Although psoriasis may return on its own, something may prod its return. These things are called triggers. Being aware of the most common ones can help you reduce the likelihood of flares and possibly extend periods of remission. For some people, overwhelming or unusually high stress can turn up disease activity.
Find ways to relax and manage your stress levels to keep psoriasis from flaring. During colder months, keep your skin hydrated and moisturized with lotions and creams. Too much sunlight can cause skin damage or a skin burn. This can trigger a flare. When you shower, avoid scrubbing with sponges or towels. Being rough on your skin may invite a flare.
Instead, gently wash and lather your body and then towel dry your skin. If you have a weakened immune system, you may experience more flares and fewer remissions than other individuals with psoriasis. Bacterial and viral infections, such as chronic strep throat or HIV, can trigger flares. Smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity are three of the most common triggers. Taking care of your body includes:.
Many treatments are successful at both easing the symptoms of psoriasis and helping bring about remission. Short-term side effects include nausea, headache, burning and itching. Long-term side effects include dry and wrinkled skin, freckles, increased sun sensitivity, and increased risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. If you have moderate to severe psoriasis or other treatments haven't worked, your doctor may prescribe oral or injected systemic drugs.
Because of the potential for severe side effects, some of these medications are used for only brief periods and might be alternated with other treatments. Usually administered weekly as a single oral dose, methotrexate Trexall decreases the production of skin cells and suppresses inflammation.
It's less effective than adalimumab Humira and infliximab Remicade. It might cause upset stomach, loss of appetite and fatigue. People taking methotrexate long term need ongoing testing to monitor their blood counts and liver function. Men and women should stop taking methotrexate at least three months before attempting to conceive. This drug is not recommended when you're breast-feeding.
Taken orally for severe psoriasis, cyclosporine Neoral suppresses the immune system. It's similar to methotrexate in effectiveness but cannot be used continuously for more than a year. Like other immunosuppressant drugs, cyclosporine increases your risk of infection and other health problems, including cancer.
People taking cyclosporine need ongoing monitoring of their blood pressure and kidney function. These drugs are not recommended when you're pregnant, breast-feeding or if you intend to become pregnant. These drugs, usually administered by injection, alter the immune system in a way that disrupts the disease cycle and improves symptoms and signs of disease within weeks.
Several of these drugs are approved for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis in people who haven't responded to first-line therapies. The therapeutic options are rapidly expanding. Examples include etanercept Enbrel , infliximab Remicade , adalimumab Humira , ustekinumab Stelara , secukinumab Cosentyx and ixekizumab Taltz. These types of drugs are expensive and may or may not be covered by health insurance plans.
Biologics must be used with caution because they carry the risk of suppressing your immune system in ways that increase your risk of serious infections.
In particular, people taking these treatments must be screened for tuberculosis. Although doctors choose treatments based on the type and severity of psoriasis and the areas of skin affected, the traditional approach is to start with the mildest treatments — topical creams and ultraviolet light therapy phototherapy — in people with typical skin lesions plaques and then progress to stronger ones only if necessary.
People with pustular or erythrodermic psoriasis or associated arthritis usually need systemic therapy from the beginning of treatment. The goal is to find the most effective way to slow cell turnover with the fewest possible side effects.
A number of alternative therapies claim to ease the symptoms of psoriasis, including special diets, creams, dietary supplements and herbs. None have definitively been proved effective. But some alternative therapies are deemed generally safe and might reduce itching and scaling in people with mild to moderate psoriasis.
Other alternative therapies are useful in avoiding triggers, such as stress. If you're considering dietary supplements or other alternative therapy to ease the symptoms of psoriasis, consult your doctor. He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons of specific alternative therapies. However, certain treatments and lifestyle changes may help people prolong their remission periods.
Experts believe that psoriasis occurs due to a combination of genetic factors and external triggers, but not everyone who inherits one or more of the specific psoriasis-causing genes goes on to develop the skin condition. Therefore, avoiding triggers may be key to reducing the risk of psoriasis development and the return of symptoms following remission. Triggers vary from person to person, but some of the most common are:.
Psoriasis often develops on injured areas of skin. Picking or scratching the skin, receiving a bug bite, and severe sunburn can all cause symptoms to appear.
Stress is a potential trigger for many chronic and autoimmune conditions, and psoriasis is no exception. Stress reduction techniques may lessen or even prevent symptoms. Infections weaken the immune system, and this affects psoriasis in turn. Streptococcus infection, or strep throat , may trigger a type of psoriasis called guttate psoriasis. Some individuals believe that their diet and food allergies can affect their symptoms.
It is possible that a vitamin D deficiency may contribute to psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders. One common psoriasis cycle is for symptoms to improve during the summer and get worse during the winter. Cold weather is a common trigger for psoriasis flares. Receiving prompt treatment for psoriasis flares may help people re-enter remission or, at least, reduce their symptoms to more manageable levels.
Sometimes, a previously effective treatment stops working, which suggests that it is time to try an alternative. Treatment options include:. Not all of these medications are suitable for everyone. Some retinoids are unsuitable for use during pregnancy, for example.
Follow this advice to treat everyone safely and effectively. We're helping you achieve YourHealthiestSkin from head to toe. Use these tips from dermatologists to keep all your skin looking and feeling its best. AAD Shade Structures provide permanent outdoor shade in areas that are not protected from the sun. When it comes to treating the skin, plenty of people say they have expertise. Only a board-certified dermatologist has these credentials. Psoriasis medicine: Psoriasis is often a lifelong condition that requires a long-term treatment strategy.
Psoriasis tends to come and go unexpectedly. People often have periods when psoriasis calms down. Some may see clear or nearly clear skin during these periods. Psoriasis can also flare unpredictably. Treating psoriasis can keep it under control, helping you avoid serious flares and preventing the psoriasis from becoming more severe.
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