Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects more than 8 million people in the United States.
It usually first manifests as itchy, scaly, or plaque-covered skin. If you have psoriasis, your body doesn’t shed old, dead skin cells as quickly as it produces new ones. Instead, the old cells pile up on top of one another, creating thick, silvery plaques, scaly patches, or reddish welts.
Although no cure yet exists for psoriasis, lifestyle adjustments and therapies help you stay comfortable and may also reduce your risk for complications, such as psoriatic arthritis.
Our expert team at The Center for Dermatology Cosmetic & Laser Surgery suggests these lifestyle modifications to help calm your immune system and make living with psoriasis easier.
Smoking tends to induce psoriasis flare-ups and makes your symptoms more severe. In fact, people who have psoriasis and who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day have twice the risk of developing severe psoriasis, compared with nonsmokers with psoriasis.
Smoking also interferes with psoriasis treatments, which makes soothing flares and symptoms more difficult for your doctor, and for you.
If you have psoriasis, in addition to raising your risk for lung cancer and other tobacco-related issues, smoking increases your risk of other autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn’s disease.
To reduce the number and severity of flares, quit smoking and other forms of tobacco use. Even a nicotine patch may trigger a flare, however, so be sure to check with us before using a nicotine-based smoking-cessation method.
Like smoking, the habit of drinking alcohol actually raises your risk for developing psoriasis in the first place. Alcohol is a vasodilator that has pro-inflammatory effects.
Since psoriasis is an inflammatory disorder, drinking alcohol exacerbates your disease and may worsen the severity and frequency of flare-ups.
If you’re taking psoriasis medications, alcohol may make them less effective. Alcohol also raises your risk for complications from these medications, such as liver disease.
People who have psoriasis and drink alcohol increase their risk for fatty liver disease and psoriatic arthritis. Men may see improvements in their disease if they have no more than two alcoholic drinks per day; women may benefit from no more than one alcoholic drink per day.
Losing excess weight helps your symptoms, but starving yourself on a fad diet doesn’t.
Instead of trying to lose weight with a short-term, calorie-restriction diet, adopt a healthier lifestyle. Transition from processed foods and sugar to whole foods that nourish your entire body. Your skin — and your organs, and the way you feel — will thank you.
Switch to a Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diet, or other vegetable-heavy, non-processed approach of eating that you can enjoy for life. Many fruits and vegetables — and even some pastured meats — are anti-inflammatory, which may modulate your symptoms.
Whatever your fitness level, you can gradually increase your daily and weekly activities to help your body stay strong and flexible. Some people with psoriasis feel pain when they exercise. If that’s you, let us know, and we can work with you to find an exercise regimen that feels good.
Regular exercise helps you avoid complications, such as psoriatic arthritis. If you already have psoriatic arthritis, lubricating your joints through regular movement reduces symptoms.
Finally, exercise helps alleviate stress of all kinds, including the stress of living with a chronic disease. By staying active, you reduce your chances of developing anxiety or depression related to your psoriasis.
Stress increases inflammation and may lead to a disease flare. A healthy lifestyle helps you feel better, breathe better, and feel more at home in your body. But you can also take steps to calm yourself mentally and emotionally through the day with:
Self-care isn’t self-indulgent. Self-care helps you thrive in spite of the challenges of living with a chronic disease.
We’re experts at finding the right treatment for your psoriasis. If you have mild or early-stage disease, you may respond to topical treatments alone. You could also benefit from a noninvasive treatment called light therapy.
If you have a more severe disease, we may recommend systemic medications.
Learn more about how to live a full and happy life with psoriasis by contacting our team today. Call us at our Mount Kisco, New York, office, or book an appointment online.
