Mumbai: 31-year-old man overcomes Psoriasis, achieves dream of getting married after effective treatment

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After undergoing successful treatment, a 31-year-old man has conquered generalised plaque psoriasis and fulfilled his aspiration of marriage.

In 2016, Rahul Kumar (name changed) from Mumbai, proprietor of an events company, exhibited symptoms such as scaly or flaky skin, rashes on the scalp, trunk, upper and lower extremities sparing his palms, soles, face, and genitals, and nails. He tried ayurvedic and homeopathic treatment but couldn't find any relief.

Then, the patient came to Dr Rinky Kapoor for treatment. He was given regular medications for a few years. However, due to irregular usage of medicines, and side effects developing over time, his quality of life deteriorated, he was looking at marriage proposals, and all this took a toll on his mental state. He wanted to go off all applications and regular tablets and lead a better quality of life.

Under the guidance of Dr. Rinky, he underwent a successful treatment. After his marriage, now, he is also considering family planning.

Dr Rinky, MD DDV Dermatology, The Esthetic Clinics said, "Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease with no cure and causes a rash with itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp. The current prevalence in the population is around 3 per cent, and the incidence seems to be increasing over the years. Current lifestyle patterns, stress, and the like may be contributing to it. In a typical Dermatology practice, 2 to 3 out of all OPD consults seen could be suffering from Psoriasis, depending on the type of practice."

She adds, "This patient came to us in 2019. He had reddish, flaky, itchy patches on most areas of the body. The causative factor is unknown, though stress may have been a trigger. He was very distressed given the fact that there would be flakes of skin falling over from all over the body, with redness and burning sensation over some of them, and severe dryness on the skin. He was not able to find any matches for marriage, he was suffering from low confidence professionally too."

Psoriasis extends beyond being merely a skin issue and is a multifaceted disease that affects various aspects of patients' lives. Those dealing with this condition not only suffer from their physical symptoms but also encounter numerous challenges in their everyday existence. The stigma and discrimination they face, coupled with feelings of loneliness and isolation, can hinder their productivity. This struggle often leads to adverse effects on their mental well-being. Furthermore, these challenges disrupt their daily activities, personal relationships, and employment opportunities. Because there is not much awareness regarding this, society feels that this is contagious, some sections of society feel these patients are cursed, etc.

The chronic skin disease is also linked to cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes, and takes a toll on one's self-esteem and mental health, worsening depression and anxiety. A lack of awareness and information leaves both patients and caregivers feeling overwhelmed. Campaigns aimed at raising awareness can play a crucial role in addressing stigma and discrimination. Support groups are vital in providing information to both patients and caregivers, as well as facilitating the sharing of personal stories and insights gained from the experiences of others.

Dr Rinky further sheds light on the treatment for the patient. She explains, "Effective management of symptoms can provide relief to the patients. Initially, an oral medicine called Cyclosporin was started, which was continued for 4 years at 0.5 mg/kg gave 90 per cent clearance, higher doses caused gastrointestinal symptoms, and reduction of dose caused recurrences. Recently, serum lipid and sugar profiles started showing derangement. He was suggested to undergo another line of management called phototherapy where ultraviolet light is given to improve the skin. However since it is a time-bound therapy and needs frequent visits to the doctor's clinic, this was out of the question for him."

The expert then suggested that he should go for the latest class of medicines called Biologicals. Not many clinics are experienced in administering this modality since they have not been around for a long time in India. He was started on these injections in April 2024. With three months of this treatment over, he is currently on maintenance schedules.

The advantages of this therapy are that it takes two minutes to do it, one can self-administer the injection himself/herself once they have been taught as the device is user-friendly, the dosage schedules are very convenient, the results are very quick, skin patches clearance rate is very high and there are negligible side effects, with minimal monitoring required. The quality of life of the patient just transforms within a few weeks of starting the treatment. The patient may not remember when he had such clear skin in a long time. The Mumbaikar got married in June 2024 and is planning a family now. One of the main reasons to start biologicals was also the fact that it can be taken by men who are planning to start a family. It is safe.

The patient explains, "As I was detected with psoriasis, the emotional toll of this condition became challenging for me. I was stressed, depressed, frustrated, and lonely. The diagnosis came as a shocker and I cried to myself as it made me look different. I was embarrassed and often ridiculed for my appearance and patches. In social gatherings, I felt like an outsider, battling every awkward glance or whispered remark about my appearance. It wasn't just the physical pain; it was the weight of societal judgments that compounded my stress. I consulted many dermatologists who did help but I was always struggling with taking medicines and dealing with side effects, and incomplete results, daily. Despite this, I remained hopeful and committed to managing my condition. I owe a great deal to Dr Rinky Kapoor for her timely intervention. It was unbelievable, the way my skin cleared up."

He continues, "Of course, I will be on basic minimum maintenance sessions, so that my disease remains under control, as psoriasis cannot be eradicated from the body. The frequency of the injections, the negligible side effect profile and the convenience of self-administration, the rapidity of results, have made my life much simpler and taken off a lot of stress related to my illness. I feel better now. I don't need to hide my skin from anyone anymore. I'm happily married, something that once felt like an unattainable dream and I'm even considering starting a family. My wife knows about my disease, though she has never seen me in my worst days of the disease, as I was completely clear when we married. She knows that the disease is in remission, but I need minimum maintenance to keep it that way. However, at the back of our minds, we know that I have conquered a big aspect of the disease.

He concludes, "I encourage others facing similar challenges to adhere strictly to their doctor's advice and refrain from self-medicating for effective management of their condition. Awareness is important and we must ensure that we are guided by the right healthcare providers about the wonders that current medical science has to offer. I don't have to hide my scars now and present myself the way I am. Psoriasis is not the end of life, as the famous Hollywood movie says ‘Life is Beautiful'."