Genital Psoriasis Awareness Program: Physical and Psychological Care for Patients with Genital Psoriasis

Abstract

Genital psoriasis is a neglected manifestation of psoriasis, although it affects numerous patients and has major effects on sexual quality of life (SQoL). We aimed to assess the value of specialised care for patients with genital psoriasis. Patients were treated for at least one year at a specialised research outpatient clinic with extensive attention for genital lesions and SQoL. The genital lesions were treated according to a stepwise algorithm. First follow-up was planned after 6 weeks; subsequent follow-up visits were scheduled every 3 months. At every visit, psoriasis severity and SQoL were measured with validated tools. Differences in scores between visits were analysed by a mixed model for repeated measures. Forty-two patients were included (M:F = 25:17). All objective and subjective genital psoriasis severity and QoL parameters improved significantly within the first follow-up period of approximately 6 weeks. In female patients, SQoL also significantly improved. In conclusion, genital psoriasis can relatively easy be treated within limited time exposure, resulting in significant improvement of QoL. Prompt and simple adjustments in the provided care are enough to accomplish this.

The impact of genital psoriasis on quality of life: a systematic review

“…Quality of life impairment due to genital lesions can be improved with targeted treatment, so early detection of these effects may help prevent further functional and social deficits secondary to skin disease 28. The development of validated quality of life instruments for genital psoriasis is a step in the right direction toward helping clinicians to assess these impacts more easily and may help increase our understanding of the efficacy of various treatments for this difficult disease 38.…”

“…Patients experience pain during intercourse or worsening of symptoms after intercourse as well 25. Women in particular experience dyspareunia and are distressed by the impact of genital psoriasis on sexual function compared with men 7,28. However, this distress improves with treatment targeted toward the genital lesions 28.…”

“…Women in particular experience dyspareunia and are distressed by the impact of genital psoriasis on sexual function compared with men 7,28. However, this distress improves with treatment targeted toward the genital lesions 28. Males also experience impairments in sexual function,7 but the presence of psoriasis lesions in the genital area was not associated with any statistical increase in erectile dysfunction 29,30…”

Biological therapy in genital psoriasis in women

“…Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting 2% of general population (Meeuwis, ), causing major impairment of patients' quality of life (Cozzani, ). Especially genital localization causes a stigmatization experience, leading to emotional and physical distress and sexual dysfunctions (Meeuwis, ). The prevalence of genital psoriasis (GenPs) is high, amounting to 29–46% and is often neglected by the patients (Meeuwis, ).…”

“…Especially genital localization causes a stigmatization experience, leading to emotional and physical distress and sexual dysfunctions (Meeuwis, ). The prevalence of genital psoriasis (GenPs) is high, amounting to 29–46% and is often neglected by the patients (Meeuwis, ).…”