We Asked a Doctor How to Reduce Psoriasis Flares in the Summer

From verywellhealth.com

Psoriasis can flare at any time of year.     Olena Malik / Getty Images

If you have psoriasis, you might expect the cold, dry winter to be your toughest season. But summer can bring a different set of challenges, from sweat and friction to sunburns.

We asked our chief medical officer, Sohaib Imtiaz, MD, why psoriasis can get worse in warm weather and what you can do to keep your skin calm all season long. 

Q: Why can psoriasis flare up during the summer, and what’s the best way to prevent it?

Imtiaz: Heat-related factors can trigger psoriasis flares in some people. Sweating, friction during exercise, or hot weather can make plaques itch more intensely, leading to an itch-scratch cycle. High humidity can also make psoriasis worse because it alters your skin microbiome, the healthy bacteria that sit on your skin.

While we know that moderate sun exposure is good for psoriasis, sunburn can provoke new lesions, which is another reason psoriasis can flare in the summer. Just be sure to use sunscreen on skin unaffected by psoriasis to allow for controlled UV exposure to your plaques. However, some people with the condition have photosensitive psoriasis, in which any UV exposure will significantly worsen the disease. If this is the case for you, try to avoid the sun.

Other ways to reduce flares in the summer include wearing lightweight, breathable fabrics to minimize friction and sweat accumulation on plaques, showering promptly after sweating, and applying emollients to maintain your skin barrier. And, of course, consistently use any topical therapies that your doctor has prescribed.

Q: Why is psoriasis usually so much worse in colder weather?

Imtiaz: You have less sun exposure and UV radiation in cold weather. Your skin also loses hydration in cold, dry weather. Since psoriasis is a disease of excessive dryness in the skin, your barrier is less functional.

Barrier dysfunction is a major component of psoriasis pathogenesis (how the disease works). Dry winter air increases transepidermal water loss, meaning you lose more water from your skin and it becomes dehydrated. When your skin barrier is disrupted, it becomes more vulnerable, and things that trigger your psoriasis can penetrate the skin.

Q: If someone feels like they’re managing their skin well in the summer, what can they do to replicate that success going into the colder months?

Imtiaz: I would say you want to start prepping your skin with more emollients and moisturizing ingredients to help it maintain hydration. The biggest thing is keeping your skin barrier intact and hydrated.

https://www.verywellhealth.com/we-asked-a-doctor-how-to-reduce-psoriasis-flares-in-the-summer-12032947