Common psoriasis triggers that can cause psoriasis flare-ups

From aad.org

If your psoriasis seems to flare for no reason, one or more triggers could be to blame. Everyday things like stress, a bug bite, and cold temperatures can trigger psoriasis.

Triggers vary from person to person. By finding your triggers and learning how to manage them, you can gain better control of your psoriasis and have fewer flares.

To find yours, you’ll have to do a bit of detective work. A good place to start is by looking at this chart of the common triggers, which also gives you signs that that it could be a trigger for you.

Stress

Do you get flare-ups when you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed? Stress is a common trigger.

Reduce risk of flare-ups from stress

• Find a way to manage your stress and practice it — even when you’re feeling okay. Common stress busters include yoga, meditation, and support groups.

• Before going to sleep, write down 3 things that you’re grateful for. Do this daily.

• When you start to feel stressed, take a deep breath, hold it, and exhale slowly.

Skin injury

If this triggers your psoriasis, you’ll get a flare-up near (or in the same spot as) the injury or bite. This happens about 10 to 14 days after you injure your skin.

Flare-ups happen after getting a cut, scrape, sunburn, scratch, outbreak of poison ivy, bruise, or bug bite.

Reduce the risk of flare-ups from a skin injury

• If you injure your skin, treat it quickly.

• If your skin itches, calm the itch.

• Avoid scratching, which can trigger a flare.

• Try to avoid getting bug bites by using insect repellent and staying indoors when bugs are most active. Bugs are most active at dusk and dawn.

Drinking frequently or in excess

If you drink daily or have more than 2 drinks in a day frequently, your treatment for psoriasis may have little or no effect. Even treatment that could be effective for you may not work and you’ll continue to have flare-ups.

Reduce the risk of flare-ups from drinking

• Quit drinking.

• If you continue to drink, limit how much you drink in a day. Women should stop after 1 drink. Men should limit themselves to 2 drinks per day.

• Be sure to tell your dermatologist if you drink alcohol. Drinking can make it risky to take some psoriasis medications like methotrexate.

Smoking

Does your psoriasis flare unexpectedly? If you smoke or spend time with people who smoke, this could be the cause.

Reduce the risk of flare-ups from drinking

• Stop smoking. Because this can be difficult, ask your dermatologist or primary care doctor for help.

• Before trying a nicotine patch, ask your dermatologist whether using it could trigger your psoriasis.

• Avoid being around people who are smoking.

Dry, cold weather

If your psoriasis worsens when the humidity or temperature drops, such as in the winter or fall, this is likely a trigger for you.

Reduce the risk of flare-ups from dry, cold weather

• Treat your psoriasis.

• Limit showers and baths to 10 minutes and use warm rather than hot water.

• Immediately after bathing, slather on moisturizer, using a fragrance-free ointment or cream rather than a lotion.

• Use a gentle, moisturizing cleanser instead of soap.

• Apply moisturizer throughout the day when your skin feels dry.

• Plug in a humidifier when the air in your home feels dry.

• Stay warm and protect your skin from extreme weather when outside by wearing a hat, gloves, waterproof boots, and a winter jacket.

• Sit far enough away from a fireplace, radiator, or other heat source so that you cannot feel the heat on your skin.

• Remove wet clothes and footwear when you come in from the cold.

• If your psoriasis continues to flare, see your dermatologist. Ask if phototherapy may be a treatment option for you in the winter.

Sunshine, warm weather

During warm weather, psoriasis can flare if you:

• Sunburn

• Spend time in air conditioning

Reduce the risk of flare-ups during warm weather

• If you spend time in air conditioning, apply moisturizer immediately after showering or getting out of a bath.

• If your skin still feels dry from spending time in air conditioning, apply moisturizer throughout the day.

• Avoid sunburn by wearing sunscreen. You want to apply sunscreen to skin that clothing doesn’t cover and is free of psoriasis. To get the protection you need, use sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection, SPF 30 or higher, and water resistance.

