New year resolutions on life style management in psoriasis will help majority patients keep their disease under optimum control throughout the year.
Psoriasis is considered a life style disease by many dermatologists, akin to diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
Psoriasis being a chronic disease with a clinical course dotted with waxing and waning and no hope of complete cure yet in the horizon, patients with this disease have to learn to live with psoriasis. Here are some important year long resolutions for psoriasis patients so that they can keep their disease activity under control.
10 New Year Resolutions for Psoriasis Patients
- Maintain Healthy Habits: Psoriasis flares up when the body is weak and the immunity is low. A balanced diet, reduced intake of red meats, plenty of fruits and ample intake of water will ensure a calm milieu interior (internal environment). Good sleep (7-8 hours per day) and regular moderate exercise at least 3-4 times a day will help to keep the body fit .
- Avoid alcohol:Alcohol of any form and amount can act as a psoriasis trigger. Hence avoidance of alcohol in toto is advisable if psoriasis is to be kept under control.
- No smoking:Research suggests that the severity of psoriasis increases proportionally with smoking. Pustular psoriasis has been shown to increase with smoking. Psoriasis patients who smoke have experienced faster clearing of their plaques after stopping smoking. Psoriasis has also been linked to increased heart disease risk, which makes smoking a highly risky habit for psoriasis patients.
- Regular Stress Management: Stress, through a complex genetic-psycho-neuro-immuno-hormonal pathway, can trigger psoriasis and is linked to the induction, maintenance and exacerbation of all types of psoriasis. Recognizing and managing daily stressors through meditation, biofeedback techniques, yoga or relaxation methods will help all psoriasis patients. Counseling and participation in support groups will benefit those who find it difficult to relax themselves.
- Avoid Causing Skin Trauma by Rubbing or Scratching: Psoriasis plaques can develop in areas of skin trauma and hence conscious effort should be taken to avoid skin injury.
- Make a List of Psoriasis Triggering Medications and Avoid Them as Far as Possible: Beta blockers, lithium, iodides, systemic steroids, non steroidal ant inflammatory drugs, antimalarials etc are best avoided by psoriatics. Sudden withdrawal of systemic or topical steroids can precipitate pustular psoriasis or erythrodermic psoriasis in patients with normal plaque psoriasis. Scalp psoriasis can become generalized following usage of strong steroids like clobetasole propionate. Hence steroids should be used with extra caution in psoriasis. Never self medicate, never use a medication that is not prescribed by your dermatologist for psoriasis.
- Treat All Infections at the Earliest: Research has proven that guttate psoriasis follows a bout of streptococcal throat infection. Other forms of psoriasis may also be triggered following infections. Hence appropriate antibiotics should be taken by a person with previous psoriasis or family history of psoriasis.
- Treat Psoriasis as Soon as the First Rashes Appear: Early proper treatment can control the disease fast.
- Love the Skin and Take Good Daily Care: Keeping the skin moist and supple help clear psoriasis plaques fast. Soaking the body in a luke warm oat meal bath will relieve itching and hydrate the psoriasis scales. Apply emollients and moisturizers on top of these moist, hydrated psoriatic scales.
- Learn to Live with Psoriasis: Recognizing that psoriasis is a lifelong disease that can be kept under control with optimum care and treatment options, a patient with psoriasis can experience more remissions than exacerbations. Combined with a positive and healthy living style, an individually tailored psoriasis management program can work wonders for each psoriasis patient in the coming year.
Next: Psoriasis Treatment Guidelines.
Reference: Psoriasis, in Skin Care Tips From Dermatologist
The copyright of the article New Year Resolutions for Psoriasis Patients in Psoriasis is owned by Hanish Babu. Permission to republish New Year Resolutions for Psoriasis Patients in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Feb 15, 2009 11:55 PM
Guest :
Feb 16, 2009 11:21 PM
Hanish Babu :
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