Working while living with psoriasis can create challenges. If you work a typical 9-to-5 job and have psoriasis, you must learn to balance the demands of your job with the needs of your condition. It’s no simple matter, but it’s not impossible. You have to communicate your needs, advocate for yourself, and find solutions to balancing work and keeping your symptoms under control.
For these reasons, psoriasis can make your professional life more challenging:
- You have a chronic autoimmune condition that
requires vigilant, lifelong care. - Your condition may cause skin lesions that may
be painful and difficult to keep private. - You may experience pain related to the condition.
- Your treatments may interfere with your work
hours. - You may need to attend doctor’s appointments
only available during work hours. - Your job may induce unhealthy habits and stress,
which worsen your psoriasis.
These challenges don’t have to limit your professional success, however. There are many ways you can succeed in both the workplace and in psoriasis management.
It’s possible to work with psoriasis, but the condition does take its toll on the worker and the workplace. A
- early retirement
- use of sick leave
- changes in occupation
- modifications in the workplace, often to avoid
skin irritation
These factors don’t have to get in your way of being a productive employee though. You need to take your health seriously and find ways to manage your condition and work more comfortably. Here are several ways you can maximize your professional life while living with psoriasis:
Talk to your boss and colleagues
A simple way to avoid confusion about your condition and health needs is to be open about your psoriasis. Find an appropriate time to discuss your psoriasis with your boss, and then consider sharing information with your colleagues.
Some points you may want to share with your boss include:
- how psoriasis affects your work
- what assistive devices you may need, such as
computer equipment or a specialized office chair - why you may need a flexible schedule to attend
medical appointments - where you may be able to go in your workspace to
apply needed treatments, such as topical creams
Your colleagues may benefit from a conversation about your condition as well. Sharing straightforward facts and answering questions might be helpful to building understanding relationships in your workplace.
Communicating about psoriasis doesn’t mean you have to share everything about the condition. Psoriasis is a personal matter, and you may choose to keep some details private. Also, it’s wise to keep yourself from oversharing. Try to keep the information you do discuss relevant to your workplace.
Work with your doctor
Establishing a healthy, manageable treatment plan begins with your doctor:
- Make sure you can stick to your agreed-on
treatment plan in your 9-to-5 job. - Talk to your doctor’s office about scheduling
appointments at times that accommodate your work schedule and your doctor’s. - Bring to your doctor’s attention any
difficulties you have adhering to treatment based on your job’s demands and
hours. - Discuss ways to avoid psoriasis triggers to keep
your condition from worsening.
Educate yourself
Living with psoriasis requires you to learn about the condition, your limitations, and what laws or policies may protect you at work.
- Understand how psoriasis affects your body and
learn how you can avoid triggers that make the condition worse. These may
include bad eating habits, poor sleep, lack of exercise, or smoking and
drinking. - Figure out how you can commit to your workload
without overwhelming yourself. Stress is a significant factor in psoriasis
flares, so try to avoid situations that cause it. - Find out more about the policies and laws that
protect you in the workplace in case any difficulties with your employer or
condition arise.
Practice good self-care
大多数人努力之间找到一个平衡work and life. When you have psoriasis, a work/life balance is even more imperative. This is because you need to maintain healthy habits to avoid your condition getting worse.
自我保健包括适当的睡眠,营养, and exercise. Make sure to keep your work hours under control so you can keep up healthy routines at home. Exercising regularly requires good time management, as does getting adequate sleep every night.
It’s also important for you to keep up with your mental health. In addition to stress affecting psoriasis, anxiety and depression are more prevalent in those with the condition. Make sure you take a step back regularly to evaluate how you’re doing, and if you suspect you need some help, talk to your doctor.
Psoriasis can be a challenging condition when navigating the workplace, but it shouldn’t make working impossible. Keeping communication open with your boss and colleagues is the first step in creating an environment conducive to your condition.
Keep in mind that you need to prioritize your health first and foremost to avoid your condition from getting worse and causing even greater challenges in the workplace. Healthy lifestyle habits should also be considered in your day-to-day life. Maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and finding time to rest and sleep will help your psoriasis in the long term.