Maximize Your Psoriasis Self-Care: Take Our Quiz Now

When it comes to self-care, you need to do you. A day of pampering at your local salon would be lovely, but you don’t need to wait for special occasions to practice good old-fashioned self-care at home, even if it’s just taking 30 minutes to move each day. 

Self-care plays a really important role in managing psoriasis. Flares can take a physical and emotional toll on your well-being, which means that taking time for a little self-TLC needs to be a top priority.

Sure, you need to know what to do to care for your psoriasis, such as which topical creams to apply and when, but you also need to make sure you take good care of your emotional, mental, and overall physical health!

How do you think your self-care routines are measuring up? Do you take the time you need to prioritize yourself and your needs, or do you need a bit of help getting started? Take our quiz to get an idea about your self-care routine.

Exercise should play a role in your self-care routine, but it is important to make sure you avoid overdoing it. If you have doubts about what to do or where to start, a doctor, physical therapist, or personal trainer may be able to help you get started.

You have probably heard a lot about the health benefits of exercise, but did you know that it may help with psoriasis too? According to a 2022 research review, regular, moderate exercise can help prevent psoriasis and, when used as a weight loss tool, can help reduce the severity of psoriasis symptoms and flares. 

Digging yourself into an isolated hole or overindulging in your favorite junk foods may sound like a good idea, but will not help you out much.

In a 2022 study, researchers surveyed a small group of people with moderate to severe psoriasis during the COVID-19 lockdown period. They found that isolation led to worsening disease progression and overall lower quality of life.

Eating whatever you like can lead to weight gain, which can worsen your flares and may make you feel a need for more isolation.

If you feel down, talk out your feelings with friends, a therapist, or others — it may give you a new perspective and help you feel better. And you may find that getting outside and going for a walk — with appropriate sun protection, of course — helps you feel better too.

You may find that smoking helps with stress relief, but the benefits of quitting outweigh the minor stress-relieving effect that smoking may provide. Smoking can increase the risk of developing psoriasis and worsen your symptoms and flares.

It can also increase your risk for comorbid conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and psoriatic arthritis, or make these conditions worse. It may also make your treatments less effective.

Taking an active role in your psoriasis care can make a big impact. Studies suggest that the more involved you are and the more personalized your care is, the more likely you are to get the most out of your treatments.

That does not mean you need to be able to pronounce every medication name, but you should be able to understand which medications you need to take when and what they do for you. You should also be ready to let your doctor know if something is not working for you. 

Maybe that new cream makes your skin feel worse, or maybe applying it three times a day is too much. Your doctor should be able to discuss alternatives that may make it easier for you to stick to your treatment.

To be clear, there is no diet that can cure psoriasis, but what you eat can make a difference. Eating certain foods and avoiding others may help reduce inflammation and prevent or improve comorbid conditions. 

You may find that following a heart-healthy diet that includes plenty of fruit, veggies, complex carbs, and lean protein is helpful. If you’re living with other conditions, such as celiac disease (which is linked to autoimmune disorders like psoriasis), you may need to follow a gluten-free diet. 

If you’re not sure how to get started, a doctor or registered dietitian may be able to help.

The personal care products you choose, from makeup and deodorants to soaps and detergents, can affect your psoriasis. Dyes, perfumes, and allergens can irritate your skin and may lead to symptom flares.

The National Psoriasis Foundation has created a list of safe products that won’t irritate most people’s skin and provides a seal of approval. You can find a listing here.

Avoiding alcohol consumption may help with your flares.

Reducing or eliminating alcohol may: (1) lead to increased remission and help lessen severity of flares, (2) improve response to treatment, (3) reduce the risk of comorbid conditions such as fatty liver disease, and (4) decrease the risk of liver damage due to medication.

Men should limit their alcohol consumption to two drinks per day, and women limit theirs to one drink per day. Drinking more than that may reduce the effectiveness of treatments and cause you to have fewer periods of remission (times when your symptoms are not flaring).

Understanding your risk factors for other conditions can allow you to take a more proactive role in keeping yourself healthy. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you get screened for other conditions regularly. The sooner you find a potential problem, the sooner you can start treatments and the better outcome you will experience. 

It can also be beneficial to understand which conditions you may have a higher risk of developing. This can help you make better choices about your diet, your exercise routines, and other aspects of your life to potentially avoid future issues. 

You got this! You know what steps you should be taking to help keep yourself in tip-top shape, in terms of your psoriasis flares and mental health and keeping potential comorbid conditions in check. Keep it up!

You may not know everything yet, but that is A-OK. You always have room to grow and learn more. You can review some of the tips in the quiz or go on to learn more about psoriasis from other helpful articles, your doctor, therapists, or other experts that you may know.

Do not fret! Everyone starts somewhere. Maybe you feel like you don’t have the time, feel overwhelmed with where to start, or are just frustrated because you have tried and have not gotten as far as you’d like. You do not have to be an expert or take huge steps each time. You can start by reviewing some tips in the quiz and trying to make a plan to incorporate even one thing into your life or talking with a trusted member of your care team, family, or friend group. You got this!