While the exact cause of psoriasis remains a mystery, certain triggers are known to exacerbate this condition, leading to flare-ups that can significantly impact daily life. Start a search today to uncover the lesser-known psoriasis triggers.
There are many subtle catalysts for psoriasis flare-ups. Understanding these triggers is crucial for maintaining skin health. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or a long-term sufferer, knowledge is key to managing your psoriasis.
What is Psoriasis?
According to WebMD, psoriasis is a “skin disorder that causes skin cells to multiply 10 times faster than normal.” The result is raised, bumpy red patches of skin crusted in white scales. These scaly patches occur primarily on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.
Although the exact cause of psoriasis remains unknown, it is thought to be related to an immune system problem involving overactive T cells.
Is Psoriasis Contagious?
Although psoriasis is not contagious, the chances of developing it increase if a direct family member has the disorder. If a person has one parent who has psoriasis, they have a 10 percent chance of developing it. If they have two parents with it, their chance of developing psoriasis increases to 50 percent.
Mild, Moderate, or Severe Psoriasis?
The severity of psoriasis is largely defined by the percentage of your body that is afflicted. To put it in perspective, one percent of your skin surface is equal to the size of your hand.
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, there are three levels of psoriasis severity. They are:
- Mild: Covers less than three percent of the body.
- Moderate: Covers between three and 10 percent of the body.
- Severe: Covers more than 10 percent of the body.
Psoriasis Triggers
If you are looking to manage flares, we’ve highlights eight psoriasis triggers that you should know about.
1. Stress
Stressors can include anything from divorce to loss of employment to financial problems. Any stressor can have a negative effect on your immune system and ability to fight off disease. This negative effect can easily trigger a psoriasis flare-up.
In order to prevent your stress from causing a flare-up, it is best to find ways to effectively manage your stressors. Exercise, listening to relaxing music, watching a funny show, mediation, and attending support groups are just a few examples of how you can reduce your stress.
2. Alcohol
Consuming alcohol can cause a flare-up. Additionally, excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to sleep deprivation, stress, and a poor diet, which can all lead to a flare-up.
If you want to avoid triggering a flare-up, drink alcohol in moderation or abstain altogether.
3. Cold or Dry Weather
Any weather changes which lead to dryer skin than normal can trigger a flare-up. That is why it’s important to cover your skin in cold weather in order to avoid a flare-up, along with applying moisturizer and using dehumidifiers.
4. Tattoos, Piercings, Cuts, and Bruises
Any injury to the skin will stimulate the immune system to repair it. This includes cuts, bruises, bug bites, scrapes, and tattoos. Since psoriasis is closely associated with the immune system, it follows that any injury to the skin can cause a fare up.
To avoid a flare-up, make sure you keep the damaged area clean. Sometimes a flare-up cannot be avoided, so be prepared as a flare-up may still occur 10 to 14 days after the skin is damaged.
5. Medications
Certain medications, including antimalarial drugs, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and lithium, can cause flare-ups. Make sure to be vigilant as a medication-related flare-up may not occur until several weeks after you start taking a medication.
Do not stop your medication cold turkey if you suspect it has triggered a flare-up. Doing so could negatively affect your health. Go see your doctor as he or she may have other solutions.
6. Infections
Infections, such as colds, flu, and ear infections, stimulate the body’s immune system. As such, they may also stimulate a psoriasis flare-up. Strep throat can trigger a specific type of psoriasis, called guttate psoriasis.
Treat infections promptly and don’t wait for them to get worse. You may need a round of antibiotics to clear up a bad infection.
7. Smoking
People who smoke are more likely to have psoriasis flare-ups.
To avoid flare-ups, cut back on your smoking or quit. Additionally, your doctor will be able to give you advice on how to achieve this.
8. Certain Food
Although not based on scientific research, certain food is thought to trigger psoriasis. These include:
- Gluten (in a specific subset of people who also have Celiac disease);
- Tomatoes;
- Potatoes;
- Eggplant;
- Processed food;
- Dairy, and;
- Fatty cuts of meats.
To avoid a flare-up, it is best to eliminate these foods from your diet whenever possible.
How to Manage Flares
Sometimes you can’t avoid a flare-up. In those cases, we’ve highlighted some ways to manage flares after the fact.
Topical Creams
Your physician can prescribe several types of creams or shampoos to alleviate your symptoms. These include:
- Salicylic acid;
- Steroid based creams;
- Calcitriol containing ointments;
- Coal-tar ointments or shampoos, and;
- Prescription retinoids that contain synthetic vitamin A.
Medications
Your physician may prescribe medication to treat your psoriasis. These may include:
- Methotrexate: An immunosuppressive drug.
- Oral Retinoids: Compounds containing synthetic vitamin A.
- Biologics: An immunomodulator targeting specific inflammatory markers associated with psoriasis.
Light Therapy
Several different types of light therapy have been proven successful in the treatment of psoriasis. These include PUVA therapy and narrow-band UVB therapy.
Natural Treatments
Some people have had good results with natural remedies, such as:
- Natural sunlight;
- Dead sea salts;
- Aloe Vera, and;
- Fatty cuts of meats.
Keeping Skin Moisturized
Moisturizing your skin will help prevent your skin from becoming dried out, cracked, and more susceptible to flare-ups.
Losing Weight
Losing weight can have a myriad of health benefits including lower blood pressure, better cardiac health, and improved circulation to the skin. In fact, the improved circulation to the skin will help decrease the number of flare-ups.