Psoriasis is an often-misunderstood condition. Pinning down the exact cause has been elusive, and the current belief is that it’s actually caused by multiple factors. One likely culprit involves the immune system.
If you have active psoriasis, you also have an overactive immune system. This causes inflammation within the body, which results in the visible symptoms seen on the outside of the body.
This article will highlight some of the tips you can use to help make living with psoriasis a little bit easier.
Coping with Psoriasis – Tip #1
Seek professional help. If you haven’t already, set up a consultation with a qualified health care provider, experienced in skin disorders in general, and psoriasis in particular. Their advice, expertise and guidance can save you a lot of time and money you might otherwise spend on ineffective treatments and therapies.
Coping with Psoriasis – Tip #2
Limit stress as much as possible. Research has shown a direct correlation between stress levels and the incidence of flare-ups. Unfortunately, you often have no control over the amount of stress you must deal with.
But you do have a great deal of control as to how you deal with it, and how much influence you allow it to exert in your life. Consider trying meditation, which has been used for centuries to help calm the mind and can help reduce the impact of the stress you encounter.
Coping with Psoriasis – Tip #3
Pamper your skin by keeping it moist. Look for a product that doesn’t contain harsh, harmful, irritating chemicals and moisturize every single day. Preferably twice a day.
Look for moisturizers that contain healing oils, like tea tree, geranium, and lavender. A bonus if they also contain hydrating oils, like aloe and coconut. It doesn’t need to be expensive in order to be effective.
Reapply moisturizer after a bath or when you step out of the shower. You may also find you need more on days that are very cold or very dry.
Using a humidifier may also help retain your skin’s moisture, particularly if the heat is on in the house, making the air dry and hot.
Coping with Psoriasis – Tip #4
Get consistent exercise. Exercise is an excellent way to help counteract the effects of stress. Strive for 30 minutes a day if possible, even if you have to break it down into three sessions of 10 minutes each. The cumulative effects of consistency will still offer benefits.
The best exercise anyone can undertake is the one they will keep up with, so pick something you really enjoy doing. Exercise can be (and should be) fun! Try dancing, biking, yoga, or walking. Even better if you can do it outside. Spending 10 minutes every day in the sun triggers the production of vitamin D, which can help reduce inflammation.
Coping with Psoriasis – Tip #5
Don’t overlook your diet. Make sure you’re eating as healthy as possible. Many people with psoriasis find certain foods can trigger flare-ups and others seem to help soothe the skin. You may need to experiment to discover exactly which foods you may need to eliminate from your diet.
Foods that are anti-inflammatory may help reduce your skin’s irritation. Acidic foods, or foods with gluten, may make your symptoms worse. A good nutritionist, along with your own experimentation, can help you determine which foods you should consume more of, and which ones you may want to eliminate.
Final Words
Coping with psoriasis means you taking control of your life, rather than allowing psoriasis to control it. These tips can help, but one of the biggest factors in successfully coping with psoriasis is in the way you perceive it, the mindset you have about it. In the end, you have the ability to choose who gets the control.