It’s normal to think about how your health might change as you get older. When you live with a chronic condition like psoriasis, you may worry about how the disease will impact your life as you age.

You can’t predict how your psoriasis will change over time. Working closely with your healthcare team and staying on track with your treatment can help you manage your symptoms and prevent complications.

If you notice a change in how you’re feeling, let your doctor know. It could be that your treatment plan needs to be modified. Making certain lifestyle modifications like eating a healthy diet and staying active can help you feel better, too. Taking care of your overall health as you age is important for managing your psoriasis.

There’s no evidence that psoriasis worsens with age. However, it’s likely that your treatment plan will change over time. Reasons why this might happen include:

  • new treatment guidelines recommend different ways to manage symptoms
  • your psoriasis symptoms change or worsen
  • your overall health changes
  • you receive a new medical diagnosis

If you’re taking a biologic drug for psoriasis, it can lose effectiveness over time. Your doctor may recommend switching to a different biologic drug if that happens.

It’s also possible that your treatment plan will change as new drugs and research on psoriasis become available. Regular contact with your healthcare team will allow for changes as needed.

As always, the management of your psoriasis will depend on your symptoms. If your current regime is working, your doctor will likely recommend that you continue on it.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition. Normal inflammation from the immune system promotes healing. When there is an injury in the body, inflammation can be a normal and healthy response.

Sometimes, the body’s immune response continues beyond what’s needed and inflammation causes damage. People with psoriasis may be more likely to develop other inflammatory conditions. Many chronic health conditions are believed to be associated with inflammation. These include:

Age is also a risk factor for these conditions. While you can’t stop yourself from getting older, you can take other steps to improve your health and reduce your risk.

New guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) recommend a greater focus on comorbidities in people with psoriasis.

A comorbidity is an additional disease that occurs in a person who already has a health condition. In psoriasis, comorbidities are conditions associated with inflammation somewhere in the body.

Following a Mediterranean diet can reduce inflammation in the body. This may help to alleviate some of your psoriasis symptoms. Research has also found it can reduce your risk of developing other diseases.

The Mediterranean diet is based on the traditional eating patterns of the people in those countries. It includes:

  • whole grains
  • a variety of fruits and vegetables
  • nuts and seeds
  • legumes such as peas, lentils, beans
  • healthy fats from foods such as fish, avocado, olives, and olive oil
  • dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese
  • smaller portions of meats and sweets

If you’ve lived with psoriasis for many years, you’re likely an expert on managing your symptoms. Don’t hesitate to speak with your healthcare team if you have any concerns.

Making some lifestyle adjustments may also improve your psoriasis. Eating well and staying active can help you feel better overall.