MAKING THE RIGHT FOOD CHOICES
Eating a healthy and balanced diet has benefits for everyone. If one has psoriasis, the benefits of healthy eating include:
- Improved physical health
- Less risk of developing diseases linked to psoriasis including diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure
Various triggers can cause psoriasis to flare-up. In psoriasis, reducing triggers and avoiding flare-ups becomes essential.
These triggers may include bad weather, additional stress, and some food items.
Here are some food items that are most likely to trigger a flare-up and some other food items that may be helpful to reduce a flare-up.
It's best to reach out to physician or nutritionist for more information on suitable diet changes that can be made to manage psoriasis.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES
Everyone benefits from healthy habits, but healthy habits are of utmost importance if one has psoriasis
Quit smoking
For psoriasis patients, quitting smoking may:
- Reduce the risk of developing heart, liver and dental diseases
- Lessen their chance of developing other immune-related conditions like Crohn's disease
- Lower psoriasis flares
- Decrease the risk of palmoplantar psoriasis
- May increase the remission period
Limit alcohol
Limiting alcohol in a person with psoriasis can have numerous benefits.
These include:
- Increase in the effectiveness of psoriasis treatment
- High remission rates
- Decreased risk of developing psoriatic arthritis and fatty liver disease
- Declined risk of liver damage from psoriasis medications
Maintain a healthy weight
This can:
- Reduce psoriasis flares
- Decrease the need for psoriasis medications
- Improve the effects of psoriasis treatment
- Decrease the risk of other diseases associated with psoriasis, including heart disease, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol levels, fatty liver disease, and diabetes
Losing weight helps
On achieving weight loss, a previously failed medicine may be likely to work better in patients who were overweight/ obese.
Get screened for related diseases
- Take steps to reduce the impact that the related disease has in one’s life
- Take proper and regular psoriasis treatment that may help reduce the effects of a related condition
Get eyes checked
In case of severe psoriasis, the dermatologist may recommend one to visit an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) once or twice a year to detect eye problems early, if any.
Visit a dermatologist and keep a check on the appointments
Psoriasis is a lifelong condition. A dermatologist can help:
- Find the right psoriasis treatment
- Control psoriasis, and improve the quality of life
- Evaluate the risk of developing related diseases
- Evaluate and identify symptoms of psoriatic arthritis so the treatment can start early
BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE
Working out regularly may reduce some negative effects of psoriasis by:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Lessening the risk of developing diseases related to psoriasis, including fatty liver disease and heart disease
- Reducing stress, depression, and anxiety
Here are a few tips to keep in mind as one adds exercise to their daily routine:
Start slowly
Don’t dive into vigorous exercise on the first day itself
Focus on the little things
Take stairs instead of elevators
Exercise with a friend
This is a great way to keep going and stay on track
Stay hydrated
This is especially important for psoriasis patients. Dry, itchy psoriasis skin needs to be hydrated at all times
Wear psoriasis-friendly
Wear cotton clothes while exercising as these are comfortable and make one feel more confident
One should start slowly and talk to the doctor if there are any concerns about the right level and amount of exercise.
Reduce exercise pain
If there is pain while exercising, tell the dermatologist. One may have to make some changes that can help prevent the pain while working out.
WORKING WITH PSORIASIS
Psoriasis does not have to interfere with one's work productivity. Here are several ways one can maximize their professional life while living with psoriasis:
TRAVEL HAPPILY WITH PSORIASIS
Psoriasis can complicate travel plans and possibly derail them. Here are a few things that can be done to pave the way for a successful trip:
ROUTINE SKIN CARE
Many people say that ‘itch’ is the most bothersome of all their psoriasis symptoms.
To relieve the itch, dermatologists give their patients the following tips:
Treat psoriasis
It is the best way to get rid of the itch and the discomfort that accompanies psoriasis
Limit bath time
to 5 -15 minutes as higher bath time can increase the dryness and irritation
Use moisturizer
Moisturize the skin using topical ointments, including salicylic acid. Moisturizing helps reduce itching and redness and helps in healing
WAYS TO RELIEVE
ITCHY PSORIASIS
TREAT YOUR PSORIASIS
To get rid of the itch
REACH OUT TO DOCTOR
To get appropriate treatment and advice
LIMIT SHOWER TIME
Reduce shower time to 5-15 mins and not more than that as long shower can cause skin dryness worsening psoriasis
MOISTURIZE INSTEAD OF SCRATCH
As heat can aggravate the itch
SKIP HOT BATHS
As heat can aggravate the itch
APPLY A COOL COMPRESS
This will make the nerves under the skin numb and prevent one experiencing itch
Bathing right to relieve dry skin
These bathing tips can be useful to help heal dry skin and prevent its return while having psoriasis:
- Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser
- Apply enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, avoid using excess product
- Pat the affected area and dry using a towel
- Apply moisturizer immediately after drying the skin
CARRYING PSORIASIS WITH CONFIDENCE
Living with psoriasis and feeling self-conscious about the external appearance of the body is common. However, one must not let psoriasis control their life. Here are some helpful tips to boost self-confidence when coping with psoriasis:
Ignore the judgemental attitude of others around
Keep a positive outlook
Maintain an active lifestyle for physical as well as mental health
Wear what feels good and comfortable
Step out of the comfort zone