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A healthy sex life is an essential part of an adult's overall well-being. But if you have psoriatic arthritis, sore skin and achy joints — and concerns about your appearance — may dampen your desire to be intimate.
Don't let the skin and joint symptoms of psoriatic arthritis steal your sex drive or self-esteem. With open communication, trust and proper management of your symptoms, you can set the foundation for a healthy intimate relationship.
Psoriatic arthritis symptoms can affect both your body and your mind. This may affect your desire for sex or intimacy in a number of ways.
For example, the condition causes sore scaly flaky skin on many areas of the body, which can be sore to the touch. Painful or itchy patches on the thighs and genitals can make sexual activity painful. As a result, some people with these lesions say they have less sex, or avoid it entirely.
Joint pain associated with psoriatic arthritis may make certain sexual positions uncomfortable.
Living with psoriatic arthritis may cause you to feel depressed, which makes you less interested in sex. And some people with the condition feel self-conscious about their skin's appearance and worry how a partner may react to it.
A positive attitude and open, honest communication with a trusting partner — and a doctor you trust — can help you create a healthy intimate relationship that thrives.
Here are some tips to help you get started.
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