If you suffer from psoriasis, know that you are not alone. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 7.5 million people in the United States deal with this skin condition. Although there is currently no cure for this disease, you can reduce the amount of flare ups you get. Here are five helpful tips for managing your psoriasis.
Moisturize Your Skin Every Day
One of the easiest ways to manage your psoriasis is to moisturize your skin on a daily basis. A thick moisturizer will decrease itchiness, dryness, redness, and scaling. It is a good idea to apply the moisturizer after a bath or shower so that it can seep deeper in your skin. When the weather is cold and dry, you may need to apply a moisturizer more than once a day.
Manage Stress
Whether it is due to a big project at work or family issues, stress can make your psoriasis worse. If you have been dealing with a lot of anxiety lately, find ways to calm your nerves. For example, you can start out each morning with a session of yoga or mediation. It is also helpful to listen to soft music or go for a brisk walk when you feel stressed.
Do Not Scratch Your Skin
When your skin itches, it is tempting to scratch it. However, picking at your skin will just irritate your psoriasis more and may even cause an infection. If you have an itch, just apply a little bit of moisturizer to the area.
Include Fatty Fish in Your Diet
If you like salmon and tuna, you are in luck. Eating fatty fish a couple of times a week may improve your psoriasis symptoms. According to Everyday Health, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish decrease inflammation, which can reduce the amount of flare ups you have.
Take Daily Baths
If you take baths on a daily basis, you can reduce itching and even get rid of dryness. Be sure to avoid harsh soaps and hot water, as they can be hard on your sensitive skin. Also, gently pat your skin dry with a towel when you are done. If you rub too hard, you can irritate your sores.
Living with psoriasis is not always a piece of cake, but it can be managed. If you follow these helpful tips, you can deal with this skin condition a lot better and lead a normal life.
Share12 August 2015
Having a daughter comes with a number of challenges. One challenge that you will one day need to tackle is determining when to introduce your daughter to the gynecologist. Do you take your daughter to the same gynecologist that you see or take her somewhere else? Do you wait until she gets her first period or do you take her in to learn about the menstrual cycle from the doctor? There is a long list of questions you likely have about introducing your daughter to the world of gynecology. Having gone through this twice myself, I have learned quite a bit and have included a lot of helpful information in my site to help other parents get through this complicated time a little easier.
