If you live with Psoriasis, you know how debilitating the redness, dryness, and itchiness can be. While this autoimmune skin disease is usually managed successfully the majority of the year, winter can present a challenge in controlling Psoriasis outbreaks.
Many of the factors that usually trigger Psoriasis flare-ups are heightened during the winter months. Fortunately, there are some specific steps you can take at this time of the year to restore your skin back to a state of health and comfort.
Although we live in the Sunshine State, the change in temperature and air pressure can still trigger Psoriasis symptoms. At Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center in Windermere, Florida, we can help you manage these symptoms successfully.
Keep Your Skin Moisturized
The winter months are marked by drier air, which robs your skin of the moisture it needs to combat the dryness caused by Psoriasis. Luckily, the effects of dry winter air on your skin can be counteracted through a regular moisturizing regimen.
If Psoriasis flare ups persist despite the regular use of a moisturizer, a humidifier can provide your skin with the extra moisture it needs to prevent drying.
Get Regular Sun Exposure
This may seem like unnecessary advice for Floridians, but with the winter comes shorter, colder days. This not only means that you have less daylight to spend outside, but you’ll probably be outside less often because of the cooler temperature.
Less time outside means less exposure to ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet, or UV, light is believed by experts to hinder the rapid growth of skin cells, leading to Psoriasis flare-ups. Since exposure UV light plays such an important role in managing your symptoms, it’s important to get regular sun exposure during the winter months.
Keep Yourself Healthy — Mind and Body
Since Psoriasis is so closely tied to your immune response, anything that causes your immune system to kick into overdrive has the potential to trigger a flare-up. These include any infections from bacteria and viruses.
Because many illnesses are known to circulate in the winter, it’s important to avoid germs and stay healthy with extra vigilance. It’s especially important to watch out for upper-respiratory infections such as strep throat.
Stress can leave you particularly vulnerable to these infections and viruses. As stress is a known trigger of Psoriasis by itself, it’s important to maintain a relatively relaxed state to help prevent flare-ups.
To help prevent these physical and mental triggers, try to keep yourself in an overall healthy state by following these tips:
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Get regular physical activity.
- Practice stress management techniques.
By taking care of your mind and body during the winter, you can significantly improve the condition of your skin and overall well-being.
Treatment Options
If you are taking all the precautions listed above and your Psoriasis symptoms persist, you may need to seek medical help. At Dermatology and Skin Care Center, we have a variety of comprehensive medical treatments that can keep your skin clear, in the winter and year-round.
Phototherapy, also known as light therapy, works by exposing the patient’s skin to ultraviolet light. This direct exposure to ultraviolet light stops the rapid growth of skin cells that produce the itchy, patchy flare-ups characteristic of Psoriasis. Our medical team will customize a treatment plan that is right for you and your unique symptoms.
Our experienced medical staff at Dermatology and Skin Care Center would love to get you started on a treatment to improve your Psoriasis, or to simply answer any questions you may have about managing your symptoms. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!