What You Should Know About Psoriasis Remission

From healthline.com

Psoriasis remission is different for everyone, but there are still some things that people have in common. Keep reading to learn more about the process 

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease affecting 2 to 3 percent of the population. Typically, infections cause your body to fight against foreign bacteria or viruses. Autoimmune diseases cause your body to overreact and attack itself.
In other words, your body thinks its own cells are dangerous, so it tries to destroy them. As a result, your body destroys or damages perfectly healthy cells.

Psoriasis is also a chronic condition. After the symptoms first appear and you’re diagnosed, you’ll deal with the condition for the rest of your life. The most common symptoms of psoriasis include:

• red, inflamed patches of skin
• whitish-silvery scales, also known as plaques
• cracked skin that may bleed or ooze
• burning, itching, and soreness
• swollen, stiff joints
• thick, ridged nails

Fortunately, you may not always show symptoms of psoriasis. That’s because psoriasis comes and goes in cycles. Psoriasis may be active, or flare, for a period, and then your condition may improve, or go into remission.

Each person’s cycle is different, but most people can follow the same tips to make remission periods as long and successful as possible.

What Can You Expect During Psoriasis Remission?

For some people, psoriasis remission means your skin will clear almost entirely. You won’t show any physical symptoms of psoriasis. More severe cases of psoriasis can cause scarring. Even during a remission, those scars may remain. Symptoms won’t be triggered by the presence of these scars.

Symptoms may not disappear for everyone. For some people, symptoms may subside enough to no longer be bothersome. This may still be classified as remission depending on your experience and history with psoriasis.

Possible Causes for Psoriasis Remission

The goal of psoriasis treatment is to reduce the symptoms and hopefully end the flare. If treatments are successful, psoriasis may go into remission.

Even without treatment, psoriasis may disappear. Spontaneous remission, or remission that occurs without treatment, is also possible. In that case, it’s likely your immune system turned off its attack on your body. This allows the symptoms to fade.

This doesn’t mean that you won’t ever have another flare. Watch for symptoms of psoriasis so that you can begin treating them if they reappear.

Is There a Timeline for Psoriasis Remission?

Psoriasis is unpredictable, and psoriasis remission has no timeline. Sometimes, remission can be lengthy. You may not experience symptoms for months, even years. Remission can also be short-lived. You may start experiencing symptoms again within a few weeks of them disappearing.

One common psoriasis cycle involves having fewer symptoms and flares during summer months and more symptoms and flares during winter months. That’s likely because of how the two very different environments affect
your skin. The weather in these two seasons can trigger psoriasis symptoms.

Being aware of these triggers and others can help you reduce flare frequency and extend remission periods.

The Most Common Psoriasis Triggers

Although psoriasis may return on its own, something may prod its return. These things are called triggers. Being aware of the most common ones can help you reduce the likelihood of flares and possibly extend periods of remission.

Stress

For some people, overwhelming or unusually high stress can turn up disease activity. Find ways to relax and manage your stress levels to keep psoriasis from flaring.

Weather

The dry, cold environment of winter is harsh for most people’s skin. It’s even worse for delicate skin that’s prone to psoriasis flares. During colder months, keep your skin hydrated and moisturized with lotions and creams.

Sunlight

Just as winter’s cold weather can cause a flare, summer’s bright sun can, too. Too much sunlight can cause skin damage or a skin burn. This can trigger a flare.

Some people react well to small bits of sunlight for treating their psoriasis, but it’s important you work with a doctor to decide how you can sun yourself safely to prevent a flare.

Scrubbing

When you shower, avoid scrubbing with sponges or towels. Being rough on your skin may invite a flare. Instead, gently wash and lather your body and then towel dry your skin.

Chronic Infections

If you have a weakened immune system, you may experience more flares and fewer remissions than other individuals with psoriasis. Bacterial and viral infections, such as chronic strep throat or HIV, can
trigger flares.

An Unhealthy Lifestyle

Smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity are three of the most common triggers. Taking care of your body includes:

• kicking your tobacco habit
• eating a healthy diet
• getting more exercise
• trying to avoid infections or illnesses

Takeaway

Many treatments are successful at both easing the symptoms of psoriasis and helping bring about remission.

With your doctor’s help, you can find a treatment course that’s right for you. If and when a flare occurs, you’ll feel fully prepared to tackle it and meet the returning symptoms with confidence.

https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriasis/psoriasis-remission?utm_source=ReadNext

How Long Does Psoriasis Last? It Depends

From healthline.com

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition where your body makes new skin cells at a rapid rate. There’s no cure, but your symptoms may come and go in periods of flares and remission.

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There are several different types of psoriasis, which can cause various skin symptoms and affect different areas of the body.

This skin condition involves flares, or episodes where your symptoms temporarily worsen. Depending on the type of psoriasis you have, you may develop:

• patches of raised, itchy, and scaly skin
• small scaly bumps
• pus-filled blisters called pustules
• a red, peeling rash affects your entire body

Psoriasis flares can last anywhere from several weeks to several monthsTrusted Source. In between flares, you may experience remission, or symptom-free periods.

