Men’s Health: Impacts of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

• (0:00) Intro to Psoriasis Uncovered & guest welcome to dermatologist Dr. Jason E. Hawkes, Jeff Brown, and Darren Hitz.  
• (1:14) Our biggest challenges to living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and where we are now.
• (6:45) General challenges in treating men with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis.
• (9:40) Navigating the higher risk of psoriasis related comorbidities that impact men’s health.
• (12:52) Tips for advocating for or being the coach of your care with your health care team.
• (18:10) The impact of psoriasis on relationships and sexual health. 
• (21:37) Having the conversation about psoriatic disease with your partner and how much do you share. 
• (23:24) Psoriasis on high impact areas and the complexities associated with managing the disease.
• (29:17) Considerations in family planning such as use of specific medications.
• (31:30) The concept of stoicism and suffering in silence vs asking for help when needed.
• (34:49) Being active with psoriatic disease is possible and can reduce the risk of comorbidities.
• (41:29) Tips for making the process of shaving easier to avoid the Koebner phenomenon.
• (46:56) Access information from reputable sources to understand what you have, and how to manage the disease physically and mentally to attain minimal disease. Don’t give up hope.

Dermatologist Jason E. Hawkes, M.D., MS is Co-owner, Chief Scientific Officer and Investigator with Oregon Medical Research Center (OMRC) in Portland, Oregon. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Hawkes’ principal clinical and research interests are the treatment of complex inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, chronic urticaria (hives), and eczema. He has a special interest in translational human research and the development of novel biologics and small molecules used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Dr. Hawkes is also a Councilor of the International Psoriasis Council and serves on the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Jeff Brown started his journey with plaque psoriasis in his forties when he noticed bumps under his clothes which eventually spread to his face and legs.  At the same time he experienced severe foot, knee, and hip pain. Seeking different opinions from dermatologists and a rheumatologist he was eventually diagnosed with psoriasis in 2016 and was prescribed a biologic. In 2021, his joint issues worsened and following a bad illness with extreme fatigue he was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. “At that point I'd figured out that psoriasis was more severe than just a skin rash,” he shares. Jeff likes to stay active with hiking, biking, walking, and being a volunteer for several organizations including NPF, where he acts as a moderator and participant for NPF’s podcast series Psoriasis Uncovered.  His motto is “Enjoy the good days and do what you want but also know your limitations. Be open and honest about it”.

Darren Hitz was first diagnosed with psoriasis as a child and struggles with guttate psoriasis for many years with at times covered more than 50% of his body, making it hard for him to stay active without feeling self-conscious. As a result he also experienced anxiety and depression. “Dealing with the anxiety that comes from being a teenager and in your 20’s with psoriasis and always being concerned about people seeing you and what they notice about you can get mentally exhausting.” As an adult Darren became a nurse working in the ICU for 10 years and recognizing  the benefits of staying active to reduce the risk of comorbidities he turned to hiking which he has done for decades, hiking some of the most famous trails in the world from New Zealand, Japan, and in the U.S.

• “Men with Psoriasis” for tips on everyday living, emotional well being and relationships
• “Genital Psoriasis” for more information about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.  Reviewed March 2026.
• Seal of Recognition Product Directory
• One to One Program 
• “Positives Instead of Negatives: Living with Psoriatic Disease” Psoriasis Uncovered April 2023 podcast episode with Alan Simmons and Rene Joyce.