All you need to know about the skin condition Psoriasis, and how to take care of it

From timesnownews.com

By Dr Rinky Kapoor, Cosmetic Dermatologist & Dermato-Surgeon 

Psoriasis is caused because of a malfunctioning autoimmune system. It causes some areas of the skin to become thickened, inflamed, and red and covered with silvery scales 

                                                             Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: Our body and skin work in mysterious ways and the choric condition of psoriasis is one of the examples of the same. Psoriasis is caused because of a malfunctioning autoimmune system. It causes some areas of the skin to become thickened, inflamed, and red and covered with silvery scales.  Psoriasis can affect the entire skin or remain contained in a single area. It can affect anybody in any age group and psoriasis does not discriminate in gender. 

The exact cause or trigger of the psoriasis is not known but it begins inside your immune system. The T cells (a type of white blood cells) are meant to protect the body from infections and virus attacks. If, because of some unknown reason the T cells become active even when there is no foreign body attack on the system, they set off other immune responses, which in turn can lead to psoriasis. The rapid proliferation of skin cells causes the dry flaky silvery-white skin scales to appear on various area of skin such as elbows, knees, and scalp. 

What are the different kinds of Psoriasis?

There are mainly five different kinds of psoriasis, plaque psoriasis which is the most common type and is characterized with raised red patches on the skin, gutate psoriasis appears in the form of small drop like spots, inverse psoriasis occurs in the folds of the skin such as underarms, navel, groin and buttock areas, pustular psoriasis is represented by small pus-filled blisters, and erythrodermic psoriasis in which the entire skin is covered and then sheds in large sheets. Psoriasis can affect the nail and scalp too and can lead to dandruff, itching, and hair loss. 

Psoriasis works in erratic ways and has a variable course of improvement and worsening.  In some people, it goes in remission for years and then suddenly flares up and in some, it needs constant attention. There is a known cure for psoriasis but it can be easily managed if you work closely with your dermatologist and reach a skincare regime that suits you.  The important thing to remember is that psoriasis is not an infection and it is definitely not contagious. However, people suffering from psoriasis do tend to feel a little conscious of the skin condition and this often affects their lifestyle. Modern treatments and correct skincare regime can easily help you manage psoriasis and reduce any discomfort caused because of cracking and bleeding of the skin.  

How to reduce the effects of Psoriasis on your skin, and life 

Simple lifestyle and diet changes can also go a long way in helping to reduce the effects of psoriasis. Here is what you can do:

• Know the symptoms: The common symptoms for psoriasis are small inflamed spots on the skin, patches of skin with silver scales, dry cracked skin, itching, burning, soreness, rashes, joint pains, and nail abnormalities. These symptoms can come and go and therefore you need to be on a lookout and inform your dermatologist immediately.
• Triggers: Understand what is triggering your psoriasis. Stress, obesity, genetics, and cold weather are the most common triggers. However, it is different for everybody. 
• Learn about the treatment options: Your dermatologist will use a combination of therapies to reduce the bothersome symptoms and appearance of the disease. These include:
• Over the counter medications such as lotions, creams, Topical corticosteroids, emollients, coal tar, retinoid etc. These are the first line of treatment. 
• Phototherapy
• Medications and injectable medications

Skincare in Psoriasis

The golden rule is to do not buy any skincare product that claims to be ‘the cure’ for psoriasis. 

