Winter Psoriasis Flare Ups: 10 Ways to Reduce Them Naturally
Psoriasis is a long-term autoimmune skin condition. There is no cure, but people can use medical treatments, home remedies, and lifestyle changes to prevent psoriasis flares and reduce their severity. Psoriasis prevention requires people with this condition to identify and avoid any psoriasis triggers.
The best treatment option may vary from person to person and understanding which methods work can make it easier to live with psoriasis.The following 10 ways described below are to help people prevent psoriasis flares and reduce the severity of their symptoms.
- Wrap up warm in cold, dry weather.
Wearing gloves in cold, dry weather can help prevent psoriasis flare-ups on the hands. Cold, dry weather can trigger psoriasis flare-ups, and people tend to have more of these in the winter. Scientists do not fully understand why psoriasis flares are more likely in wintry weather, but some research suggests that it is because cold, dark, and low-humidity conditions can cause the skin to thicken and become inflamed.
Moving to sunnier climates may not be practical for everyone, but people can wrap up warm to reduce the skin's exposure to cold, dry weather. By doing this, they may prevent many winter flare-ups from happening.
- Keep the skin moisturized.
Keeping the skin moisturized is a vital psoriasis prevention measure. Dry skin can trigger psoriasis flares. It can also make skin scaling more severe and cause the skin to crack and bleed. Many moisturizers contain mineral oils, such as liquid paraffin and petrolatum, and these have been discovered to make your skin worse.
People can also use natural home remedies to moisturize their skin. These include coconut oil and aloe vera gel, or manuka honey, which all of these natural ingredients have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and are known for its humectant properties.
- Keep the scalp moisturized.
People who get psoriasis on their scalp can help prevent flares by keeping the skin on this part of the body moisturized. Fragrance free shampoos and ones that contain very little harsh chemicals and ingredients are best to help soothe this type of psoriasis.
- Use a humidifier.
People with psoriasis can also keep their skin moist and reduce symptoms by using a home humidifier. This device can be particularly useful in winter when the air inside the home is likely to be cold and dry.
- Avoid sunburn.
Warmer, humid conditions and sunlight may improve psoriasis, but this does not mean that spending extended periods in the sun is good for this skin condition. Skin damage, including sunburn, is a common cause of psoriasis flares. People can prevent such flares by wearing sunscreen and limiting the exposure of their skin to the sun during the hottest part of the day.
- Supplement with Vitamin D.
Research has suggested that vitamin D deficiency is common in people with psoriasis, particularly in winter. Therefore, although additional studies are necessary to confirm this link, it is possible that maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin D may help prevent psoriasis flare-ups. People can get more vitamin D from:
- natural sunlight
- certain foods, such as salmon, milk, and fortified cereals
- vitamin D supplements
- Prevent skin injuries.
Skin injuries can trigger the development of psoriasis lesions in areas of the body where people usually do not get them. This aspect of psoriasis is called the Koebner phenomenon. Avoiding skin injuries where possible may help prevent psoriasis flare-ups. People can reduce the likelihood of skin injuries by:
- taking care when cutting nails or shaving
- avoiding tattoos or piercings
- protecting against insect bites
- taking care when preparing food
- wearing gloves when doing gardening
- avoiding dangerous activities and sports
- Reduce stress.
Stress is a potential trigger for many people with psoriasis. Some reports suggest that stressful events could trigger flare-ups in 68 percent of adults with the condition. Taking measures to reduce stress may help prevent psoriasis flare-ups.
- Improve your diet.
Eating healthful fats, such as nuts and seeds, may improve skin health. As with many areas of health, diet may play a role in psoriasis management. A 2018 review found that dietary interventions can reduce the severity of people's psoriasis.
For example, eating foods that reduce inflammation, such as salmon, may help improve psoriasis symptoms. The particular foods that trigger flare-ups of psoriasis may vary from person to person. A person can determine their food triggers by eliminating each food group in turn and noting whether or not their symptoms improve.
- Avoid certain medications.
Some medications may trigger psoriasis flares. People with psoriasis may wish to visit a doctor to discuss whether or not their other medications can cause psoriasis flares.
Tips for Managing Flare-Ups
Using the treatments and lifestyle changes above can help prevent psoriasis flares from arising. However, it may not be possible to avoid all flare-ups. Knowing how to manage flare-ups when they do happen is important. And one great, sure fire way to help your skin is to use the right creams and lotions for it! For psoriasis, being that it forms on top of the skin, it’s best to use resourceful skin care products to reduce the patches. For the dry, patchy skin areas, you need ingredients that moisturize but also heal and nourish. Wild Naturals uses manuka honey for psoriasis because of its plentiful benefits that cover every aspect you want to treat for it!
Manuka honey can hydrate, repair, trigger collagen production, and soothe! It’s a natural antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory wonder! To learn more about manuka honey for psoriasis, visit the Wild Naturals online store and discover the magic for treating your skin condition the natural way!
