Can Psoriasis Go Away on Its Own? What Happens if Psoriasis Is not Treated?

I’ve had plaque psoriasis for years. I’ve tried a ton of topical creams that irritate my skin, stain my clothes and smell weird. The couple different systemic medications I’ve taken make me nauseous, fatigued and even give me nosebleeds at times. At this point, the psoriasis treatment is almost as bad as the symptoms. What if I just quit all the medicine? Will psoriasis ever just go away by itself? What happens if psoriasis is not treated?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that is not curable and it will not go away on its own. However, the disease fluctuates and many people can have clear skin for years at a time, and occasional flare-ups when the skin is worse. The course of the illness varies from person-to-person and some people will have milder symptoms while some people can have psoriasis so severe it becomes disabling.

Treatments for psoriasis depend on the severity of the illness and a person’s response to a particular treatment. Often multiple types of treatment are used to control flare-ups.

A particular type of psoriasis called psoriatic arthritis, which involves the joints as well as the skin, can permanently damage joints and bones if left untreated.