Understanding Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an autoinflammatory condition. This means your immune system isn’t doing its job as expected.

New skin cells form and take the place of old ones constantly. If you have psoriasis, your immune system mistakes healthy skin cells for old cells, leading to inflammation. This also speeds up the process of new skin cell growth. What usually takes 30 days happens in three to four days.

As a result, your immune system creates itchy and scaly skin plaques.

Avoid triggers

Do you notice psoriasis plaques appear more often when you’re stressed or in the winter months? Do symptoms appear with other skin injuries or after you get an infection? 

These events may trigger, or cause, your immune system to overreact. In turn, you’ll experience a psoriasis flare-up.

Keep a watchful eye out for things within your environment that repeat before you get symptoms. Once you identify your triggers, you can take steps to avoid them.

For example, if you frequently get plaques in the winter, limit your skin exposure to freezing temperatures by keeping your body covered and warm throughout the season.

If stress is a trigger, you may consider practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga and talking to a mental health professional. 

Your provider may have suggestions to make finding your triggers and avoiding them easier. Even if you avoid triggers, you still may experience psoriasis flares.

Manage symptoms

If you’re constantly itching your skin and wondering how to manage this condition, there are some things you can do to keep psoriasis at bay. 

When you have a chronic skin condition, taking care of your skin beyond affected areas is important. One helpful tip is to keep your skin hydrated with a fragrance-free moisturizer. When you do get a plaque, moisturizer may prevent some of the effects like dry, cracked skin.

You don’t have to manage psoriasis alone. A healthcare provider is an important person to talk to about what’s going on with your skin. They can help you take care of your immune system, as well. 

They may recommend trying different topical or systemic medications or skincare products that can slow down immune system overactivity. They might suggest trying different foods, like an anti-inflammatory diet. If you have large plaques, your provider might suggest light therapy, too.

There are a variety of management options available for psoriasis. Talk to your provider to find what works best for you.