Are you living with psoriasis … I mean, FULLY living?
Often people with psoriasis are self-conscious about their appearance when they have flare-ups. Those itchy patches of flaky, scaly skin can impact your daily life in many ways ... the clothes you wear, the places you want to go, and your overall mental health.
You may feel isolated if you keep to yourself during your flare-ups, but you’re far from alone. According to recent studies, about 125 million people worldwide and more than 8 million Americans have psoriasis.
If you’re suffering from this chronic auto-immune disease, you need to know that it’s more than JUST dealing with some scaly skin. About 30% of people with psoriasis will be diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and people with psoriasis are at higher risk for medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, depression, and metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
Although there is no cure at this time, there are many ways to manage your condition. Here are just a few tips to implement into your daily routine to manage your psoriasis and keep your skin as healthy as possible.
You may not be able to completely get rid of your psoriasis, but you can take steps to reduce flares and lessen its impact on your daily life.
Limit Stress - Stress is a common trigger for psoriasis flares. Meditation, yoga, exercise, and professional counseling are great ways to manage your stress.
Educate Yourself and Others - Fight stigma by educating yourself and others in your community about psoriasis. It isn’t contagious or infectious … spread the word!
Share Your Struggles - Many people with psoriasis struggle with self-esteem. Talk with your friends and family members about how psoriasis affects your life and how it makes you feel so they can support you.
Avoid Trigger Foods - Psoriasis causes inflammation in your body, so avoiding foods that also cause inflammation may lessen your symptoms. These foods include red meat, refined sugars, processed foods, dairy products, and alcohol.
Many people with psoriasis experience extreme itchiness. You can dramatically lessen the itch and improve your daily life with these tips:
Get a professional treatment plan. Don’t ignore your symptoms. Make sure to treat your psoriasis consistently by following the advice of your dermatologist.
Remove the scale. Removing the scale from your skin can not only lessen the itchiness but will improve the ability of your skin to absorb medications and moisturizers. Don’t pull the scale, use a specialized product to loosen the scale to the point you can gently brush it away. Visit https://www.psoriasis.org/seal-of-recognition/ for a list of National Psoriasis Foundation-approved products or ask your dermatologist for a recommendation.
Avoid hot water and limit the length of showers and baths. Shower and bath time should be SHORT! Your skin can dry out from too much soaking and too much heat may increase the itch factor of your psoriasis.
Moisturize! Seal in the moisture in your skin by using a moisturizing cream or ointment after each shower, bath, or handwashing. It will also soothe your skin when you have the urge to scratch.
Try an itch-relieving product: Over-the-counter itch medications containing menthol or camphor work well to reduce the itch of psoriasis. You can also try a cold compress on the affected area.
Why wait any longer? With proper treatment, you can see a dramatic improvement in your psoriasis and enjoy your life to the fullest!
Schedule an appointment with your dermatologist today by calling Integrated Dermatology of Tidewater at 757-461-1033 (Opt. 1).
