How to Prevent a Psoriasis Winter Flare-Up: Expert Tips to Keep Your Skin Calm This Season

From sustainhealth.fit

As Kim Kardashian opens up about living with psoriasis on The Kardashians, experts are warning that a psoriasis winter flare-up isn’t just a celebrity problem—it’s a seasonal hazard for millions of Britons. When the temperature drops, your skin doesn’t just feel the chill; it fights to survive it.

According to Danielle Louise, beauty and skincare expert on Fresha, the world’s leading beauty and wellness booking platform, psoriasis is often less about genes and more about how you live.

“When the temperature drops, we lose humidity in the air, turn our heating up, and take longer, hotter showers — all of which strip the skin’s natural barrier,” says Danielle. “Add in festive stress, rich food, and heavier alcohol intake, and it’s a perfect storm for inflammation.”

The Hidden Triggers of a Psoriasis Winter Flare-Up

                                                                                                   Eva Rinaldi

Louise says that winter’s biggest skin culprits are often hiding in plain sight.

• Hot showers & central heating – “Both dehydrate the skin, disrupting its barrier and triggering dryness that can lead to flare-ups.”
• Alcohol and sugar – “Christmas cocktails and desserts cause inflammation spikes, which can make psoriasis worse.”
• Stress and lack of sleep – “Stress hormones directly affect immune response — and psoriasis is an autoimmune condition.”
• Over-exfoliation – “Harsh scrubs or retinols can damage the skin barrier and worsen plaques.”
• Scented skincare & body washes – “Fragrances are irritants; opt for fragrance-free, barrier-repairing formulas instead.”

In short, your winter routine might be fuelling your psoriasis without you even realising it.

Danielle’s Psoriasis-Friendly Winter Skincare Routine

A psoriasis winter flare-up can be managed with a few smart tweaks to your daily habits. Louise recommends these dermatologist-approved strategies:

• Shorter, cooler showers – Follow immediately with a rich moisturiser to trap hydration.
• Humidify your home – Combat the drying effects of central heating.
• Gentle exfoliation only – “Chemical exfoliants like lactic acid are better tolerated than scrubs,” she notes.
• Barrier-repair ingredients – Seek out ceramides, colloidal oatmeal, and niacinamide.
• Book calming treatments – “LED light therapy, gentle facials, and lymphatic drainage can all support skin health without irritation,” says Danielle.

These steps, simple as they sound, can make the difference between skin that survives winter—and skin that doesn’t.

Psoriasis: More Common Than You Think

Psoriasis affects around 1 in 50 people in the UK, yet the stigma around it persists. Louise says the industry is finally catching up. “More clients are being open about it thanks to people like Kim Kardashian — and that’s a good thing. The beauty industry has to respond with empathy, not judgment.”

So, if your skin feels like it’s waging war with the weather, it might not just be dryness—it could be the early signs of a psoriasis winter flare-up.

Slow down, turn the water temperature down, and show your skin the same care you’d give a good wool jumper: keep it protected, supported, and never, ever left out in the cold.

https://www.sustainhealth.fit/lifestyle/psoriasis-winter-flare-ups-tips/