LIVING WITH PLAQUE
PSORIASIS (PSO)
Explore ways to stay informed and supported in your day-to-day life.
Select a topic below to see resources that are available to you.
WELLNESS
Explore practical ways to manage stress and support your overall well-being.
Start your 30-day wellness challenge
Find strength, knowledge, and support one day at a time. This 30-day challenge is designed to guide and empower you with daily tools for self-care and reflection.
Start the challenge
Guided journaling
Engaging in self-reflection about your emotional well-being may help you process your experiences. Contact a Nurse Navigator to request a journal that you can use throughout your treatment.* Available 8am–8pm ET, Monday–Friday.
Reflecting on your progress
If you're new to CIMZIA® (certolizumab pegol), this guided reflection can help you think about where you are in your treatment experience and where you'd like to go.
Nurse Navigators do not provide medical advice and will refer you to your healthcare professional for any treatment-related questions.
Coping with emotional concerns
Anxiety and depression are common among people living with a chronic condition like PSO. Stress can impact your symptoms, so it’s important to have a plan for when feelings of stress or anxiety arise. To help manage these feelings, you can try:
Staying in touch with your support system. Family and friends are important people to lean on when you are not at your best. Avoid isolating yourself. Speaking to others can be beneficial for dealing with the stress you experience.
Using mind-body practices. Regular meditation or yoga are great ways to clear your head. You can also try deep breathing exercises, which are known to help calm the body.
Setting goals for yourself. Don’t take on too much. Instead, prioritize one or two tasks per week. Try focusing on goals that are within reach.
Getting moving. Whether going for a walk or maybe doing a little dancing, studies show that even low-intensity types of exercises can help with reducing stress.
Reflecting on past challenges you've experienced may help you navigate where you're going.
Use this guided reflection to check in with yourself and make a plan for moving forward.
SMART goals
Break down your goals using the SMART method to stay focused, realistic, and empowered.
The Headspace app
Headspace is a mindfulness and meditation app offering guided sessions to support relaxation, focus, and emotional balance.
Coping exercise: 5-5-5 breathing
Calm your mind and body in moments of stress using this simple breathing exercise:
INHALE 5 seconds
HOLD YOUR BREATH 5 seconds
EXHALE 5 seconds
REPEAT
NUTRITION
Discover how smart food choices can support your health and treatment goals.
The role of nutrition in managing plaque psoriasis (PSO)
Research has shown that there is a strong connection between the gut and skin, which links our digestive health and nutrition with our skin health.
Diet/nutrition facts
- Some of the most common parts of the diet that have been shown to improve psoriasis symptoms include fish oil, fruits, vegetables, and vitamin D
- Studies have shown that a low-calorie, ketogenic diet can decrease inflammatory markers and decrease the severity of psoriasis symptoms
- Simple sugars and excessive carbohydrates may worsen psoriasis inflammation
Tips for success in using food labels
Learn how to read the food labels on the back of foods and beverages to understand how they fit your personal dietary needs.
Tracking your diet and symptoms
Track what you eat and your symptoms to find possible patterns with foods that trigger your symptoms.
GETTING ACTIVE
Learn the benefits of physical activity and how to move your body in ways that work for you.
Getting active
Moderate physical exercise has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, and higher-intensity activity may even help reduce the prevalence of psoriasis.
Physical activity facts
- Physical inactivity and obesity have been identified as critical risk factors for developing psoriasis, while regular-to-moderate physical exercise can improve your immune system functionality
- According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, you should try to get at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity and 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity a week
Exercise and mobility videos
Looking for some simple exercises to get more active? Watch the videos below, courtesy of the Arthritis Foundation, to learn movements and stretches to help you get going.
Side-Bend Stretch
Stretches your lower back and side muscles (obliques).
Shoulder Blade Stretch
Helps stretch out your back and open up your chest.
March
A range-of-motion exercise that also provides some cardio.
Sit-to-Stands
Helps work muscles used to rise out of a seated position.
Hamstring Stretch
Stretch your hamstrings out from a standing or seated position.
Leg Lifts
From a seated position, safely work a major muscle used for walking.
TREATMENT TOOLS
Get the support you need with tools and tips that make managing your treatment easier.
Discussing treatment with your healthcare team
Track your symptom experience so your healthcare team can better support your treatment goals.
Tracking your progress
To help evaluate your symptoms when starting CIMZIA® (certolizumab pegol), keep tabs on how you’re feeling at each of your initial doses.
SMART goals
Break down your goals using the SMART method to stay focused, realistic, and empowered.
Sharps disposal containers
Safely dispose of used CIMZIA injectors using this FDA-approved container. Contact your Nurse Navigator to learn more.* Available 8am–8pm ET, Monday–Friday.
Nurse Navigators do not provide medical advice and will refer you to your healthcare professional for any treatment-related questions.
Traveling with CIMZIA
From proper storage for your injection devices to getting through the airport, get helpful tips for staying on track with your treatment while traveling. Call your Nurse Navigator for more information at 1-844-822-6877, available 8am–8pm ET, Monday–Friday.*
*Nurse Navigators do not provide medical advice and will refer you to your healthcare professional for any treatment-related questions.
Have a trip coming up? Download the Travel Checklist to make sure you have everything you need.
COMMUNITY
Find guides and tips for connecting with those close to you and organizations that support your condition.
The power of community
Whether it’s opening up to those closest to you or connecting with others who understand your condition, community can offer understanding, encouragement, and helpful support along the way.
Talking to family and friends about your condition
Learn tips for speaking with loved ones about your condition and any help you may need.
Patient associations
When it comes to living with PSO, you are not alone. Here are some organizations that may be able to offer resources, education, and support as you treat your condition:
National Psoriasis Foundation
Provides resources like support groups, research updates, and treatment information for people with PSO.
1-800-723-9166
International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA)
A global nonprofit organization that unites national and regional psoriasis groups to promote research and care for people living with psoriatic disease.
American Academy of Dermatology Association
Focuses on skin health and provides resources for managing psoriasis.
Global Healthy Living Foundation
Offers tools for disease management and connects patients with communities of support.
The Skin of Color Society
Offers education and resources tailored to the unique challenges faced by dermatological patients with skin of color.
