Though no cure has yet been discovered for psoriasis, observing certain principles in life style and skin care management will provide patients a scope for optimum control of the disease. Ten tips to prevent psoriasis flare ups are described here in detail.
Maintain Desirable Health Habits
Psoriasis flare ups are common when you are weak or tired. Taking a balanced diet while reducing red meats and alcohol will go a long way in helping the skin to maintain a calm milieu interior. Patients should also drink plenty of water and get at least 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every day. Do moderate exercises at least 3-4 times every week. Remember that good nutrition, rest and exercise tune up your body and mind and keep up the equilibrium which is essential to reduce the psoriasis flare ups.
Learn to Manage Your Stress
Stress has long been linked to the induction and exacerbation of all types of psoriasis. As mentioned above, psoriasis can be considered a life style disease (much like hypertension or increased blood pressure), a combination of genetic predisposition and psycho-neuro-immuno-hormonal triggers playing a significant role in the causation, initial triggering and maintenance of the disease. Psoriatics should try to learn and master any one of the stress management techniques like progressive relaxation, biofeedback, yoga etc.
Avoid Aggravating Medications
Around 200 medications are known to aggravate or even precipitate psoriasis. Common medications that can trigger psoriasis are:
- Corticosteroids.
- Lithium.
- Anti-malarial drugs like chloroquine
- Beta-blockers (medication used to treat high blood pressure)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like indomethacin.
If you have a family history of psoriasis or you are suffering from the disease, inform your physician if you are taking any of the above drugs. Your doctor may be able to substitute alternate medication.
Avoid Direct Injury to the Skin
Any injury to the skin in both involved and uninvolved areas can produce new psoriasis lesions by irritating the basal layer of the skin and switching on the spurting action of the epidermal cells.
Research shows that about 50% of people with psoriasis experience the ‘Koebner phenomenon’ — developing a psoriatic lesion at the site of a skin injury. Hence patients should carefully avoid any direct injury to the skin. Scrubbing to remove the scales is a mistake, as this can worsen the disease.
Treat Any Infectious Foci at the Earliest
Studies show that some infections can trigger psoriasis. Streptococcal throat infections often precedes an outbreak of guttate psoriasis (small drop like lesions), especially in children. Inverse or flexural psoriasis is frequently aggravated by a candidal infection in the folds. Severe generalized psoriasis recalcitrant to treatment is seen in immune-deficient conditions like HIV infection.
Treating the infection lessens or clears the psoriasis in most cases.
Quit Smoking
Many studies have pointed out that pustular psoriasis of the palms and soles, a variant of psoriasis, is aggravated by smoking. Patients who quit smoking found their lesions clearing up faster. Research also suggests that severity of psoriasis may be linked to smoking. Hence it is highly imperative that you totally give up smoking if you want to get rid of those itchy, scaly, red patches.
Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol is a trigger for psoriasis. There is no doubt about it. Though some dermatologists allow moderate consumption of alcohol in psoriasis, it seems that even a small quantity of alcohol (like a glass of wine or beer) does cause flare ups in patients. Hence the verdict is - No Alcohol in any forms!
Treat the Disease Before it Worsens
Most effective way to stop the itching and appearance of new lesions in psoriasis is to treat the psoriasis properly as soon as the lesions appear. Consult your dermatologist at the earliest sign of a break out.
Provide Extra Care For Your Skin
Keeping the skin moist and supple is of paramount importance in psoriasis. Any dryness will increase the scaling, flaking and itching which will further aggravate the condition. Immediately after bath, apply moisturizers. One of the best ways to lock in moisture is to apply a good moisturizer after bathing. Regular use of moisturizers can help prevent the itch and pain of dry skin and reduce scaling and inflammation.
Learn to Live With Psoriasis
While there is no permanent cure, psoriasis can be successfully managed so that one experiences more good days than bad. Psoriasis patients will do well to keep a positive mental attitude towards life and its happenings. Remember, any negative signal from the mind is an instant trigger for psoriasis! Avoiding a hurried life style and reframing stressful situations to minimize tension are good techniques to keep psoriasis under control.
Those who have shown interest in this article may find Psoriasis Triggers and Handling the Psycho-Social Problems in Psoriasis also worth reading.
Next: Psoriasis 101
Reference: Various Dermatology Text Books and Journals
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