Winter and psoriasis

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Winter brings dry air, colder temperatures, and reduced exposure to sunlight – all of which can worsen the symptoms of psoriasis. What about people who affected with psoriasis to prevent a flare-up of symptoms. What will you do in the winter ?

Think Twice About Long, Hot Showers

Make your showers short, sweet, and lukewarm, Avoid hot water, Hot water feels good at the time, but the itching can rebound when you get out . Use soaps for sensitive skin.

Use Moisturizer After Baths and Showers

Dermatologists and other health professionals who care for psoriasis patients recommended using Moisturizer and One of the best times is after a shower. Put moisturizer on your skin 3 to 5 minutes after you towel off after a shower . It helps seal in moisture so the skin doesn't get as dry . Lotions are easiest to apply all over. But creams and ointments are more moisturizing than lotions .

But you can ask your self what your body need  ( which is more dry in your body ) , creams can used in acute irritant state then complete with ointment, what about the time of application in evening or night . You can use it at night or after a shower, and wear old sweats or pajamas. It will soak in after an hour or two.

Look to the Light for Therapy

The use of light therapy can help clear up patchy, scaly skin. phototherapy, light therapy has been a standard of psoriasis treatment for a long time. The beneficial effects of a sunny vacation in the middle of winter could help ease psoriasis symptoms for a few months . One option is called psoralen UVA, or PUVA. "It is a type of photo chemotherapy, in which the patient takes a light-sensitizing medication, psoralen, by mouth, then an hour and a half later is exposed to long-wave, ultraviolet light in the office . according to the National Psoriasis Foundation, and there are long-term risks of skin cancers with light therapy, so that risk must be weighed.narrowband UVB or ultraviolet B. This type emits the part of the UV light spectrum most helpful for psoriasis and laser therapy .

Get a Winter Tune-Up on Your Psoriasis Medications

If your psoriasis is getting worse, or usually does in the winter, it is a great time to check-in with your physician for a medication tune-up. Your doctor can assess whether the psoriasis medications you are using -- topical, systemic, or a combination  are working as well as possible.

Common topical psoriasis treatments that you rub on your skin include over-the-counter products such as salicylic acid and coal tar such as Psorent, and prescription topical creams such as Dovonex (synthetic vitamin D3), Tazorac, and corticosteroid medications.

Systemic psoriasis medications include methotrexate, which you can take as a pill, and new injected drugs called "biologics," such as Enbrel and Humira. Remicade another biologic, must be infused at the doctor's office. By adjusting doses or medicine types, you may get more psoriasis relief in winter.

Check your Stress

Stress plays a big part in making psoriasis condition worse, The stress can be emotional or physical . Take time to eat healthy, exercise, and do whatever you think is stress-reducing . Most people who have lived with psoriasis for a long time are aware with stress .

Flu Vaccination / flu shot for Psoriasis Patients

There are some special considerations for psoriasis patients regarding flu vaccination. Flu vaccination is especially important for people whose immune systems are suppressed. So for psoriasis patients who are on methotrexate, cyclosporine, or other immune-suppressing drugs, a flu vaccination is a particularly good idea. Vaccination could make psoriasis worse in some patients, but this effect is not usually a strong one. Psoriasis patients also sometimes develop psoriasis lesions at sites of injury (Koebner phenomenon) and thus could develop a lesion at the site of a vaccination injection.

Flu vaccine uses killed virus. Thus it doesn't cause infection. Vaccines that involve "attenuated" live virus are risky in immunosuppressed patients. This is a problem with smallpox vaccination, and patients who are on immunosuppressive drugs should avoid such vaccination. Also, the family of immunosuppressed people should avoid the vaccination because of the potential for transmission of the virus to the immunosuppressed person. Finally, smallpox vaccination is not recommended for anyone with inflammatory skin disease for fear that the virus will spread over the irritated skin areas. This is not a problem with the flu vaccine because the flu vaccine does not contain live, infectious virus.

I tend to eat more and drink more alcohol in the fall and winter months. Will this affect my psoriasis?  Alcohol and key foods certainly could trigger a psoriasis flare. Though medical researchers have yet to prove that certain foods cause psoriasis flares, many patients report that eating certain foods seems to worsen their psoriasis. If you notice a regular connection between eating certain foods and increased skin symptoms, ask your doctor whether you can safely eliminate the suspect foods from your diet to assess any changes in your psoriasis . If you tend to smoke when you drink, you might be dealing yourself in serious problem . Evidence indicates that people who smoke tobacco products may be more likely to develop a form of psoriasis. Researchers have also found a correlation between smoking and more serious forms of psoriasis.

Could strep throat and other winter illnesses affect my psoriasis?  If you suffer from psoriasis, an infection by bacteria and viruses can cause symptoms to flare. A strep infection, specifically, is a known trigger for guttate psoriasis, a form of the disease that causes red, droplet-shaped lesions to develop on the abdomen, back, arms, and legs.

Although researchers don’t know the exact cause of psoriasis, the immune system seems to play a key role in its development. Germs, illness, viruses or bacteria – anything that dampens your immune system -- may cause your symptoms to worsen. Even something as simple as a common cold or respiratory virus may trigger a psoriasis flare.

What types of clothing are best for people with psoriasis in cold weather?   Wool sweaters are synonymous with winter for some people with psoriasis, but the itchiness of the fabric may make your already irritated skin feel worse

Consider dressing in layers made from natural plant fibers, such as cotton, to keep you warm and comfortable. If you suffer from scalp psoriasis and find that flaking is a problem, choose lighter-colored clothes to hide dandruff.

To make your holiday season an enjoyable one, make every attempt to enjoy the time spent with family and friends and follow as healthy a lifestyle as possible.  It’s the best present you can give to yourself.