Infection

Psoriasis can flare 2 to 6 weeks after strep throat, an earache, bronchitis, or another infection. This is especially common in kids.

Reduce the risk of flare-ups due to infection

• Treat the infection. This can lessen or clear the psoriasis.

• Tell your dermatologist if you have an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, which can make some psoriasis treatments risky.

Medication

Some medications can cause a flare-up. If a medication is a trigger for you, you’ll flare 2 to 3 weeks after beginning a medication.

Reduce the risk of flare-ups from medication

• If you think a medication is causing your psoriasis to flare, DON’T stop taking it. Ask the doctor who prescribed it whether the medicine could be causing your psoriasis to flare. If it could, ask if you could take another medication.

• Before taking a medicine for the first time, ask the doctor prescribing it if the medicine could cause psoriasis to flare. Medicines that commonly trigger psoriasis include lithium, drugs taken to prevent malaria, strong corticosteroids like prednisone (if you quit taking it rapidly instead of stepping down), medicine that treats high blood pressure and problems with your heartbeat, some arthritis medications.

Tattoos and piercings

When you get a tattoo or piercing, you injure your skin. Any time you injure your skin, psoriasis can flare.

Reduce the risk of flare-ups from tattoos and piercings

• Avoid tattoos and other types of body art if you have psoriasis.

• If you want to get any type of body art, talk with your dermatologist first. Your dermatologist may be able to offer some tips that can reduce flare-ups.

Shaving

If you cut yourself while shaving, you may notice new psoriasis about 10 to 14 days later where you cut yourself.

Reduce your risk of flare-ups from shaving

• Take care to avoid cutting yourself while shaving.

• Dermatologists’ tip: To reduce cuts and nicks, try applying moisturizer and then shaving gel before you shave.

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https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/triggers/flares 

Psoriasis vs. Eczema: How to Tell the Difference

From newbeauty.com

By Marisa Petrarca

Here's how dermatologists tell these two conditions apart 

Type “psoriasis vs...” into the search bar, and it’s instantly met with its most common pairing: eczema. It’s a small but telling sign of how many people are trying to make sense of these two conditions, and how much confusion still surrounds them.

And the confusion is understandable: both conditions can cause red, inflamed, itchy skin, and both are far more common than most people realize. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis affects roughly 3 percent of U.S. adults, while the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that eczema affects about 7.3 percent.

Ahead, we’re diving into the differences between the two conditions, including how to recognize whether you have one, the other or both, what triggers and treats each and more.

Featured Experts

• Dendy Engelman, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
• Kristina Collins, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Austin, TX
• Shira Y. Wieder, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York

Psoriasis vs. Eczema

Getty Images / ipopba

Both are chronic skin conditions that stem from different underlying causes, says New York dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD. “Psoriasis is an immune-triggered condition that accelerates skin cell turnover, often creating thicker plaques with scale,” she explains. “Eczema, particularly atopic dermatitis, is closely tied to both immune dysregulation and a weakened skin barrier, which allows moisture to escape and irritants to enter more easily.”

The two can look similar, but not to a trained eye. “Eczema tends to be intensely itchy and may appear dry, cracked, weepy or inflamed, whereas psoriasis classically produces more sharply demarcated, scaly plaques,” says Dr. Engelman. Location is another clue: psoriasis favours the scalp, elbows, knees and lower back, per Austin dermatologist Kristina Collins, MD, while eczema tends toward the face, neck, hands and elbow and knee creases—though either can appear anywhere.

Skin tone changes how both conditions present, too. “On lighter skin, psoriasis and eczema may appear pink or red, while on deeper skin tones, inflammation can look purple, violet, gray, dark brown or even subtle enough to be missed,” says Dr. Collins. Both conditions can also leave behind lingering pigmentation changes after a flare resolves.

As if telling the two apart wasn't hard enough, neither condition even comes in just one form. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form, showing up in up to 80 percent of cases, but guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic psoriasis are also recognized subtypes—and it’s possible to have more than one at once, or develop a new type later.

