Summer with Psoriasis? There’s Hope for Your Flare Ups!

Psoriasis is no small skin condition to manage and treat. For most people with psoriasis, symptoms come and go over time, and with the summer season in full swing, heat is a main factor for triggering flares. Weather is a main trigger for psoriasis, as it can inflame, irritate, and increase skin cell build-ups where psoriasis forms. But do you know the number one natural ingredient that can help soothe and reduce your psoriasis?

Psoriasis Triggers & What Causes Them

Psoriasis flares can produce heavy and constant, or little to no reaction. The skin condition is different for everyone. One person may find that temperature triggers a psoriasis flare while for others, the temperature may not affect their symptoms, but stress may cause a flare, or their diet could be a contributing factor. Finding your triggers for psoriasis flares is one giant step into managing and controlling the severity of your psoriasis! There is evidence to suggest that certain factors can trigger flares, including:

• Injury to the skin
• Stress
• Medication
• Infection
• Alcohol
• Seasons
• Allergies

Some triggers link to a person's overall health. Those who are overweight, regularly drink alcohol, or smoke may have more frequent or severe psoriasis flares than others. Some triggers may not have a clear scientific link to flares, but people with psoriasis report that they cause flares; it is a temperamental skin disease, which makes it so difficult for people afflicted with it to stay on top of it.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. For people who do not have psoriasis, the body creates new skin cells and moves them to the surface of the skin around once a month. For people with psoriasis, this process can happen every few days. It’s not clear what causes the condition, but a person's genes certainly play a role. Psoriasis is often inherited, and it is likely that genetics combine with other triggers to cause the disease.

These are all possible psoriasis flares:

Stress

Stress can cause a person to have an outbreak of psoriasis for the first time and unfortunately, stress is common in every person. Finding ways to manage stress can help avoid flares and reduce the severity of the flare up. Some ways to reduce stress might include exercise to release endorphins and relaxation techniques, such as visiting a spa or resting away from noise (this includes setting your phone down).

Smoking

Smoking is harmful to a person's overall health, and tobacco can cause a psoriasis flare. Smoking can also make medication used to treat psoriatic arthritis less effective. Smoking may increase a person's risk for developing psoriasis, but more research is needed before scientists fully understand the link.

Alcohol

Consuming alcohol could make symptoms worse and may prevent a flare from receding. Avoiding excessive alcohol consumption is likely to help a person manage their psoriasis symptoms.

Weight Gain

Recent research by the National Psoriasis Foundation looked at the link between psoriasis and diet. The key finding was that people who have psoriasis and are overweight are likely to be more at risk of severe symptoms. The recommendation was that a person who is overweight should reduce the number of calories in their diet so that they lose weight. This should improve symptoms of psoriasis over time.

Diet

The foods that people eat may influence their psoriasis symptoms, just like how Kim Kardashian West says that she stays on top of her psoriasis thanks to a strict diet and staying away from alcohol. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, studies suggest that some people with psoriasis notice improvements after cutting out alcohol, gluten, and nightshade vegetables, including tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant.

People in the study also found that adding vegetables and vitamin D improved their symptoms, and some maintained that following a vegetarian, vegan, or Mediterranean diet could help.

Weather

Certain types of weather or changes in temperature can trigger psoriasis. There is also a suspicion that psoriasis flares may link to a drop in humidity and temperature, making it that much more difficult to handle triggers in both summer and winter. Protecting skin from cold or dry weather with lotions and breathable fabrics, as well as using a humidifier at home, may help to reduce flares.

Warm weather and sun exposure can also cause flares in some people, therefore staying in the shade and applying a natural SPF can help.

Four Natural Ingredients for Psoriasis

Here are 4 ingredients to treat it without resorting to medications, steroid creams, or petroleum/mineral oil-filled creams:

Manuka Honey – anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, healing, and repairing.

Coconut Oil – an intense and ultra-hydrating moisturizer.

Aloe Vera – filled with minerals and ideal for helping to calm the skin.

Cehami Flower Extract – a natural analgesic (pain and itch relief), plus a powerful anti-inflammatory.

At Wild Naturals, helping to soothe and recover from the damaging triggers of psoriasis (and even eczema), is the brand's number one focus. A full line of eczema and psoriasis products are available to help repair your skin so that you can feel confident and happy with how it looks again! It’s the perfect season to venture outdoors and enjoy what summer has to offer, instead of having to stay inside because of your psoriasis. And remember, once a person knows what their flare triggers are, it becomes easier for them to avoid these, and that first step is easiest when choosing natural skin care!