• Chose skincare products that are alcohol-free and hypoallergenic and contain ceramides, lipids, and hyaluronic acids.  Your body makes less of natural moisturizers as you age and therefore buying lotions and creams containing these materials will help reduce scaling.  Two more important ingredients to add to your skincare routine are salicylic acid (helps with flaking) and retinoid (reduces wrinkles, post psoriasis dark spots). A word of caution: don’t use retinoid during a flare-up. 
• Avoid using gel-based products on the skin as they contain alcohol that can cause dryness and aggravate the symptoms.
• Heal with sunlight: UV light can slow down the growth of skin cells and therefore small doses of the sun will be good for your skin. Try to get light therapy two to three times a week. However, protect your skin from the excessive sun at all times.  Apply and reapply sunscreen on the healthy skin whenever you are going out.
• Avoid injuring your skin. Nicks, cuts, bug bites; scrapes can cause irritation and increase psoriasis symptoms. 
• Avoid scratching and itching at all costs:  You should not itch or scratch any psoriasis symptoms instead use a cold compress or moisturize or ask your dermatologist to recommend a good anti-itch cream and use it as directed. As a home remedy, you can mix a pinch of turmeric with one teaspoon of honey and apply it on the affected area. Honey moisturizes and turmeric will help reduce the itching. 
• Limit your showers to only five minutes and turn down the water temperature to just warm (not hot). If you are fond of taking baths then limit the time to 15 minutes. Baths and showers rob the skin of moisture leaving it dry and irritated.  Take only one bath or shower a day.
• Use a gentle soap and cleanser for your skin and avoid using scrubs, loofahs, washcloths on your skin. 
• Don’t rub your skin dry instead gently pat dry. 
• Prevent dry skin at all times: Apply lotion and moisturizer as soon as you come out of the shower (within five minutes).  Carry one small bottle with you in your bag and reapply whenever you wash your skin or your skin feels dry.  People with sensitive skin should be extra diligent about moisturizing.  You can make a homemade moisturizer by mixing fresh aloe vera juice with coconut oil. 

Haircare in Psoriasis

• Use a gentle brush and don’t press it too much against the scalp.
• Limit the use of rollers and curling irons. They pull at your hair and the heat from the curling irons can irritate the scalp causing the flare-up of psoriasis.
• Avoid colouring and perming your hair when you have psoriasis flare. 
• If you have to colour your hair then make sure that you do not shampoo your hair two days before and after colouring. 
• Taking care of your nails in case of nail psoriasis
• Keep your nails short. This will prevent build-up under the nails and also preserve the strength of the nails.
• Wear gloves when you are doing any housework or manual labour. The correct way to protect your nails is to wear cotton gloves and then add an extra protection layer of latex gloves over them. 

Nail care in case of Nail Psoriasis

• Use a good hand cream to keep your hands and skin around the nails moisturized.
•  Don’t cut or push your cuticles. 
• Keep the nails clean and dry.
• Avoid picking, biting, or chewing the nails or the skin around them. 
• Don’t scrape the build-up under your nails.  Scraping increases the risk of injection. 
• Avoid getting nail treatments like artificial nails and extensive manicures.

Cosmetic procedures for the skin

With psoriasis, you need to be extra careful with skin treatments. Botox and fillers do not cause problems but procedures such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, and laser skin resurfacing may not suit your skin. Consult your dermatologist before you go in for any such treatment. 

Skincare from inside out

• Buy clothes made of soft material that do not rub against the skin.
• Give up smoking and reduce the intake of alcohol.
• Treat any cuts immediately and make sure that you seal the crack with a liquid bandage, watertight adhesive bandage, or super glue. 
• To keep the skin moist add oils, Epsom salts, colloidal oatmeal to your bath. 
• You can use petroleum jelly or olive oil at bedtime to help moisturizer your skin better. 
• Wear cotton gloves and socks at night.
• Avoid wearing fragrances.
• Modify your diet to include contents like fish oil, vitamin D, seeds, nuts, and turmeric and omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. Cut down on refined sugars, carbohydrates, and cola drinks. 
• Exercise every day and modify your diet to keep the weight under control. This will help reduce psoriasis-related health problems like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-skin-condition-psorasis-and-how-to-take-care-of-it/658688

Here’s how you can control eczema and psoriasis flare-up during changing weather

From indianexpress.com

While psoriasis and eczema do not spread to others, they do flare up during winters or cooler seasons, since the dryness of the skin increases, leading to more itchiness, says Dr Smriti Naswa Singh, Consultant Dermatologist, Fortis Hospital, Mulund

Lifestyle Desk | New Delhi | September 21, 2020 1:20:34 pm The lesions usually occur on cooler places of the skin like the elbows, the knees, the scalp, on the palms, soles, etc. (Source: Pixabay)

The body reacts differently to the changing weather, and those who suffer from skin conditions would know that weather always factors in whenever there is a sudden deterioration of the condition.

