Sick and tired of dealing with psoriasis? Well, we’re not surprised. Itchy, irritating, and all-around debilitating, you wouldn’t wish this chronic immune condition on anyone.
Unfortunately, over 7 million Americans suffer from it nowadays! The good news, though, is that there are numerous steps you can take to help manage psoriasis and prevent those inflamed patches of skin from causing too much trouble. Want to learn all about the best tools and strategies at your disposal?
Well, you’re in the right place. Today we’re going through our top 7 psoriasis skin care tips. Check them out!
1. See a Good Dermatologist
The prevalence of psoriasis means your family doctor should have a reasonable understanding of the condition and how to treat it. Nevertheless, we still recommend seeking specialist intervention from a dermatologist as well. Why?
Because they’re experts at diagnosing and treating all manner of skin conditions! Unlike ordinary doctors, they won’t misdiagnose your psoriasis as eczema, for instance. Furthermore, they’ll be able to prescribe a suitable psoriasis treatment plan, answer any questions you have, and alleviate your concerns.
2. Avoid Scratching and Picking
The itchiness of psoriasis is one of the hardest parts of the condition for many people. With your skin crawling, it’s tempting to scratch and pick the affected areas to attain momentary relief. Alas, indulging the urge to itch can create an array of knock-on problems…
For one thing, what starts as an itch could become an open-sore. It’s quite common for vigorous scratching to draw blood; any germs beneath your nails can get into the wound and lead to infections. Overall, you risk exacerbating the condition and could cause further sore patches to appear.
One way to stop this from happening is to cut your nails on a regular basis. Keeping them short should make it harder to scratch yourself too badly! Taking antihistamine medications and applying moisturizing lotions, creams, and balms will make a big difference too (more on these next).
3. Apply Moisturizing Lotions
The best way to address your psoriasis is to keep the inflamed and affected areas moist. Trust us, the drier they are, the worse the itchiness and soreness of your skin will be. That’s why getting your hands on some high-quality moisturizing lotions, creams, ointments or balms will make a world of difference.
Picking the right product hinges on your situation though. For example, ointments tend to be thicker and heavier, which makes them great for someone with seriously dry skin.
Top tip: this is another area where speaking to a dermatologist will help. They’ll know the best products out there and be able to recommend one that’s suitable for both the severity and nature of your condition. You’d then apply it as per their instructions (usually after you’ve bathed/showered and throughout the day when you need relief from the itchiness).
4. Invest In a Humidifier
Moisturizers are an important weapon in your arsenal against psoriasis. Yet, let’s face it, slathering yourself in lotion all day’s far from ideal! You might worry about looking or feeling greasy, for instance, or find it frustrating to carry the moisturizer around everywhere (and buy a new one when you’re running low).
That’s where humidifiers come in. These handy devices can increase the level of humidity in your home and stop your skin from becoming too dry as a result. Don’t underestimate how valuable this can be- especially in the hot summer months, or when you’re using the heating a lot in winter.
5. Find Ways to Destress
You’re caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to stress and psoriasis. After all, stress makes the symptoms of this condition worse. Yet those very same symptoms are stress-inducing!
A downward slope can soon develop if you’re not careful, which is why we suggest learning some strategies to destress. Meditation, art, deep breathing, listening to calming music, yoga, and physical activity are all potential ways to do it. Combine these approaches with a close network of loved ones and stress shouldn’t prove too troublesome.
6. Take Regular Warm Baths
It doesn’t matter whether you have psoriasis or not. Few things in life are better than a long and relaxing soak in a warm bath! For someone who does have psoriasis, though, they can be an absolute lifesaver…
Not only are they amazing ways to unwind, but they’re also effective ways to soothe any inflamed areas of skin. Soaking in a warm bath can relieve your itchiness and help you remove patches of dry skin on your body. Using the best shampoo for psoriasis you can find will tackle any itchy and flaky areas on your scalp as well.
The trick is to strike a balance, though. Water that’s scorching hot can be detrimental to skin that’s already sensitive. Steer clear of excessive temperatures and anything but mild soaps and shampoos.
7. Keep Track
Many people with psoriasis experience a sense of hopelessness after a while. They’ve tried everything and anything to address the condition and still haven’t found a viable solution. It’s demoralizing!
Instead of giving up hope, though, try keeping a record of your daily experience. Take note of what you ate during the day and what you did, and then consider how bad your psoriasis felt. Over time, you should begin to identify patterns that reveal the factors that make your condition worse or better.
Remember These Psoriasis Skin Care Tips
It’s hard to overstate the impact psoriasis can have on someone’s mental and physical wellbeing. Aside from the chronic itchiness and discomfort, this condition can cause significant feelings of shame and embarrassment too. Are you familiar with the struggle?
Well, we hope the insights on psoriasis care in this article will make a positive difference. Keep these psoriasis skin care tips in mind and you should be one step closer to managing the disorder and enjoying healthy-looking skin. To read more articles like this one, explore the ‘Beauty’ section of the website now.
