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Living with Psoriasis

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Living with Psoriasis

CARING FOR YOUR SKIN

You will need assistance from a dermatologist to treat your psoriasis, but there are some things you can do to at home to take care of your skin:

Take baths daily to help remove flakes and calm your skin. You can add bath oil, colloidal oatmeal, or Epsom salts to lukewarm water. Use a mild soap with added oil or fat to add moisture to your skin. Blot skin dry and avoid rubbing.1

Moisturize every time you bathe with either a heavy moisturizer or body oil. If you live in a cold or dry environment, you may need to moisturize several times a day.1

Expose the affected skin to small amounts of sunlight, but be careful. Too much sun exposure can make symptoms worse or cause outbreaks. Work with your dermatologist and keep a record of exposure time to make sure you do what is best for you. Be sure you cover unaffected skin with sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher.1

Avoid common triggers as much as possible, including: stress, infections, certain medications, injuries to the skin, cold or dry weather, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.2,3

ARE THE SYMPTOMS PERMANENT?

  • Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder, but symptoms can get better for periods of time.4
  • While there is currently no cure for psoriasis, a combination of medical treatments and lifestyle can help control the symptoms.4

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF PSORIASIS

  • Living with psoriasis been compared to having cancer, arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or depression.5
  • Although it is categorized as a skin disorder, an individual’s quality of life can be greatly reduced because of physical pain and physical limitations.5
  • People with psoriasis are likely to become depressed, encounter difficulty in their personal relationships, and have complications at work due to medical appointments and physical limitations.6

ARE THERE TREATMENTS FOR PSORIASIS AND ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS FROM THE MEDICATIONS?

  • Yes, there are many ways to treat psoriasis, including: topical creams, light or photo therapy, oral or injected medications, or a combination of these.7
  • You can also help manage your condition by avoiding common triggers.2,3
  • People with psoriasis are likely to become depressed, encounter difficulty in their personal relationships, and have complications at work due to medical appointments and physical limitations.6
  • There are several side effects associated with psoriasis medications, ranging from very mild to quite serious. They vary depending on the medication used and on your personal reaction to it. See “Are medications for psoriasis safe?” for more details.

WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR ABOUT MY PSORIASIS?

  • If you or your family doctor suspect psoriasis, you should seek out the advice of a dermatologist. Psoriasis is linked to other serious medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and depression. The sooner you start to work with your dermatologist to control your symptoms, the better the outlook for your long-term well-being.8


REFERENCES

  1. Psoriasis: Lifestyle and Home Remedies. Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriasis/basics/definition/con-20030838. Published 2016. Accessed August 22, 2016.
  2. Psoriasis: Causes. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/scaly-skin/psoriasis#treatment. Published 2016. Accessed August 22, 2016.
  3. Psoriasis: Causes. Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriasis/basics/causes/con-20030838. Published 2016. Accessed August 22, 2016.
  4. Psoriasis: Definition. Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriasis/basics/definition/con-20030838. Published 2016. Accessed August 22, 2016.
  5. Psoriasis. Canadian Dermatology Association. http://www.dermatology.ca/skin-hair-nails/skin/psoriasis/#!/skin-hair-nails/skin/psoriasis/what-is-psoriasis/. Published 2016. Accessed August 22, 2016.
  6. Life with Psoriasis. National Psoriasis Foundation. https://www.psoriasis.org/life-with-psoriasis. Published 2016. Accessed August 22, 2016.
  7. Treatments and Drugs. Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriasis/basics/treatment/con-20030838. Published 2016. Accessed August 22, 2016.
  8. About Psoriasis. National Psoriasis Foundation. https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis. Published 2016. Accessed August 22, 2016.
Related Terms: Dermatology, Acne Vulgaris, acne, psoriasis, dermatology