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

After undergoing successful treatment a 31yearold man has conquered generalised plaque psoriasis and fulfilled his aspiration of marriageIn 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 couldnrsquot find any reliefThen 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 lifeUnder the guidance of Dr Rinky he underwent a successful treatment After his marriage now he is also considering family planningDr Rinky MD DDV Dermatology The Esthetic Clinics said ldquoPsoriasis 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 practiceShe 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 tooPsoriasis 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 wellbeing 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 etcThe chronic skin disease is also linked to cardiovascular disease metabolic syndrome and diabetes and takes a toll on onersquos selfesteem 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 othersDr Rinky further sheds light on the treatment for the patient She explains ldquoEffective management of symptoms can provide relief to the patients Initially an oral medicine called Cyclosporin was started which was continued for 4 years at 05 mgkg 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 timebound therapy and needs frequent visits to the doctorrsquos clinic this was out of the question for himThe 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 schedulesThe advantages of this therapy are that it takes two minutes to do it one can selfadminister the injection himselfherself once they have been taught as the device is userfriendly 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 safeThe patient explains ldquoAs 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 wasnt 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 upHe 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 selfadministration 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 donrsquot need to hide my skin from anyone anymore Im happily married something that once felt like an unattainable dream and Im 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 doctors advice and refrain from selfmedicating 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 donrsquot 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 lsquoLife is Beautiful