Psoriasis is a condition characterized by thick, scaly patches on your body. It is caused by changes to the cycle of your cells, according to the medical experts at the Mayo Clinic. If you have the disease, you know how uncomfortable it can be. If you suspect it, you need to see a doctor right away to get a good diagnosis. That allows you to treat the condition appropriately. Once you know what you’re dealing with, it’s a matter of living with psoriasis. You can take many steps to make life easier. Here are some of the best.
You read that right. I know it sounds silly, but if you take baths properly, you can do a lot to manage and alleviate your psoriasis. The Mayo Clinic doctors recommend taking a bath every day. Add oatmeal or body oils to help remove the scales from your body. You should also take care to keep the water temperature lukewarm and avoid any harsh cleansers.
An ointment based moisturizer is much more effective for psoriasis. It’s heavy duty and absorbs deeply into the skin, getting in there and helping treat those scaly patches. Apply the moisturizer several times per day, especially to affected areas. Use a skin oil for even more benefits. Apply your product to damp skin for the best results.
I know this can be tortuous in the summertime when all you want to do is swim or sip cocktails on the patio somewhere. Experts encourage you to limit sunshine exposure because that can help improve your patches. If you can’t possibly spend another day indoors, make sure you slather on SPF and try to keep affected areas covered with light, loose clothing.
The experts at the Mayo Clinic strongly recommend avoiding alcohol if you have psoriasis. It can interfere with some of the medications prescribed to treat the condition and should be avoided. Talk to your doctor if you want to imbibe from time to time to be sure it’s a safe choice for your health.
The more you know, the better off you’ll be. Once you find out that you have psoriasis, learn everything you can about it. Ask your doctor for literature or do some reading online or at the library. Make sure the information you’re getting comes from a reputable source, such as the Mayo Clinic.
It might sound silly, but finding people who are dealing with the same issues can be very helpful. You’ll have someone to talk to about your condition, vent to when it upsets you and find out new ways to cope that you hadn’t thought to try before. Look for a support group near you, or ask your doctor for a referral to one in your area.
One of the best ways to live with psoriasis is to follow your doctor’s orders very closely. That means taking all medications on the prescribed schedule and taking proper action to keep your symptoms at bay. It also means going to all of your scheduled appointments and calling your doctor anytime something changes or you have questions. You can do that, right?
Do you have psoriasis? Feel free to share any tips and steps you take to live with your psoriasis.