Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes individuals to develop a rash with scaly, itchy patches on their elbows, knees, trunk and scalp. This chronic illness, which may start off as a few itchy patches, can severely affect an individual’s quality of life.
Psoriasis is often accompanied by chronic inflammation, which affects those with mild and severe cases alike. Experts agree that in the absence of a cure, proper treatment is required to manage the condition.
Below we look at what happens when psoriasis remains untreated and any complications that may arise from undertreating or not treating the condition.
What to expect in the short- and long-term for untreated psoriasis?
Given that the condition causes itching in the beginning, it makes sense that leaving psoriasis untreated in the short-term will result in even more itching and discomfort. Spectrum Skin and Laser founder and dermatologic surgeon, Dr. Jeremy Brauer, states that intense itching will result in opened lesions that can become infected.
Psoriasis may also affect other organ systems, including the heart and cardiovascular system, as well as the skeletal system and the joints. This means that improper or no treatment heighten an individual’s health risks.
In addition to this, Brauer highlights that psoriasis that isn’t treated may also affect persons psychologically because it takes a physical and emotional toll and impairs a person’s quality of life, which in turn affects relationships and ability to perform daily tasks.
Patients who do not undergo treatment may also notice the presence of new patches on their body.
If psoriasis remains untreated in the long-term, other complications may begin to set in. Those complications include joint pain, chronic inflammation and limited mobility around the area affected.
Additionally, some comorbidities may be caused or worsened by untreated psoriasis. They include:
Psoriatic arthritis
Inflammation worsening in patients with psoriasis may develop into psoriatic arthritis. Recent studies have found that the possibility of the condition becoming arthritic is 20% after three decades. Mount Sinai Hospital dermatologist, Dr. Carmen Castilla, adds that patients with psoriatic arthritis may also suffer from permanent joint damage if they don’t undergo treatment.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Findings published in “Advances in Dermatology and Allergology” highlight that an individual’s risk of fatty liver disease increases if they have psoriasis.
Kidney disease
Research has also determined that psoriasis patients had a considerably higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease and end-state renal disease. This link may boil down to the fact that psoriatic patients have a heightened risk of developing hypertension and diabetes, which are both risk factors for kidney disease.
Psychological disorders
One 2022 study, whose findings were reported in “Psoriasis: Targets and Therapy,” found that the mental health fallout from untreated psoriasis included depression, anxiety, substance misuse and suicidal ideation.
As the discussion above shows, psoriasis can have far-reaching effects if it remains untreated or isn’t treated appropriately. These potential complications could be the reason why enterprises such as Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: SCNI) are working to develop treatments with higher efficacy against psoriasis so that patients don’t get exposed to complications arising from undertreatment of the primary skin condition.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: SCNI) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SCNI
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