Do you live with psoriasis? The autoimmune chronic skin condition can be frustrating. The symptoms, such as an itchy rash, can make it hard to fall and remain asleep. If the rash is readily visible, your self-esteem as you step out can also take a blow. Such concerns can lead to stress and depression, whose impacts extend to other faculties of your life. As such, looking for ways to keep the skin condition in check and avoiding flare-ups is essential. A significant part of such efforts is establishing the triggers and finding ways to avoid them. Below are some common psoriasis triggers to help prevent symptoms flare-ups.
Diet
Watch what you eat or drink, including alcohol, especially if you have allergies. Allergic reactions, such as a rash, could impact psoriasis, causing flare-ups. Itching is among the prevalent food allergy reaction. As you disturb the skin and cause further inflammation due to the irresistible itch, the flare-ups follow. Besides allergies, you also have to observe the diet and ensure you are getting all the necessary nutrients.
Can low vitamin D cause psoriasis? The simplest answer would be no since there is seemingly no outright connection between the deficiency and psoriasis flare-ups. Nonetheless, the deficiency impacts your body’s ability to keep the skin healthy, contributing to flare-ups. Tracking your diet and ensuring it is balanced and that you avoid items that lead to an allergic attack will help avoid psoriasis flare-ups.
Stress
Stress is a part of life, and not all is bad. Nonetheless, if left unchecked, stress can affect many faculties of your life, from concentration, performance, sleep, weight, and cardiovascular health, among others. Stress is also among the psoriasis triggers you should avoid, keeping flare-ups at bay. Here is the tricky part; stress can cause psoriasis flare-ups, while the skin condition itself can lead to stress. This means you can easily be trapped in an endless loop. Adopting practical relaxation techniques to keep the stress levels manageable can help prevent flare-ups and the condition from worsening.
Clothing
What you wear affects your skin in more ways than you might anticipate. Sure, you want to step out in style, but are your outfits skin-friendly? What’s the best underwear for psoriasis? Ideally, the best clothing is an option that does not trap heat or features harsh fabric that could even scratch or irritate the skin. Pick fibers like linen, cotton, and satin. They are comfortable, breathable, and can absorb sweat skin-friendly contributions that help prevent psoriasis flare-ups.
Exposure
Moderate sun exposure can help keep psoriasis symptoms in check. Excessive exposure, especially if it causes sunburns, is most certainly a trigger to avoid. The damage to the skin can lead to a major flare-up, emphasizing the need to moderate time spent under direct sunlight, especially without sunscreen. Besides the sun, dry or cold climate exposure can cause psoriasis flare-ups. The cold or dry environment causes moisture to be stripped from your skin, impacting its flexibility and functionality. If you have psoriasis, investing in gadgets like air humidifier is advisable, making it easier to keep the indoor environment skin-friendly and minimizing the flare-ups rate.
Excessive weight
If you’ve been meaning to lose some pounds and maintain a healthy weight range, here is another reason to employ more effort. Excessive weight or obesity is linked to many health issues, psoriasis development or aggravating the symptoms included. Preventing weight gain and striving to maintain normal body weight helps avoid symptoms flare-ups and, as a bonus, keep other concerns such as the increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and joint pain, to name a few, at bay.
Smoking
Smoking puts you at high risk of developing psoriasis. If you already have a chronic skin condition, the habit is also known to trigger flare-ups. Smoking impacts other areas, such as blood circulation, which worsens psoriasis as the skin isn’t adequately replenished with vital nutrients.
Medication
Do you self-diagnose and medicate? Certain over-the-counter and prescription medications can cause psoriasis flare-ups. As you self-medicate or seek professional medical attention, consider if the medication can impact the autoimmune system. If the autoimmune response is interfered with, you can experience a severe psoriasis attack. Inform your healthcare provider of your psoriasis condition. They can advise you on measures to take, such as including steroidal medications and recommending proper use to help with the flare-ups.
Infections
Infections, more so that compromise your immune system, like HIV, can cause psoriasis to flare up. Ensuring your overall health is in great shape makes it easier to keep the flare-ups away. Take your medication, eat a healthy diet, and follow a practical physical exercise regimen to stay in better shape and avoid or quickly fight infections.
Psoriasis has no cure. As you strive to lead a better life with a chronic condition, understanding the common triggers and taking measures to avoid them are among the most effective strategies.
