Psoriasis Comes with Social Support, Self-Esteem Issues

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TORONTO -- Consider asking young women with psoriasis about self-esteem and their social support to ensure an optimal quality of life, Renita Ahluwalia said at the annual conference of the Canadian Dermatology Association.

"We need to address social support and self-esteem at the first visit," she said. "Whether the psoriasis is bad or mild, if it's affecting their quality of life and they are unhappy, treatment needs to be tailored to their needs."

Physicians should address emotional and informational support in particular, said Ms. Ahluwalia, based on findings of a three-part survey of 22 young women with psoriasis and two one-on-one qualitative interviews. …