Eczema (or dermatitis) is a condition wherein the patient develops severely-itchy lesions with fluid-filled vesicles/oozing during an acute exacerbation phase, and psoriasis is a skin disease wherein the turnover of the skin speeds up. Instead of the average two months, the skin turns over in three or four days, leading to red or pink lesions with silvery-white scaling. The lesions usually occur on cooler places of the skin like the elbows, the knees, the scalp, on the palms, soles, etc.

Dr Smriti Naswa Singh, Consultant Dermatologist, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, says the reason for developing eczema could be external (sun, aero-allergens, some irritant applications, etc.) or internal (familial allergic tendency, endogenous eczema, old age, or a manifestation of other internal diseases like diabetes, chronic liver or kidney disease, cancer, HIV, etc.). While psoriasis and eczema do not spread to others, they do flare up during winters or cooler seasons, since the dryness of the skin increases, leading to more itchiness; when a person scratches, the patches aggravate.

Dr Singh suggest the following ways to control the outbursts:

* Change of weather to cooler weather makes the skin dry. Applying a moisturizer is key. Moisturizers work best on wet skin and have to be frequently applied throughout the day.

* Itch-scratch is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken to control the exacerbation. So whenever one feels itchy, they should apply moisturizer and not scratch the area. Oral and topical medications help in controlling the itching sensation; do consult a dermatologist for guidance.

* Weather-change is usually associated with an increase in aero-allergens, so those suffering from atopic dermatitis (eczema due to allergic tendency running in family) suffer more. They should try to keep their immunity high by consuming fruits and vegetables, taking adequate rest and staying away from common allergens like dust, sweat, synthetic clothes, wool etc. Cotton clothing is the preferred choice.

* Stress is known to exacerbate both psoriasis and eczema, and hence, should be avoided. Adequate rest and work-life balance are important factors.

* Psoriasis is directly linked to metabolic syndrome. Psoriatic patients have a tendency to be more prone to lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension and altered lipid profile. If the person indulges in oily foods, junk foods, gains weight, does not exercise, psoriasis can worsen. Adopting appropriate lifestyle measures will help in such scenarios.

* During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been overzealous in washing hands and using hand sanitizers. Detergent strips off the skin from natural moisturizing factors for at least 6 hours before the skin replenishes it. Sanitizers can be irritant/allergic to sensitive skin. Refrain from excessive use of soaps/washing detergents/sanitizers. Applying a moisturizer after washing/cleaning your hands/feet will help prevent the aggravation.

“A patient can prevent exacerbation of psoriasis and eczema by keeping in mind the aforementioned methods. But for treatment of the lesions, one needs a carefully-formulated, tailor-made prescription of oral/systemic and topical medications. You should visit your dermatologist at first instance of the flare-up, or when the rashes are noted; these can be treated with topical cream formulations alone.

“If unfortunately, there is delay and the disease becomes extensive, oral medications may be required and sometimes, especially in psoriasis and certain cases of endogenous eczemas, there may be a need for control of acute exacerbation. We call such cases as acute skin failure with risk of hypovolemia, infection, electrolyte imbalance and thermal dysregulation,” Dr Singh explains.

https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/heres-how-you-can-control-eczema-and-psoriasis-flare-up-during-changing-weather-6600916/

How To Take Care Of Your Skin If You Have Psoriasis

From thehearup.com

Psoriasis

The skin on your body is actually meant to protect you from the external world. Now, if you have psoriasis, then you’ll actually need to actively protect your skin from being irritated. You will need to create a skincare routine that will help to protect your skin and soothe your psoriasis. This will also help to reduce dryness and discomfort.

