Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales. These patches are normally found on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on the body. Most people only have small patches and in some cases the patches can be itchy or sore. Psoriasis affects around 2% of people in the UK. It can start at any age, but most often develops in adults under 35 years old. It affects men and women equally and the severity of psoriasis varies greatly from person to person. For some it is just a minor irritation, but for others it can majorly affect their quality of life. Psoriasis is a long-lasting (chronic) disease that usually involves periods where someone has no symptoms or mild symptoms, followed by periods when symptoms are more severe. There is no cure for psoriasis but finding your triggers and avoiding them is an effective way of preventing flare ups. Psoriasis triggers vary from person to person, so it is important to identify your specific triggers to be able to prevent or reduce symptoms.
Here are some top tips that may help to prevent flare ups:
Reduce Stress
The daily stresses of life can be tough on anyone, but they are particularly challenging for those with psoriasis. The body tends to have an inflammatory reaction to stress. This response can cause a psoriasis flare-up.
It is important to reduce the amount of stress in your life as much as possible, some ways in which you can do this are:
- Problem shared - If you find things are getting on top of you, talk to a friend or relative about how you are feeling. It is also a sensible idea to see your GP if sustained stress is causing your skin to flare up. If you are feeling overburdened at work, speaking to a colleague or line manager may bring up solutions on how to streamline your schedule.
- Sleep - Sleep is the body’s chance to repair and regenerate. Aim for 7-8 hours unbroken sleep per night, switch off all electrical devices such as laptops and televisions and avoid staring at your mobile phone an hour before bed. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine after 2pm and food after 8pm will allow your body to focus on entering sleep mode.
- Complementary therapies - Aromatherapy, acupuncture, reflexology, massage and other holistic therapies have all been shown to tackle symptoms of stress and improve well-being. Read this previous article ‘Can complementary therapies help heal eczema’ for more information on which therapies are right for you (LINK)
- Exercise - Get the blood flowing by engaging in any activity you enjoy; not only does regular moderate exercise balance hormone levels, it releases pain relieving substances and happy hormones, improves self-esteem and encourages skin to perform better by boosting circulation. Walking, yoga, swimming and martial arts are all good choices for relieving stress.
Take Care of Your Skin and Scalp – Prevent skin injuries
Trauma to the skin can cause a flare-up, a condition called "Koebner's phenomenon." Infections can also cause problems. Be careful with your skin: never pick at patches or scales, as you may make your psoriasis worse. Use caution when trimming your nails. If you cut yourself, it might cause your symptoms to flare up. Be especially careful when shaving and do your best to prevent insect bites and chafing. When spending extended periods outdoors, you should always take extra precautions including:
- Wearing sun protection and a hat when exposed to the sun for longer periods of time
- Wearing long sleeves and gloves when gardening
- Using a bug spray before spending time outdoors
- Being cautious in general when engaging in outdoor activities
Avoid Dry, Cold Weather
Climate can have a big effect on psoriasis. For many people, cold, dry weather makes symptoms worse. Make sure you protect yourself when having to face winter weather by wearing appropriate clothing and cover exposed skin as much as possible, for instance by using a scarf to protect your neck and face from the elements. Hot weather can make things better, but not always. In warmer climates wearing breathable, natural fabrics such as cotton and linen can also make a huge difference to your skin.
Use a Humidifier
It's important to keep your skin moist. Turn on the humidifier when the air inside your house is dry. Learn about the different types of humidifiers and how to use them.
Exercise, Eat Right, and Maintain a Healthy Weight
Although no studies have shown a link between diet and psoriasis, experts recommend that people with the condition eat a well-balanced diet that's high in fruits and vegetables. Some people say their symptoms improve when they remove dairy or gluten. Exercise may also help. Some studies show excess weight can trigger flares, so try to stay at a healthy weight. Certain foods appear to cause inflammation in the body, which can trigger psoriasis symptoms in some people. Other foods seem to help reduce inflammation and the occurrence of flare-ups. Foods that may cause inflammation include:
- red meat
- dairy
- high-fat foods
- processed foods
- refined sugars
- nightshades, such as tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers
- citrus fruits
Foods that may reduce inflammation include:
- fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna
- seeds, such as flax seeds and pumpkin seeds
- nuts, especially walnuts and almonds
- green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale
You may also benefit from taking vitamins or supplements if your diet is lacking certain nutrients. Make sure to consult your doctor or a nutritionist before adding vitamins or supplements to your diet.
Use Moisturizing Products.
Symptoms get worse when your skin is dry, so keep it moist with creams and lotions. It is key to use creams that are gentle on the skin but also lock in moisture and allow the skin to breathe at the same time.
Use our unique & award-winning 2 step Spray-Cream Therapy System with our Dermaspray Intensive & Zeoderm Skin Repair Moisturiser to achieve maximum results. Our products deeply nourish your skin but are also incredibly gentle, making them suitable for those who may be prone to eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis.
Our Bioskin Zeoderm Skin Repair Moisturiser is our best-selling deep nourishment cream for anyone with dry to severely dry skin. The powerful ingredients in this cream will allow the skin to regain strength to find a healthy balance. For years now our Bioskin Dermaspray Intensive has been a saviour to anyone with severely dry and itchy skin. The fine liquid of the Spray sinks deep into the skin feeding it all it needs to become stronger and healthier. The Spray application makes the product easy to use as it is non-greasy, and it does not need rubbing in. It can also be applied on larger parts of the body or even on more difficult to reach areas, like the itchy scalp.
You can find out more about both products here: https://salcuraskincare.com/collections/bioskin
We also wanted to share some great Before & After pictures from one of our customers who suffers with psoriasis and stared using our Bioskin DermaSpray and Zeoderm together, these were her results just after one week
‘My results after using Salcura products for 1 week! it has cleared up the split skin and feels good on my skin also smells amazing. This is only after 1 week so I’m excited to keep going! Thank you Salcura’
In light of World Psoriasis Day on 29th October 2020 we are giving you Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price on our Bioskin and Omega Rich products so you can give them a try.
