How to Keep Your Psoriasis From Worsening

Researchers still haven’t found a cure for psoriasis. That means if you’re diagnosed with this condition, you’ll need to figure out how to manage it for the rest of your life. 

Fortunately, while studies haven’t pinpointed a cure, they have identified a lot of things to help manage psoriasis symptoms. Exploring them and finding what works for your skin can go a long way toward preventing your psoriasis from worsening. 

This gets easier when you partner with a psoriasis expert like Kenneth Warrick, MD, FAAD. At Atlantic Dermatology in Longs, South Carolina, he works with you to develop a personalized psoriasis management plan. 

For most people, keeping psoriasis from worsening means blending lifestyle changes with targeted treatment. 

Lifestyle changes to prevent psoriasis from getting worse

The American Medical Association (AMA) recently shared some things doctors wish their patients knew about psoriasis. Quite a few lifestyle adjustments that can make a difference made that list, including:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Managing stress
• Getting sufficient sleep
• Working to avoid skin injuries
• Being gentle with your skin and never scrubbing in the bath or shower

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) created a similar list of things that can cause psoriasis flare-ups. It had several overlaps with the AMA’s suggestions. Additionally, it pointed out that vices can make your symptoms worse. Specifically, drinking alcohol and smoking can worsen your psoriasis. 

The AAD also calls out the way your hygiene routine can impact your symptoms. Hot water can strip moisture from your skin, making you more prone to a flare-up. As a result, it’s best to shower or bathe in warm water and keep it to ten minutes or less. Put moisturizer on immediately after. 

Dryness can make psoriasis worse. So, regularly apply moisturizer and use a humidifier at home if the air feels dry. 

To reiterate something from the AMA list, we want to point out that diet can play a big role here. Because foods can trigger or ease inflammation, they can directly impact your psoriasis. Dr. Warrick can work with you to find a healthy diet that supports your skin health. 

Targeted treatment for psoriasis

Here at our office, Dr. Warrick works with you to find effective lifestyle adjustments. At the same time, he offers several options for directly addressing this skin disease. Those include:

• Dietary supplements
• Injections
• Light therapy
• Oral medications
• Topical medicines

Dr. Warrick evaluates your skin and helps you find the treatment or treatments that work best for your specific symptoms. His goal is to help you avoid flare-ups and keep itchiness, scaliness, and other bothersome psoriasis signs at a minimum.

To see what Dr. Warrick recommends for your specific skin, call our office to schedule a consultation or use our online booking feature to make an appointment.