5 Tips to Take Action Against Psoriasis

August is National Psoriasis Awareness Month. With over 7.5 million individuals impacted by psoriasis in the United States alone, this condition is important to understand, and to treat. At Qualicare, our home health care and in-home senior care franchise owners want nothing more than for our clients to be equipped to deal with any and all skin-related conditions and diseases. We hope today’s blog can help!

Get informed

What is psoriasis? According to the Mayo Clinic, psoriasis is a chronic disease of the skin that causes a “rash with itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp.” Psoriasis is a common disease, and there is no cure. It is a condition that generally goes through cycles, which will flare up with skin irritation for a few weeks or months, then subside. It is a painful disease, which can make it hard for individuals to concentrate or sleep. Thankfully, there are various treatments for psoriasis, and symptoms for some people can be managed adequately with lifestyle habits, and coping strategies that encourage better health.

Though scientists don’t know exactly what causes psoriasis, it is known that the immune system and genetics play a role in the development of the disease. Psoriasis patches are created due to a dysfunction of the immune system, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. An overactive immune system will speed up the growth of skin cells. A normal skin cell will completely grow and fall off in a month. But when a person has psoriasis, skin cells are fully grown in a few days, but instead of shedding they pile up on the surface of the skin.

This in turn causes psoriasis plaques that itch, sting, and burn. Though they can be found on any part of the body, the elbows, knees, and scalp are most common. Other tissues and organs in the body can be impacted by psoriasis too. A third of individuals with psoriasis can develop psoriatic arthritis, which includes joint stiffness, swelling, and pain. It is best to treat this condition early on, so as to avoid permanent joint damage.

Know the types of psoriasis:

There are three main types of psoriasis, according to Johns Hopkins Medical School:

• Plaque psoriasis: The most common form of psoriasis, which includes patches of red, raised skin on any part of the body. Finger nails and toenails also could thicken, and separate from the nail beds.
  
  
• Guttate psoriasis: Symptoms of this type of psoriasis may include small spots of red skin which are raised. Children are mostly affected by this kind of psoriasis. Sore throats precede this type of psoriasis usually.
  
  
• Pustular psoriasis: Small pus-containing blisters can be found all over the body or on just the palms of hands, soles of feet, or other small places on the skin.

Understand treatment options:

Though there is no cure for psoriasis, there are many ways to manage the condition. Healthline Media offers a number of tips for living with irritated skin. Interestingly, many of the suggestions correspond to general healthy habits – healing skin by healing our bodies. Common sense good health practices like getting enough sleep, avoiding too much stress, and eating healthy food can help calm a psoriasis outbreak.

Additionally, Healthline suggests potentially taking dietary supplements like fish oil, aloe vera, milk thistle, and vitamin D, which have been reported to ease mild symptoms of psoriasis. Home remedies for skin care include: keeping skin moist by using a humidifier, preventing dry skin before it starts, and moisturizing with lotion without added fragrances. Aloe vera, when used topically, has been shown to reduce redness and irritation caused by psoriasis as well.

Other easy treatments for psoriasis include lukewarm baths with Epsom salt, milk, oatmeal, or olive oil, which can soothe the skin. Additionally, exposure to ultraviolet light under a doctor’s supervision has been shown to sometimes help slow the growth of skin cells that are triggered by psoriasis. Ten or fifteen minutes in the sun could also help to reduce plaque, but of course, too much sun increases the risk of skin cancer, so this treatment must be done thoughtfully and under a doctor’s supervision.

According to Johns Hopkins, other treatments include laser treatments, topical steroid creams, Vitamin D cream, oral or topical retinoids, Anthralin (an anti-inflammatory drug), and Immunosuppressive medicines.

Be aware of triggers:

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, stress is the most common psoriasis trigger. Unfortunately, a psoriasis flare can cause more stress, which can feel like an endless loop. But learning relaxation techniques, and management of stress can help end the cycle and heal the body.

Additional triggers of psoriasis can be an injury to the skin, including a sunburn, bug bite, or vaccination. Also, any illness that impacts the immune system can trigger psoriasis. Skin flares could follow an ear infection, a respiratory infection, or any other type of infection. Strep throat in particular can trigger the onset of guttate psoriasis in children.

Cold and dry weather conditions can trigger a flare-up of psoriasis as well. Warm weather can improve psoriasis with natural sunlight and higher humidity. Some people who have psoriasis believe that certain foods, allergies, alcohol, and other environmental factors trigger their psoriasis. Really, it’s up to individuals to track when their flare-ups occur, and what is happening in their body and environment at the time, in order to best treat the condition.

Prioritize emotional care:

For anyone diagnosed with a skin condition that is visible to others, a certain emotional toll usually exists as well. The National Psoriasis Foundation has tips for navigating the emotional impact of a psoriasis diagnosis, especially for teens. It’s important to remember that talking about feelings is just as important as managing the physical impacts of the disease.

Children and teenagers need to feel empowered to talk about their psoriasis disease and to learn how to feel confident in their bodies. It’s important to simply be realistic about the disease and to not pressure the child to cover or not cover parts of their bodies impacted by psoriasis.

Family members, too, bear an emotional weight when children go through a psoriasis diagnosis, and it’s important to remember that everyone needs support, and all family members deserve rest, and holistic care!