5 Things to Stop Doing Right Now for Psoriasis

From healthcentral.com

Keep flares at bay by ditching these habits that can do a number on your skin

Apply your topical treatments. Avoid your triggers. Keep your skin moist. Stay in touch with your derm. Lower your stress. If you’ve lived with psoriasis for a while, this skin-care checklist will be second nature to you. But what about the things you shouldn’t be doing? It’s easy to overlook some less-obvious lifestyle tips, but they can have a big impact on your skin health.

Whether you’re still having regular psoriasis flare-ups you can’t link to any particular trigger, or you simply want to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your skin in the best possible condition, try adding—or subtracting!—these tips from your list.

1. Quit Smoking

We know you know, but it still needs to be said: Smoking is a major health hazard, proven to cause cancer, stroke, and heart disease, per the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Smoking increases inflammation in the body, says New York-based dermatologist Radha Mikkilineni, M.D., who is also clinical assistant professor at Cornell Medical School, Department of Dermatology-New York Presbyterian Hospital. The raised scaly skin patches from psoriasis result from systemic inflammation most-likely due to a misfire in the immune system. So Dr. Mikkilineni’s warning won’t come as a surprise: “Smoking reduces the effectiveness of treatment for psoriasis as it is pro-inflammatory and stimulates precisely what we are attempting to reduce in these patients.”

Smoking also impacts how certain drugs are metabolized by your body, which can make meds less effective, adds Karan Lal, D.O., director of paediatric dermatology and cosmetic surgery at Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ.

Research has shown that smoking increases the risk of developing psoriasis and having more severe flare ups of the disease. One study of nurses and other health professionals, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, found that the risk of developing psoriasis is almost double in long-term smokers, compared with people who have never smoked. Another study of 276 psoriasis patients, published in Dermatologic Therapy, found that smokers may have an increased need for systemic treatment for psoriasis, such as biologics. 

If you have psoriasis and want to quit smoking, ask your dermatologist for the best next steps. Various quitting aids are available (like nicotine patches) but it’s important to check whether they could trigger your psoriasis, says the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The CDC offers free confidential coaching via the number (1-800-QUIT-NOW).

2. Stop Ignoring Antioxidants

According to a review article published in the British Journal of Dermatology, people with psoriasis often have decreased levels of antioxidant nutrients like beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium. Scientists believe this is due to a compromised gut barrier, which can impact nutrient synthesis and absorption, according to the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Antioxidants are molecules that fight free radicals (compounds that can cause damage to the body if their levels aren’t kept in check) and reduce the risk of disease.

A simple way to strengthen your antioxidant defences is to drink green tea, which is packed with antioxidants, including polyphenols, which are also believed to reduce inflammation (always a good thing when you have psoriasis). Hit up our Anti-inflammatory Cooking Club for more good eats.

As well as being present in many types of food, antioxidants are available in supplement form. Dr. Mikkilineni recommends the oral antioxidant polypodium leucotomos (e.g. Heliocare) to protect the skin from inflammatory conditions as well as sun damage and rashes that develop from sun exposure. While we still lack strong research supporting anti-inflammatory diets or supplements for treating psoriasis, an article in the journal Antioxidants says these strategies have promising potential for psoriasis and can enhance disease management.

3. Stop Blaming Yourself

Psoriasis is a stressful condition in itself, but the pressure from social media and a beauty-focused society to have smooth, glowing, blemish-free skin can increase the stress potential enormously. “Making comparisons [between your skin and others’] can wreak havoc if you have obvious psoriasis,” Dr. Lal says. “It's very important to work in partnership with your dermatologist to understand the etiology (cause) of psoriasis—it is not your fault.”

It’s also important for doctors to weigh the pros and cons of the mental stress caused by psoriasis with the risks of medications, Dr. Mikkilineni adds. She says that sometimes she’ll go to systemic meds faster (rather than a more conservative approach with topicals, the usual first-line treatment) if a patient is under severe stress as a result of their condition. “It means they can get relief faster,” she explains. “I think patients often feel that systemic medications for their psoriasis are a huge step and are fearful of them. I try to explain that these medications work and in the right circumstances with the right patient can result in a huge quality of life improvement.”

Dr. Mikkilineni also advises patients to seek mental health support. “Some patients can benefit from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and meditation,” she says.

4. Step Away From Stress

If cutting out stress was easy, the whole world would be floating on a sea of chill. But we all handle stress differently and have our own stressful experiences to deal with. “Having a chronic disease in itself is stressful and you have minimal control of it,” says Dr. Lal. “But psoriasis can be managed.”

Dr. Lal believes that manifestation is the key to a healthy life (while staying on top of your derm-approved treatment plan, of course). “If you keep your mind positive, you’re more likely to have a better outcome,” he says, adding that seeing a therapist is a great way to develop a positive framework on life. And remember, “psoriasis is a treatable condition and I have never not been able to clear a patient’s skin. Don’t give up—and find a dermatologist who fully supports your endeavour.”

Practical stress-relieving tips from the AAD include yoga, support groups, deep breathing exercises, and keeping daily gratitude lists.

5. Let Go of Harsh Bathing Routines

It’s a myth that you have to cut down on your bathing if you have psoriasis—there’s no benefit to this, as the skin barrier is not impaired in the same way as it is with atopic dermatitis (eczema), explains Dr. Mikkilineni—but there are modifications you can make to get the most out of bath time.

“It’s important not to use abrasive soaps and sponges on areas of psoriasis as this can worsen and even expand the psoriatic patches,” Dr. Mikkilineni says.

Dr. Lal recommends bathing daily with salicylic acid-based cleansers that can help soften and remove some of the scaling from plaques. Plus, keep baths to 15 minutes or less and showers to five minutes or less, use warm (not hot) water, and dry your skin—very gently—by patting it with a towel, before applying a fragrance-free moisturizer to all of your skin while it’s still slightly damp, per the AAD.

Finally—as always—don’t forget the basics! “Another aspect of skin health is overall health,” says Dr. Mikkilineni. “I cannot emphasize enough how proper nutrition and avoidance of sugary and highly processed foods can help maintain a healthy weight, reduce insulin resistance, and help with sleep and stress.” All of which can help you keep your psoriasis symptoms under control, and those flare ups to a minimum.

https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/psoriasis/5-things-to-stop-doing-right-now-for-psoriasis