Psoriasis may improve or worsen during pregnancy. If it improved during pregnancy it may become much worse after pregnancy. A number of drugs can make psoriasis worse - lithium used in depression and aspirin. Psoriasis may settle quickly when taking steroids tablets but if the steroids are stopped suddenly, the psoriasis may flare up very badly. Diet plays little part in psoriasis but fish oil in large quantities has been shown to have a beneficial effect.
Stress is a major cause of worsening of psoriasis.
In trial, stress management has been shown to improve psoriasis. Most patients have plaque psoriasis where the psoriasis appears as well demarcated areas of thickened skin which have a silvery scaling surface. The scale may be fine and grainy or may be very thick. Some patients develop guttate psoriasis - guttate means raindrop and the psoriasis is present in a raindrop pattern. A few to hundreds of areas may be present.