5 Healthy Habits for Managing Psoriasis
Unhealthy
habits can affect the health of your skin and worsen psoriasis. These
healthy habits will help you manage psoriasis symptoms and make life
less stressful.
Psoriasis is a chronic condition that can’t be cured, but it can be
controlled. And adopting certain healthy habits, such as the right
psoriasis skin care, helps to give you that control.
Not only will a
healthier lifestyle
help you manage physical symptoms, it can help you feel better overall.
“Keeping yourself and your skin as healthy as you can also improves
your quality of life,” says Valori Treloar, MD, CNS, a dermatologist at
Integrative Dermatology in Newton, Mass., and author of
The Clear Skin Diet.
Here are five healthy habits that can help you manage psoriasis symptoms:
1. Manage stress in your life. Stress can worsen
psoriasis symptoms in some people, Dr. Treloar says. If you’re one of
those people, it’s important to control stress. To do that, start by
simplifying your life. Learn to say no to friends, family, and coworkers
if what they’re asking you to do is more than you can comfortably
handle. Participate in relaxing activities, such as yoga, meditation, or
tai chi. “
Find a stress-reduction activity
that you enjoy and practice it daily,” Treloar says. “You have to
practice to get good at it.” You can also reduce stress by adjusting
your reactions to the world around you. Instead of focusing on what’s
wrong, try to focus on what’s right and what makes you feel good.
2. Avoid skin irritants. When buying soaps and
shampoos, be wary of those with added fragrances and perfumes. Scented
formulas can sting or irritate skin that’s already inflamed. Read
labels, and look for fragrance-free soaps, shampoos, body washes, and
even laundry detergents. Also, avoid waterless, alcohol-based hand
sanitizers. Their alcohol content can not only sting your lesions but
also dry your skin, which can make existing psoriasis lesions worse and
contribute to new flare-ups. “If you’re sensitive to laundry detergents,
double rinse your clothes to get out the soap,” Treloar says.
3. Keep your skin moist. After a shower or bath,
pat — don’t rub — your skin dry. Then apply a moisturizer — the sooner
and the thicker, the better. Applying moisturizer immediately after a
shower or bath helps trap moisture in your skin. Ointments are better
than lotions for holding the moisture in. Continue to apply moisturizers
throughout the day, especially in the winter when the air is drier.
Find a moisturizer that you love, and you’ll be more likely to use it,
Treloar says. To help keep your skin moist in winter, try using a
whole-house or room humidifier.
4. Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake. “The
first thing I tell my patients is, if you smoke, stop. If you drink,
know that it can make your psoriasis worse,” Treloar says. Not only is
smoking a common trigger for psoriasis symptoms, it adds to your risk of
developing cancer and cardiovascular disease. And people with psoriasis
already have a higher risk for a number of medical conditions,
including cancer and heart disease. Alcohol, too, has been associated
with psoriasis though the link is unclear. “Most studies show that
increasing alcohol intake is associated with new onset of psoriasis or
worsening of psoriasis.”
5. Eat healthy. To help you manage your psoriasis
skin care, it’s important that you get all the nutrients needed for
healthy skin. Be sure to include fruits and vegetables in your diet
because they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Limit foods
that are high in fat and cholesterol. A
healthy diet
will help you maintain a healthy weight, and maintaining a healthy
weight will help you not only feel good physically, but also emotionally
— important because people with psoriasis are at higher risk of
depression.
