If you live with psoriasis, an uncomfortable and sometimes unsightly skin condition, one of your priorities is keeping symptoms at bay and avoiding worrisome flare-ups. But what happens if you experience a severe flare-up?
Try not to get too discouraged — there are steps you can take at home and treatments to tame your flare-up and get much-deserved relief.
At the Center for Dermatology in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Dr. Abdul Hafeez and his team are committed to effectively treating many skin conditions, including psoriasis.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes skin cells to multiply too quickly. With psoriasis, skin cell turnover can occur 10 times faster than without psoriasis. Over 8 million people in the United States have psoriasis.
In addition to the unpleasant symptoms — itchy, sometimes painful, silver or white flaky scales that cover red skin plaques and pitted or discolored toenails or fingernails — psoriasis affects those living with it psychologically.
People affected by psoriasis are twice as likely to battle depression and more prone to anxiety.
What’s worse is worrying about a possible flare-up can cause intense stress, as many people unearth bad memories from past flare-ups, including social exclusion when they were younger.
We don’t want you to feel powerless as a result of an intense psoriasis flare-up, so we put together a list of things you can do to regain control — and ease your symptoms and emotional distress.
This is a time to drench your skin in moisture — but use the right moisturizers. Choose those with emollients to create a strong skin barrier that holds in moisture. Also, use a topical corticosteroid, which reduces inflammation.
Another way to keep your skin as moist as possible is to take shorter, lukewarm showers instead of longer, hot ones. If baths are your thing, use colloidal oatmeal or Epsom salts.
We can’t overemphasize the importance of eating well. Avoid highly processed foods, red meat, nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants, etc.), and alcohol, among other things, and enjoy plenty of organic foods, fruits and veggies, and omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods, like salmon.
It’s also a good idea to take vitamin D supplements.
Stress may trigger flare-ups by exacerbating inflammation, so take it easy on tech/screen time, find the opportunity to get outside, spend time with loved ones, and practice relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing.
Here again, eating well helps, as does exercising and getting sufficient sleep.
The best thing you can do is resist the urge to scratch. We know psoriasis can make you crazy itchy, but gentle moisturizers can help soothe your skin. It even helps to refrigerate the moisturizers, making them even more soothing when you apply them.
Steer clear of things you know trigger your psoriasis, including harsh wind and cold weather, stress, the sun, and skin trauma like cuts and scratches. Try to avoid infection, and don’t indulge in alcohol or smoking.
Also, talk to Dr. Hafeez about your medications; some can cause flare-ups.
Hanging out with people who understand the pain and embarrassment of a psoriasis flare-up can help you emotionally. You feel validated, understood, and that you’re not alone.
When you experience a bad psoriasis flare-up, remember you don’t have to deal with it alone. We’re here to offer proven treatments, including:
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Hafeez, call our Lawrenceville office at 770-682-2500 or use our convenient online booking tool today.
