News News Psoriasis skin care, do's and don'ts to minimize flare-ups Psoriasis skin care, do's and don'ts to minimize flare-ups

News News Psoriasis skin care, do's and don'ts to minimize flare-ups Psoriasis skin care, do's and don'ts to minimize flare-ups

News News Psoriasis skin care, do's and don'ts to minimize flare-ups Psoriasis skin care, do's and don'ts to minimize flare-ups

Psoriasis is a chronic and inflammatory skin disease that affects 2% of the population in Spain. Although in recent years, mainly due to new biological treatments, the quality of life of people suffering from this disease has improved a lot, it is still a disease with great social stigmatization and one that greatly affects those who suffer from it psychologically. In addition, although it is considered an immune-caused disease in which genetic factors are also involved, lifestyle and daily care greatly influence its control. Thus, in addition to taking care of their diet, avoiding obesity, stress, toxins such as tobacco and alcohol, and strictly following medical treatments, people with psoriasis have to take care of their skin conscientiously, with appropriate cosmetic treatments that will help minimize breakouts.

What is psoriasis? Causes, types, symptoms and treatment

Dr. Pablo de la Cueva, head of the Dermatology Service of the Hospital Infanta Leonor and secretary of the Psoriasis Group of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), tells us how this care should be.

daily hygiene

As Dr. De la Cueva tells us, "just as there are other pathologies in which we recommend spacing out baths or showers, in the case of psoriasis, we recommend daily hygiene", as washing the skin helps to remove the scales It is preferable that the shower be done with warm water, not very hot, so that the skin does not dry out. In addition, you should avoid using hard sponges or horsehair gloves that can damage the skin or even "dry very abruptly, rubbing... because skin with psoriasis is more prone to suffer. Any aggression or trauma will not only damage it more easily, but if it is traumatized, more psoriasis will appear, ”he says.

conscientious hydration

Moisturizing your skin daily, preferably after bathing or showering, is essential to take care of skin with psoriasis, keep it healthy and help control and prevent the dreaded outbreaks. Creams, like gels, must "provide a certain hydration, because gels, shampoos or other cleaning products, in addition to cleaning, are very drying, so we must try to use products that incorporate emollience, hydration...".

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These products may be specific for skin with psoriasis, and if they are, it is very likely that they include ingredients such as glycolic acid, “salicylic acid or urea. These ingredients usually provide hydration and are keratolytic agents, they favor the elimination of scales and excess skin that people with psoriasis have”, says Cuevas.

It is also important that these products have a certain cosmetic quality, that is, "that they are easy to apply, that they do not dirty clothes, that they are not sticky, that they spread well... because many patients complain that these types of products are difficult to extend, apply… and stop using them. When this happens, the adherence is worse and, therefore, also the care”.

What should we avoid?

In psoriasis we are not talking about a cure, but about keeping the patient without injuries and with comfortable treatments”

Just as there are some ingredients that help care for psoriasis skin, there are others that we should avoid because they can damage it. Thus, it is always best to opt for products indicated for sensitive skin and with few ingredients, "we must avoid any substance that is irritating -such as detergents, some parabens and perfumes-, although now in cosmetics more and more care is taken and fewer ingredients are used of this type. It is best to use products, soaps... that are designed for sensitive skin, and if we avoid excess active ingredients, the better”, she concludes.

Alcohol, for example, is one of those substances to avoid, "both because it irritates and dries out the skin, and because the skin with psoriasis sometimes has fissures, wounds... and can even hurt or sting." Thus, if we are going to use a perfume or cologne with alcohol, it is better to apply it only to clothing, and, above all, not to touch any area where there are psoriasis plaques.

Another action to avoid, especially when psoriasis is present on the scalp, is to avoid any treatment or action that involves pulling the hair, "because excess traction can lead to trauma and, as we have mentioned, trauma worsens psoriasis and they favor the appearance of new plates”, he affirms. In addition, "to care for the scalp with psoriasis there are also specific products, from shampoos, to gels, foams..."

Oatmeal baths, physical exercise, breathing techniques... How can we relieve psoriasis with home remedies?

Dr. Pablo de la Cueva wants to make it clear that psoriasis care, to be effective, must be carried out throughout the year and constantly. And it is that, although it is true that psoriasis improves at certain times of the year, such as summer, due to heat, sunlight and humidity, we cannot lower our guard, "it is true that in summer patients are usually better and need less treatment, but in terms of care they should be even more intense, because the skin suffers more for other reasons, due to sweat, chlorine... There are more aggressions, and that is why we recommend that you hydrate more”. In addition, the sun is a great attack on the skin, "although the sun is good for psoriasis, you have to protect yourself a lot, because getting burned is a very strong attack on the skin and can worsen the disease," he clarifies.

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