1. Make treatment a priority

You should always look for a treatment routine that will control the symptoms of psoriasis and take care of your skin. You should definitely become more aware of the different options you have.

2. Moisturize

One of the best ways to reduce the amount of dryness, itching, scaling, and soreness on your skin is to use emollient soaps. These are basically soaps that don’t have a perfume and don’t foam. These soaps will help by getting rid of some of the scalings and will actually help your psoriasis medication to get deeper into your skin. They can even help to make your skin more comfortable and reduce cracking.

One great tip is to use creams and ointments that contain zinc pyrithione and aloe vera. Once you have showered, cool down for a few minutes and then apply your topical medication. After, you can place the moisturizer and then re-apply moisturizer during the day, especially when you wash your hands. You can use moisturizers as often as you want. Visit Grahams Naturals for organic skincare.

3. Avoid things that irritate your skin

It is best to avoid anything, especially care products that have lots of irritants and harsh chemicals like alcohol. There are even certain laundry soaps that have residue that can irritate those with psoriasis. As a result, only use detergents that are free of chemicals and fragrance that won’t irritate your skin. You should also be careful with the clothes you wear and make sure they don’t cause itching. For example, if you want to wear a wool sweater, make sure and wear a long sleeve t-shirt under it that is made of cotton. It is also best to avoid hot water on your skin as it can cause excessive drying. You should aim to shower in slightly warm water and limit the length of your showers so that they are less than 10 minutes long.

4. Avoid scratching

Even though it is very difficult to avoid scratching an itch, it should be avoided as much as possible. This is because if you tear your skin slightly, it can lead to infection or even worsening the lesions on your skin. Simply use a moisturizer or you can even take a bath.

5. Baths

One way to get relief is to take a warm bath where you use a gentle soap. You can even add moisturizer into the bath. Some options include dead sea salt, colloidal oatmeal, oil, Epsom salt, etc. However, you should only stay in the bath for up to 15 minutes. When drying your skin, be very careful to pat dry and avoid rubbing. Then, you can use topical creams and medications followed by a moisturizer.

https://thehearup.com/take-care-of-your-skin-if-you-have-psoriasis/10893/

Stress and Psoriasis Have a Proven Link

From allure.com

To effectively treat this condition, we need to examine how it looks and how it feels

There's a proven link between psoriasis and stress, which — for the eight million Americans living with the autoimmune condition — makes tending to mental well-being just as important as treating physical symptoms. 

Studies have shown that people dealing with stress caused by major life events are at a higher risk of developing psoriasis. And those who have already been diagnosed with psoriasis report higher levels of stress.

These stories are living proof of that cyclical relationship — and that the mental and physical side effects of psoriasis must be treated as one.

STRESS CONTROL

By Ivy Smith, model and actor

After I gave birth to my second child, I started seeing flakes on my scalp. I thought it was dandruff. Then I noticed white scaly patches on the back of my ear, my neck, and my arms. I figured I’d just had a baby, my skin was acting up.

Over the course of a year, it got progressively worse. I tried anti-dandruff shampoo, but my scalp physically hurt. I worried, Is my hair going to fall out? Am I contagious? Everything was going through my head. I was already very stressed out because I was a new mom, and I was having relationship issues, which didn’t help.

My primary care physician told me I had psoriasis. It was scary because I didn’t know what it was. She said I had to see a dermatologist, but my insurance wasn’t that good; I’d have to pay out of pocket. So my doctor gave me what she thought was best — an ointment, an oral medication — but none of it worked.

It was two years of trial and error before I went to a new general practitioner who gave me a prescription shampoo — it calmed my itchy scalp, but left me with white patches, and didn’t help the rest of my skin. Finally, I went to a dermatologist, who gave me more topical solutions to try, like a steroid cream, which has helped my skin but not the psoriasis under my nails.