Although psoriasis is a lifelong condition, you have plenty of treatment options. Learning what triggers your flares can also make a difference, since managing these triggers may help minimize flares and lead to longer periods of remission.

Here’s what to know about how long psoriasis flares last — and steps you can take to reduce them in the future. 

How long does a psoriasis flare-up last?

Flares don’t last for any set length of time.

So, it’s possible for your symptoms to clear up within just a few weeks — but they might also last for a number of months.

This is true for all types of psoriasis, explains Dr. Crystal Dinopol, a board certified dermatologist and medical writer for The Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation. In other words, certain types don’t necessarily involve longer-lasting flares.

The frequency of flares can also vary. You might experience flare-ups every month or so, or only once every few years.

Following the treatment regimen recommended by your dermatologist can help relieve your symptoms and may shorten the length of the flare-up.

How long does remission last?

Many people experience remission between flares.

For some people, remission means psoriasis symptoms disappear almost entirely. But for others, symptoms become less severe or noticeable. They improve to the point where you notice them less, but they don’t go away completely.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, remission commonly lasts between 1 month to a year. Again, though, this may vary from person to person, so remission may last several months or a few years.

To make periods of remission last longer, Dinopol recommends avoiding any known triggers and following treatment advice from your dermatologist.

How to prevent flare-ups

Very often, flare-ups may happen in response to specific triggers. Examples of possible triggers include:

• stress
• cold weather
• dry air
• alcohol use
• cigarette smoking
• skin injuries, such as from bug bites, sunburns, poison ivy, tattoos, piercings, or cuts
• illnesses, such as strep throat, tonsillitis, bronchitis, and ear infections
• certain medications, such as beta blockers and antimalarial drugs
• certain foods, including those that contain gluten and nightshade plants

With that in mind, these tips may help lower your chances of experiencing a flare-up:

• Try to avoid eating inflammatory or potentially triggering foods such as dairy products, fried food, red meat, fast food, and processed sweets. These foods may trigger flares in some people with psoriasis.
• Incorporate stress management and relaxation techniques into your daily life. Examples include meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises. 
• Apply moisturiser daily. Moisturizers containing mineral oils may prove especially helpfulTrusted Sourcefor managing psoriasis.
• Use a humidifier in your home, particularly during the dryer and colder seasons.
• Wear sunscreen every day and reapply after every 2 hours of sun. Some people do find that getting some sunlight each day can help ease symptoms. Still, it’s best to discuss sun exposure with a doctor — and limit your time in the sun to prevent sunburn, which can cause flares.
• Take precautions to avoid cuts and other skin injuries. For example, shave carefully, wear bug spray, and use gloves while gardening.
• Limit your alcohol consumption. 

Treatment for psoriasis

Professional treatment can make a big difference in reducing psoriasis flare-ups, says Dr. Santosh Daflapurkar, a consulting dermatologist at Wockhardt Hospitals.

A dermatologist will help you identify your triggers and work with you to create a specific treatment plan tailored to the type of psoriasis you have and your specific symptoms.

Your treatment options may include:

• Steroid creams: Topical steroids, which you can get over the counter (OTC) or with a prescription, may relieve inflammation and itching.
• Nonsteroidal topical medications: These treatments may include anthralin or synthetic vitamin D3 and vitamin A to help control scaly patches.
• Prescription systemic medications: These drugs typically include oral medications or injections that help treat psoriasis throughout your whole body, not just on a specific area of skin.
• Phototherapy: Light therapy uses specific wavelengths of UV light to slow down the production of new skin cells and reduce inflammation. You can have this treatment in-office or at home with a special light therapy device.
• Oral retinoids: Prescription retinoid medications derived from vitamin A can slow skin cell growth while reducing swelling, irritation, and skin discoloration.
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs): These prescription medications are often used to treat eczema, but a doctor may prescribe them off-label to treat facial psoriasis.
• Oatmeal baths: Adding 1–1.5 cups of colloidal oatmeal to bathwater can help reduce itching and swelling.
• Aloe vera gel: Applying a cream with aloe vera helps keep your skin moisturized and may minimize symptoms of psoriasis.
• Coal tar: Shampoos, ointments, bath solutions, and soaps made with coal tar may help reduce itchiness and scales.

The bottom line

Psoriasis flares can last anywhere from weeks to months, and the periods of remission in between may last months or years. The key to making remission last longer — and keeping flare-ups at bay — lies in identifying and avoiding your specific triggers as much as possible.

Psoriasis may not have a cure, but you do have options for managing and treating this lifelong skin condition.

If you’re having trouble finding OTC medications or home remedies that help control your symptoms, a good next step is connecting with a dermatologist. They can prescribe medications to help ease your symptoms and make recommendations for lifestyle changes that may provide lasting relief.

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