Eczema covers even more ground: the National Eczema Association recognizes seven types, including atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis (a reaction to something touching your skin) and dyshidrotic eczema (itchy blisters, usually on the hands or feet).

Is Psoriasis or Eczema Contagious? Are They Genetic?

Good news for the germaphobes among us: neither is contagious, confirms Dr. Collins. Genetics are a different story; both conditions can run in families, though not in quite the same way. Psoriasis tends to be more genetically driven, says New York dermatologist Shira Y. Wieder, while eczema comes down more to skin-barrier dysfunction.

Environment plays a role, too. For psoriasis, common culprits include strep infections, obesity, alcohol, smoking and certain medications, says Dr. Wieder. Eczema is less about exposure and more about how well the skin barrier holds up, with triggers such as fragrance, preservatives, dyes, irritants, microbes, weather changes and stress.

Are They Linked to Other Health Conditions?

Both conditions can extend well beyond the skin. About 20 to 30 percent of people with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis, according to Dr. Wieder—a range that lines up with the National Psoriasis Foundation's own research on the condition. Left untreated, psoriatic arthritis can cause irreversible joint damage. Psoriasis has also been associated with a higher risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Eczema, meanwhile, is tied to what dermatologists call the "atopic march:" patients who develop it, often in childhood, may go on to develop asthma and seasonal or food allergies. Dr. Collins recommends flagging any symptoms beyond the skin to a doctor so the condition can be managed as part of a bigger picture rather than in isolation.

Does Diet Play a Role in Flare-Ups?

Modestly, and differently for each condition. For psoriasis, Dr. Wieder points to research on Mediterranean-style anti-inflammatory eating and weight loss as supports to standard treatment; a gluten-free diet only tends to help if you also have celiac disease. For eczema, current guidelines actually advise against elimination diets, as the benefits are typically small and restriction can worsen allergies or lead to malnutrition.

Dr. Collins takes a similar stance: there's no single "psoriasis diet" or "eczema diet" that works universally, and she cautions against cutting out entire food groups without a clear, personal reason to do so.

Can You Have Both Psoriasis and Eczema at Once—and How Are They Treated?

Yes, it’s possible to have both psoriasis and eczema at once, or one after the other at different life stages. That’s why it’s worth getting a diagnosis confirmed before assuming a new flare years later is just the same old condition coming back.

As for treatment, it “depends on the diagnosis, location and severity, but both conditions benefit from consistent skin-barrier support and targeted control of inflammation,” explains Dr. Engelman. “Moisturizers and gentle fragrance-free skin care are particularly important for eczema, while prescription topical medications, phototherapy and systemic or biologic therapies may be used for either condition depending on severity.”

When Should You See a Dermatologist?

“I recommend seeing a dermatologist when a rash is persistent, recurrent, spreading, interfering with sleep or daily life, or not improving with basic skin care and over-the-counter measures,” Dr. Engelman advises. “You should also seek medical attention if the skin becomes painful, warm, increasingly swollen, crusted or otherwise concerning for infection.” Or, maybe you just want a clear-as-day answer that doesn't involve a search engine or a group chat diagnosis.

https://www.newbeauty.com/view/psoriasis-vs-eczema

6 Surprising Things That Can Trigger a Psoriasis Flare, According to a Dermatologist

From people.com

From “good” stress to your skincare routine, a dermatologist breaks down the unexpected factors that may make psoriasis worse 

NEED TO KNOW

• Psoriasis is a chronic condition linked to immune system overactivity that can worsen with lifestyle and environmental factors
• Dermatologist Dr. Adrienne Rencic emphasizes the importance of managing stress, sleep and diet to reduce the frequency of flare-ups
• Psoriasis can be triggered by skin trauma including scrubbing or irritation from skincare products, according to experts

If you have psoriasis, you may already know flares seem to come out of nowhere, no matter how well you’re managing the condition. But some of the things that can trigger or worsen psoriasis may be counterintuitive, or possibly not on your radar at all.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease in which the immune system becomes overactive, causing inflamed, scaly patches of skin. Symptoms can cycle between flares and periods of improvement, and common triggers can include stress and skin injuries, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).

