of your feelings. Psoriasis can affect your self-confidence and self-image, and talking about things may help your sexual relationship.