Living with Psoriasis

CARING FOR YOUR SKIN

You will need assistance from a dermatologist to treat your psoriasis, but there are some things you can do to at home to take care of your skin:

Take baths daily to help remove flakes and calm your skin. You can add bath oil, colloidal oatmeal, or Epsom salts to lukewarm water. Use a mild soap with added oil or fat to add moisture to your skin. Blot skin dry and avoid rubbing.1

Moisturize every time you bathe with either a heavy moisturizer or body oil. If you live in a cold or dry environment, you may need to moisturize several times a day.1

Expose the affected skin to small amounts of sunlight, but be careful. Too much sun exposure can make symptoms worse or cause outbreaks. Work with your dermatologist and keep a record of exposure time to make sure you do what is best for you. Be sure you cover unaffected skin with sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher.1

Avoid common triggers as much as possible, including: stress, infections, certain medications, injuries to the skin, cold or dry weather, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.2,3


ARE THE SYMPTOMS PERMANENT?

  • Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder, but symptoms can get better for periods of time.4
  • While there is currently no cure for psoriasis, a combination of medical treatments and lifestyle can help control the symptoms.4

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF PSORIASIS

  • Living with psoriasis been compared to having cancer, arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or depression.5
  • Although it is categorized as a skin disorder, an individual’s quality of life can be greatly reduced because of physical pain and physical limitations.5
  • People with psoriasis are likely to become depressed, encounter difficulty in their personal relationships, and have complications at work due to medical appointments and physical limitations.6