7 Psoriasis Triggers to Avoid

Kartik was undergoing psoriasis treatment for patches that appeared on his elbow and upper arms. He felt embarrassed to wear short sleeved shirts as people often stared at the scaly, red-coloured rash on his skin. He also grew tired of repeatedly telling his friends that psoriasis was not contagious.

Like Kartik, many of us might experience recurrent episodes of psoriasis.Psoriasis is neither life-threatening nor contagious, however it can be embarrassing in social situations and take a toll on one’s self esteem. The good news is that by incorporating a few basic lifestyle changes, we can control how severe or frequent psoriasis episodes are. Here are the 7 biggest psoriasis triggers you must avoid.

1. Unnecessary skin trauma

Psoriasis lesions tend to develop in areas where the skin is wounded. If you have psoriasis or are undergoing psoriasis treatment, try to avoid any kind of tattoos or piercing. Even if the skin puncture occurs in a spot that is unaffected by the rash, chances are that fresh psoriasis lesions can develop in the new spot. This rash can end up spoiling your new body art and the experience will have been a waste for you.

2. Exposure to sunlight

Avoid exposing your lesions to harsh sunlight. If you need to be outdoors for a while, make sure you cover the areas affected by psoriasis. Studies have shown that exposing the psoriasis rash to excess sunlight can worsen the inflammation on your skin. Wear loose cotton clothing in summer. Stay away from synthetic fabrics, especially if you have sensitive skin.

3. Excess of stress

Stress causes your hormones to fluctuate wildly. Unstable hormones can cause a myriad of health complications. Chronic stress is known to worsen a susceptibility to autoimmune diseases like psoriasis. Many people experience psoriasis outbreaks at a point in their life when they are highly stressed. Stress cannot be completed avoided, but do take time out every week to relax. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep at night is the perfect cure for stress.

4. Extremely cold weather

Avoiding weather can be difficult, but you can take the right steps to ensure you care for your skin. Cold weather strips your skin off its natural moisture and is known to trigger off an attack of psoriasis. To protect yourself from the cold, install a humidifier at home. Make sure you prepare yourself for winters by getting a good moisturising cream prescribed by a doctor.

5. Certain medications

Certain medicines which are administered to treat other diseases can trigger a psoriasis rash. These include anti-malarial medicines, certain heart and blood pressure medications, steroidal drugs, and lithium. Always inform your doctor if you regularly have outbreaks of psoriasis. This will protect you from any allergic reactions to medication.

6. Addiction to smoking

You know that smoking hurts your lungs. But did you also know that cigarettes can worsen your psoriasis? Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease and the nicotine from your cigarette attacks your immune system. Additionally, cigarettes have many by-products such as carbon monoxide which cause significant oxidative damage to your cells.

7. Sour foods

Sour foods may be delicious however they are highly acidic in nature. This makes them a trigger for psoriasis and other skin allergies. If you are undergoing psoriasis treatment, do avoid pickles, citrus fruits, tomatoes, grapes, and pineapple. You would also need to cut down on alcohol consumption and avoid red meat as they put pressure on your liver.

Homeopathy and psoriasis treatment

Homeopathy has opened new doors in psoriasis treatment. Never before has healing been so effective and yet, free from harmful side effects. Homeopathic treatment for psoriasis tackles the skin disease from its root cause, rather than merely suppressing physical symptoms. Thus, the goal is permanent cure not temporary results. Moreover, homeopathic medicines are very safe and gentle. This makes it especially popular for young children who are the major victims of psoriasis.