Meet Frederik who suffers from severe psoriasis and learn about his experiences with different treatment options.

Frederik was diagnosed with psoriasis when he was 24 years old. His dermatologist provided a brochure on psoriasis along with a topical cream, which is the typical first line of treatment.

“When I came home from the doctors, the first thing I did was look up psoriasis. Informing myself made me worried and a bit scared – suddenly, I was a patient, having to live with psoriasis for the rest of my life.”

During the first years following his diagnosis, Frederik had difficulties accepting his situation and was not fond of applying the cream to his skin. This led to a worsening of his psoriasis symptoms, and it influenced his state of mind. In the following years, Frederik gradually attempted several other treatments offered: phototherapy, orals, and biologics. Frederik’s psoriasis did respond positively to phototherapy initially, but it was a struggle for him to fit the treatment regimen into his everyday life, as going to the treatment center required a long commute and several hours of absence during work hours, several times a week.

Looking for an alternate treatment more appropriate for his daily life, Frederik attempted an oral treatment, which also had a positive effect on his psoriasis symptoms.  However, the associated side effects meant that Frederik often had to work from home. While most patients suffering from moderate and severe psoriasis find the ease-of-use of an oral treatment preferable, the number of treatment options available is limited, and the few commonly prescribed oral treatments can have negative side effects.

Frederik is currently following a biological treatment regimen, requiring him to inject himself every second week. The treatment is well suited both for his psoriasis and his lifestyle. It is, however, uncertain how long he wants to remain on biologics, as the long-term side effects of this relatively new treatment option are unknown. Furthermore, biological treatments are generally very expensive relative to topical and oral treatments.

“Thinking about psoriasis can really influence my mood negatively, especially when I think of developing common comorbidities associated with psoriasis, such as cardiovascular diseases or diabetes.”