Get to know six surprising factors that may contribute to a psoriasis flare.

1. “Good” stress

Turns out you don’t necessarily have to feel anxious or upset for your body to experience stress. Even positive events can put physiological stress on the body. 

“People understand stress as working too long or experiencing ‘bad’ stress,” says Dr. Adrienne Rencic, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical investigator with more than 25 years of experience, who consults for RELAB, a new psoriasis-focused skincare brand. “But what people don’t understand is ‘good’ stress.”

“You could be staying up all night for two weeks preparing for your sister’s wedding, and that’s stress on your body,” she explains. “You can get flare-ups when you don’t necessarily feel stressed in a bad way.”

The takeaway: Pay attention to periods when your routine is disrupted, you’re not sleeping enough or your body is under unusual strain — even if you’re having a great time.

2. Lack of sleep

Sleep is another lifestyle factor that can contribute to psoriasis, Rencic says, along with stress, diet, smoking and alcohol. And the connection can become a frustrating cycle. Psoriasis can cause itching, burning and discomfort that interferes with sleep. 

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3. Scrubbing away your scales

When psoriasis leaves behind thick, flaky skin, aggressively scrubbing it away might seem like a logical solution. But it can backfire.

“Some people use a loofah or scrub their skin to try to remove the scale, and that’s actually trauma to the skin,” Rencic says. “That can make things worse.”

That’s because people with psoriasis can experience what’s known as the Koebner phenomenon or reaction, in which trauma to the skin can trigger psoriasis in that area. So when it comes to removing scale, more aggressive isn’t necessarily better.

4. A skincare product that irritates your skin

A reaction to a new skincare product and a psoriasis flare can sometimes look similar and, according to Rencic, one can actually trigger the other. “In a patient with psoriasis, there is a phenomenon called the Koebner reaction,” she explains. “Any trauma to the skin can trigger a psoriasis flare-up.”

A product reaction will generally affect the area where the product was applied, while psoriasis may appear as a distinct patch within that area. “You may have one or both going on at the same time,” Rencic says.

If you’re unsure whether a rash is an irritation or psoriasis, it’s best to have a dermatologist evaluate it rather than repeatedly applying products that could further irritate the skin.

5. Smoking and alcohol

Smoking and alcohol may not be the first things that come to mind when you think about psoriasis, but Rencic says they’re worth paying attention to. “These things can contribute, even though people don’t necessarily think of them as triggers,” she adds.

That doesn’t mean an occasional drink will automatically cause a flare, Rencic clarifies, but rather that the use of alcohol or nicotine can contribute to the disease, particularly when it’s part of a broader pattern of lifestyle factors. NIAMS concurs, noting that smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can worsen psoriasis symptoms.

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6. Your overall diet

One candy bar isn’t going to give you psoriasis, and Rencic is careful to make that distinction.

“It’s not that eating a candy bar causes psoriasis,” she tells PEOPLE. But she does note that “consistently eating a diet that’s high in sugar and saturated fat and low in fibre is bad for psoriasis.”

Rencic points to the Mediterranean diet as an example of an eating pattern that may be beneficial. Most importantly, she says people shouldn’t feel as though they’re powerless when it comes to managing their disease. 

“This is simply something they live with,” she says, adding that people with psoriasis “aren’t doing anything wrong.” But she does note that there are factors — diet, activity, stress relief — that can help reduce flares.

“All of those things can be modified,” Rencic says, suggesting stress-reducing activities such as exercise, meditation, spending time with friends and being in nature.

(And if your psoriasis is widespread, isn’t responding to your usual treatment or is accompanied by joint pain, stiffness or swelling, talk to a doctor. Psoriasis is associated with other health conditions, including psoriatic arthritis and cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, and NIAMS recommends medical evaluation when joint symptoms occur.)

https://people.com/6-surprising-things-that-can-trigger-a-psoriasis-flare-12060302