Significant Tips and Tricks for Psoriasis Skin Care

 Psoriasis is a chronic immune disease that causes plaque to appear on the skin. It is usually the result of an overactive immune system. That system causes the skin cells to grow too quickly, which results in scaly plaques forming on the skin that needs to be treated by a dermatologist. 

This particular skin condition primarily affects the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp. It mainly appears in the form of red, itchy, scaly patches on the skin. It is a long-term chronic disease with no cure. Generally, it tends to go through cycles, which may last for weeks or months. After that, it may subside for a while or go into a remission phase. 

However, to manage its symptoms, various treatments are available. Patients suffering from this have to change their lifestyle habits and go to a skin specialist as soon as possible. They have to follow strategies to help them live better with psoriasis and get rid of it over time. 

7 Tips for Psoriasis Skincare

A person with psoriasis should add some critical steps to their skincare routines. By following special skincare techniques, patients can alleviate their symptoms and prevent themselves from psoriasis flare-ups.

Moreover, with the help of medications and therapies offered by reliable dermatologists, psoriasis can be treated. These treatments aim to either

• Treat existing plaques

• Prevent new ones from forming

• Slow or stop disease progression

In addition to these treatments, a person can take several steps at home to help reduce the severity of the plaques. These steps also hinder or prevent new ones from forming. Below are different tips for caring for psoriasis-affected skin and things that you should avoid. 

1. Keep your skin moist

It is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do for your irritated skin. It can help your skin heal and significantly reduce itching, dryness, soreness, and scaling. Always choose your moisturizer based on how dry your skin is. For locking in moisture, ointments are good because they are thick and heavy compared to lotions that get absorbed more easily. 

In addition, you can also select a cream recommended by a professional skin specialist that falls somewhere in between lotion and ointments. Always use a fragrance–free moisturizer. Use a product that suits you, not one that is expensive, because sometimes expensive products don’t work so well.

Gently pat on the lotion after your bath or shower. When you change the clothes, reapply the product. Apply more times during cold or dry days.

Moreover, when the air is hot and dry, use a humidifier in your home; it is another way to keep your skin moist. Turn on the humidifier if the heat is on. It will help you in retaining moisture in your skin.

2. Soothe your body with warm baths

A daily warm bath using a mild soap can help you remove dry skin and help soothe itchy spots. In the warm water, take 15 minutes to soak your body. Additionally, you can add these things to water for your comfort

1. Any oil

2. Finely ground oatmeal

3. Epsom salt

4. Dead Sea salt, and many more. 

But always remember, keep the water and soap mild. Harsh soaps and hot temperatures can be hard on the skin and cause more damage.

Do not rub your skin with the towel as you dry off. Instead, gently pat dry yourself. Because with rubbing, you can make sores worse, and it may even cause the formation of new ones. Immediately apply moisturizer after bathing. 

3. Heal with sunlight

Sunlight can also help you. Its ultraviolet (UV) light can slow down the growth of skin cells. So, according to dermatologists, little exposure to sunlight can be an excellent way to improve, soothe and even sometimes heal psoriasis lesions. Moreover, indoor light can also make a difference and helps in some healing processes.

Additionally, use sunscreen on your healthy skin. Try to get sunlight two or three times a week. Please don’t take too much sunlight because it raises your risk of skin cancer and may make your outbreaks worse. Also, before adding UV therapy to your routine, talk to your skin specialist. Make a regular check-up schedule with a doctor to ensure that you are not doing anything wrong.

4. Take it easy

Researches show that stress can make itching and psoriasis worse. Some people even found their outbreak to be a very stressful event. However, by lowering your anxiety, you might be able to calm symptoms to some level.

Build a support system of family and friends to lower your stress. Think positive about yourself. Take out some time for yourself. 

Medication, yoga, and deep breathing will also help you. Even a simple long walk around the neighborhood might help you in relaxing.

Other simple ways to bust stress are

1. Exercising regularly

2. Staying stress-free

3. Getting plenty of sleep

4. Eating healthily

5. Drinking plenty of water

5. Go easy on yourself

Avoid a list of these things as they can inflame your sensitive skin like

1. Lotions with alcohol

2. Deodorant soaps

3. Acids (glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acid)

4. Some laundry soaps

5. Shampoos with chemicals, and many more. 

Additionally, always buy clothes which are soft and comfortable. Before buying, feel the texture of the fabric. Don’t wear wool and mohair clothes. They can irritate your already inflamed skin.

6. Try not to scratch and pick

You probably may want to scratch the scales when you itch. But, remember scratching can tear open your skin, causing infectious germs to enter the skin, ultimately causing further skin infections that can only be treated by an experienced skin specialist. That can also make sores appear that were not before your scratching. Therefore, keep your nails short. Take an antihistamine if you feel itchy, and whenever you have an urge for itching, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and gently rub on moisturizer instead.

7. Stop Smoking and Limit your Alcohol

Smoking can stimulate flare. Consult your doctor to help you decide the best way to quit smoking as soon as possible because nicotine patches make the condition of psoriasis worse.

Also, heavy drinking can stimulate the symptoms of psoriasis. Drinking can even become more dangerous when combined with some psoriasis drugs. So if you want to drink, keep it within the limit for your safety.