Psoriasis is a condition of the skin. It flares up in the form of scaly red dry patches causing unsightly patches and much discomfort.

Those that suffer from it equate their flare ups with having an unwanted guest. They suddenly show up, irritate you and know one knows what to do with them. There are several treatments for this skin condition that can range from itchy to down right painful. For any psoriasis sufferer, the first port of call should be your doctor. However, never be afraid to ask your doctor about home remedies that can help your condition. One such home remedy is keeping the skin moist.

You can keep the skin moist in a variety of ways. Soaking the skin is a very effective way. Warm baths, soaking and swimming, help to re-hydrate the skin. This can also help to remove some of the dry, hard scaly skin that can develop. Soaking helps the skin stay moist as well as reduces the itching. The scaly skin, which can act as a barrier to many creams and medications can be removed more easily. If your don’t wish to soak or don’t have the time, applying cool wet compressed to the areas can also help.

It is important to remember that if you soak frequently, you should apply some moisturizer straight after. Soaking can remove some of the skins natural oils. Doing this too often without re-moisturizing the skin can actually make the problem worse. Make sure, at least within 3 minutes of your soak, you apply a moisturizer with heavy emollient. This will replace what was lost by the soak and help your skin stay moisturized.

Creams can also help you overcome your psoriasis condition. There are several moisturizers that you can by but these can be quite expensive. The costs can add up quite quickly as well if your condition is wide spread and serious. If you have cooking oils, petroleum jelly or lard around your house, you have some of the best treatments. Most of these items help moisturize the skin and lock the essential oils in. they also offer symptom relief from psoriasis itself. Most of us have one or even all of these items in our homes. They are just as good if not better than many of the hand creams you can buy and cost much less.

Keeping you skin clean is important for anyone. It is especially important for the psoriasis sufferer. Dirty skin can lead to infections. These can make the skin condition worse as well as create illness. One problem with keeping the skin clean is that many soaps can dry the skin out. Psoriasis sufferers must be careful with cleansers. At very least, choose a mild soap. If your psoriasis is quite severe then you may have to opt for a soap free option. You doctor or pharmacist will be able to advise you on which products will be best.

If one suffers from psoriasis, keeping the skin moist is essential. Dry skin can be irritating, itchy and even cause injury. Extremely dry skin can reduce flexibility and limit movements. It can also lead to skin breakage which can cause bleeding. Moisturizers are available but can be expensive. If you don’t want to spend loads at the pharmacy use cooking oils and petroleum jelly. These are just as good and will save a fortune. Use caution in choosing soaps. Cleanliness is important but certain soaps can worsen you condition. By keeping you skin moist, you can improve your skins condition and feel much better.

If you are a psoriasis sufferer, you may want to invest in a humidifier. Keeping moisture in the air may help reduce your psoriasis symptoms. We all hear of the benefits of dry heat but in the case of a psoriasis sufferer, the opposite is true. Dry heat and dry air equals dry skin. This can inflame the skin and make the condition worse.

Psoriasis can be an irritating and painful disease. It can create unsightly patches of skin and leave the sufferer self conscious of their appearance. You may need medical attention to treat psoriasis; however you can try several home treatments that are available. Keeping the skin moist, with regular soaks and moisturizers can help minimize the symptoms and improve skin quality.



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What do we know about the influence of the sun on psoriasis? Does the sun improve or worsen  psoriasis? Is the affect of the sunlight same in all the people with psoriasis?

The majority of the people with psoriasis (about 95%) report that the exposure to the sun helps them in their psoriasis treatment.

The exception is the people with the so-called summer psoriasis, which is known to get worse in the summer, possibly under the influence of the sun.

The summer psoriasis is also known as the Photoinduced or the Photosensitive psoriasis. This rare type of psoriasis affects about 5% of the people with psoriasis. The so-called summer psoriasis may be the result of the Koebner phenomenon — when the psoriatic lesions are triggered by any kind of skin trauma. Therefore the people with the photosensitive psoriasis should be extremely careful when exposing their skin to the sun.

The UV light in the sun is capable of suppressing the activity of the T cells in the people with psoriasis. Therefore, the sun in moderation is really capable of improving the course of psoriasis in the people with the so-called winter psoriasis.

Many people with psoriasis often go on vacations to the places with a better climate. People, who live in the Northern climate, usually notice a significant improvement in their psoriasis after a stay in a warm sunny Southern climate. Some people with psoriasis even choose to relocate to the places with a better climate.

But unfortunately the sun in excess may become harmful for the people with psoriasis, even for the people with the so-called winter psoriasis, which is known to get better in the summer, under the influence of the sunlight.