When I get stressed, my psoriasis comes back with a vengeance. The fact that I have to try not to stress out also stresses me out. I often wonder if things would be different if I hadn't been so stressed in my life when the symptoms first started.

More than a decade later, I’m still insecure about my psoriasis. My kids don’t even know I have it. I’m a model and actress, so I try to tell makeup artists and hairstylists about my psoriasis ahead of time. Some of them have it too and can relate, but sometimes I have to explain what it is, and that there’s nothing to be scared of. Nobody is perfect. We’re all unique in our own way.

COMMUNITY CARE

By Holly Dillon, founder of @GetYourSkinOut, a campaign on Instagram that supports and empowers those living with autoimmune and skin conditions
When I was 14, I noticed a spot at the bottom of my chin and went to my general practitioner, who diagnosed it as guttate psoriasis. At that age, you are very much coming into your own, and having something that presents on your face was a real learning curve. I had to understand how I could live with psoriasis, physically and mentally. By the time I was 18, psoriasis covered 98 percent of my body.

My treatment started with topical creams, steroid creams, and then moved on to UVA and UVB light treatment. Between ages 18 and 23, I got light treatments that required me to be in the hospital up to five days a week, an hour or two a day. Balancing that with university and then work was a huge challenge. It was difficult to cope, especially because each light treatment gave me only temporary relief.

My doctors said I’d failed all available treatments. I didn’t know what my life was going to be like, or where to find support. I went home and cried to my family, saying, “There have to be more people like me.” I decided to document my treatment with the help of a photographer friend, Lewis Khan. I put it on Instagram to find more people who understood what I was going through. I got thousands of replies from all over the world — and that’s how #GetYourSkinOut was born. Four years on, it’s grown to be a global movement for positivity, inclusive of all conditions and body types, psoriasis and beyond.

You cannot underestimate the impact living with a condition can have on mental health. The physical and mental must be treated and thought of as one. For me, I’ve gotten to understand my psoriasis by listening to my body — through rest, mindfulness, meditation, and having a balance in my life.

https://www.allure.com/story/psoriasis-mental-health-effects

Everything you need to know about psoriasis

From asiaone.com
By Dr Lim Chun Siong

Kim Kardashian has been pretty vocal about the autoimmune disease that she has – psoriasis. It is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects their skin, scalp, nails, joints, and even their metabolic status.

Psoriasis affects an estimated 3 per cent of the world’s population, and is one of the top ten skin diseases in Singapore.

As the world observes Psoriasis Awareness Month in August, Dr Dr Lim Chun Siong, Vitiligo, Psoriasis & Skin Clinic by DTAP Clinic, shares what you need to know about this disease and how to control flare-ups.

                  Psoriasis usually shows up as thick, red patches that can be itchy, scaly and can peel.

                                                                 The Straits Times

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, and so it means in sufferers, their own bodies’ immune cells starts to attack various parts of their bodies, such as joints, tendons, skin and more. When psoriasis attacks joints and tendons, it may lead to joint pain, stiffness or even deformity if not treated early.
This happens in as many as one third of people with psoriasis.

Psoriasis on the skin and scalp appear as flaky, thick patches that can itch or even become sore. Apart from the discomfort, these rashes can be disfiguring and embarrassing if they appear on exposed parts of the body like the face, neck, arms, or legs.

A patient said she stopped going to the beach and wearing dresses and halternecks since she developed psoriatic plaques on her arms, legs, and back.

Psoriasis on the scalp can itch, and may give rise to flaky dandruff and even cause hair thinning.

Psoriasis on the nails can range from the appearance of small pits to problems such as nail discoloration, abnormal nail growth, a separation of the nails from their beds, and even crumbling of the nails in severe cases.

Perhaps not very well known is psoriasis’ association with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and fatty liver. People with psoriasis have a higher chance of developing these conditions which can have adverse health impacts of their own.