The UV light in excess may cause sunburn. Skin traumas are one of the major psoriasis triggers. Any skin trauma, be it cut, a bruise or a burn may cause either the appearance of psoriasis in the genetically predisposed to psoriasis people, or the flare-up of psoriasis in the people with psoriasis.

And thus the sun may become a psoriasis treatment method, as well as a psoriasis provoking factor.

Therefore, if you decide to improve the state of your psoriasis with the sunlight, you should treat the sun just as you would treat any other psoriasis treatment – there has to be a particular scheme, which you should follow while sun tanning.

If you have fair skin, or in the case, you want to be 100% sure that you will not get a sunburn, it is better to suntan in the shade (i.e. under an umbrella) for the first few days.

Apply gentle moisturizing creams after every sun tanning.

It is also known that some medications can make your skin sensitive to the sunlight, for example St. John’s wort, which is sometimes used in holistic medicine for psoriasis treatment.

If you do develop sunburn, you have to stay out of the sun. Even the strongest sunscreen, cannot protect you 100% from the UV light of the sun.

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Psoriasis is not an infectious disease. It is caused primarily because of an individual s genetic structure. A primary reason why Psoriasis occurs in individuals is a trigger factor.

Stress

If a person is stressed, it can trigger Psoriasis. Flare-ups are common and can be accompanied by itching sensation as well. Once Psoriasis occurs the person can feel excessively self-conscious and embarrassed, leading to more stress. If the condition is present on the feet and hands, it can disable a person from performing daily chores. The treatment of Psoriasis can be time-consuming and expensive, thereby leading to even more stress in the patient. Some of the methods in which patients can alleviate stress include participation in support groups, attending counseling sessions and meditation and relaxation therapies. Regular exercise can also curtail stress largely.

Weather and climate

The combination of excessive cold outside and the presence of indoor heating agents inside can trigger Psoriasis. Both conditions in combination dry out the skin and can make existing Psoriasis conditions worse. Winter holidays can also entail more work around the house, which maybe curtailed because of Psoriasis. Illness during winter can debilitate the immunity of a person, making them more prone to Psoriasis. Being in the sun can dramatically help improve the condition. However, usage of the air conditioner must be avoided as it dries the skin. Using moisturizers on a regular basis also helps to curtail Psoriasis.

Injuries on the skin

Skin injuries because of acupuncture, certain vaccinations, bruises, bites, chafing of skin, burns, scraping of skin, irritation from chemicals, shaving, excessive pressure over skin, tattoos, using adhesive tapes over the skin, cuts, sunburns, skin peeling treatments, scratching and rubbing of skin can all trigger Psoriasis. This condition is referred to as Koebner effect. As many as half of the total percentage of Psoriasis patients are affected by this condition. Various skin inflictions like Herpes blisters, boils, vitiligo, dermatitis, Lichen planus, scabies etc. can result in flare-ups.

Infections

Various infections can also be a trigger factor for development of Psoriasis. Infections include step throat, which triggers Guttate type of Psoriasis. Then, infections in the upper respiratory tract, HIV, skin boils etc. can also trigger Psoriasis. An infection of thrush can make a person susceptible to Inverse kind of Psoriasis.

Medications and drugs

Patients already suffering from Psoriasis, tend to develop more flare-ups when they ingest Lithium. Medications intended to treat high blood pressure can also trigger Psoriasis. Medications such as Inderal worsen existing symptoms of Psoriasis in 25 or 30% of Psoriasis patients. Heart medications like Quinidine also trigger Psoriasis. If a person is taking medication like Indomethacin for an arthritic condition, then Psoriasis can also be triggered by its intake. However, if the patient is suffering from Psoriatic Arthritis then this medicine can curtail these symptoms. Medications to prevent malaria also cause Psoriasis flare-ups. Excessive usage of Corticosteroids or stopping the medication suddenly can also trigger Psoriasis.

Hormonal changes

Typically, once a person is beyond puberty, the overall hormonal concentrations reduce. Symptoms pertaining to Psoriasis show improvement during pregnancy when hormonal levels surge. However, once the child is born, hormonal levels reduce, again triggering Psoriasis.

Smoking

People who smoke regularly are more prone to developing Pustular Psoriasis. Chain smokers are susceptible to fatal conditions of Psoriasis as well as Plaque kind of Psoriasis. The best way to deal with this is by quitting smoking.

Alcohol

Drinking and consumption of alcohol is also a trigger factor for Psoriasis. In fact, the efficacy of treatments is hampered when alcohol is ingested.

In addition to the above, certain kinds of allergies can also trigger Psoriasis. Changing one s diet to include healthy, balanced meals can help keep Psoriasis at bay.

This article was written by Ashley Broussard, a free-lance writer currently under contract by Q-Based Healthcare. Broussard has written for a number of news journals and is presently working in the medical field.



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