This is especially worrying as the SARS-CoV-2 virus causing Covid-19 seems to be especially detrimental to people with such conditions as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease.

Rare complications can sometimes occur where psoriasis affects so much of the body that the whole body turns red, a condition known as erythroderma. Urgent treatment is often necessary if it happens.

Is there a cure for psoriasis?

There is no cure for psoriasis. The disease can last a lifetime.

However, there are differences in the severity of symptoms or suffer the same symptoms among people with the disease. Symptoms may change in severity through the years. It is typical for a person to be cleared of psoriasis after treatment only to see a relapse sometime later.

This waxing and waning nature of the disease is a source of frustration even for people with mild psoriasis. Because of the visible disfiguration, psoriasis can impact a person’s way of life at work, at school, in relationships, and emotional well-being.

Studies have shown that psoriasis can negatively affect the physical, psychological and social well-being of individuals as much or greater than major medical diseases like heart attacks, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.

Several forms of treatment are available to improve the physical symptoms of psoriasis.

Anti-inflammatory creams containing coal tar, vitamin D or corticosteroids, as well as ultraviolet light therapy can improve the skin rash and itch of psoriasis. More severe psoriasis is often treated with oral medications that suppress the immune system.

This helps to quell the autoimmune attacks and inflammation and allow the body tissues a chance to recover. Oral medicines can have various side effects depending on the particular medication in use and regular blood tests are usually recommended to monitor for potential toxic effects on internal organs.

The newest and perhaps the most effective treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis are a class of injectables known as biologics. These are genetically engineered proteins that target specific parts of the immune system found to be active in psoriasis.

They are able to treat almost all symptoms of psoriasis but are costly and may potentially increase one’s chance of getting a bacterial or viral infection or activate hidden diseases like tuberculosis, due to the immunity suppression properties.

A typical treatment duration can vary from a few months to a year and beyond. Although biologics are effective, they are not a cure and relapses can still happen after a treatment. More research is necessary to understand this disease better, produce better treatments, and hopefully a cure.

Psoriasis presents life challenges to people suffering from the disease. However, there are certain things you can do to help make your life easier if you suffer from it.

1. Control your symptoms

Learn how to control your symptoms well by treating flare-ups early, avoiding triggers, practising good skin care and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Having standby medication at home to treat a flare-up once it starts can often help nip it in the bud and save a visit to your doctor.

Infections, skin injury, weather, emotional stress, smoking, alcohol consumption and certain medicines can trigger psoriasis. Knowing what triggers psoriasis and keeping those things at bay are important.

Regular use of moisturisers on your skin is a good habit to adopt as it helps to reduce itching and softens the plaques.

Daily baths can help remove scales. Regular exercise, eating a healthy balanced diet, refraining from smoking and alcohol can help improve symptoms, mental health, reduce stress and reduce your chances of developing other chronic illnesses that are associated with psoriasis.

2. Learn how to manage stress

                                                                      PHOTO: Pexels

Stress can trigger psoriasis, and psoriasis can conversely also cause stress. People with psoriasis are more likely to become depressed. Some of the symptoms of depression are: lack of interest in things that you used to enjoy, inability to focus, loss of energy, inability to sleep, feeling that you cannot get out of bed.

Hence it is helpful to learn how to manage stress through relaxation techniques, meditation, and exercise. Consider attending counselling sessions on stress management. Please talk to your doctor early if you suspect you may suffer from depression.

3. Join support groups

Join support groups to learn more about the disease, connect with others in similar situations, share experiences on how to cope with psoriasis and make friends along the way. One such group is the Psoriasis Association of Singapore.

Learn as much about psoriasis as you can from qualified sources like your doctor, so that you can better manage this chronic condition through prevention of flare-ups, mitigation, and lifestyle improvement. Always seek help early if you need to. You are not alone.
This article was first published in Her World Online.

https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/everything-you-need-know-about-psoriasis