Does Your Psoriasis Flare Up in the Summer?

For most people the warmer, moister air of summer brings relief to psoriasis symptoms. But that’s not true for everyone. If your psoriasis tends to flare up when it warms up, there are some things you can do to find relief so that you can get out and enjoy the summer weather.

When you have psoriasis, your skin cells are prone to going into overdrive. When that happens, your body’s normal cycle of skin cell production speeds up and patches of scaly skin cells build up on the surface of your skin.

One of things that can cause a psoriasis flare-up is any injury to the skin, even minor ones. That means sunburns and bug bites can both lead to a flare up. In the summer time, when risks of both are high, it’s important to use a good sunscreen and be smart about your sun exposure. You’ll also want to be mindful of mosquitoes. Since you don’t want to spread harsh chemicals on your skin, try finding a natural mosquito repellent. Or try using citronella candles to keep bugs at bay. If neither of those options work, there’s a new type of bug repellant that comes in a container you clip onto your clothes and wear rather than spread onto your skin.

Because chemicals can easily dry and irritate your skin when you have psoriasis, summer swimming can also cause flare-ups. Fresh- and salt-water swimming aren’t a problem—they can actually help ease psoriasis symptoms. Chlorinated swimming pools are a different story. If you swim in a chlorinated pool, be sure to rinse the chlorine off as soon as you can after swimming. Follow your rinse with a gentle moisturizer.

If you do get a summer-time psoriasis flare up, you might find you have some good remedies right in your kitchen pantry.
• Vinegar can help to sooth your skin and may help to soften psoriasis plaques. Mix 1 cup of vinegar with a gallon of cool water. Soak a washcloth in the mixture and then apply the compress to the affected area of your skin.
• To get full-body relief add a tablespoon of olive oil and a cup of milk to a warm bath and then soak for a spell. The combination will soften your skin and make plaques easier to remove.
• To soften skin even further, rub moisturizer on the affected patches and then wrap them in standard kitchen plastic wrap for ten or fifteen minutes.

A psoriasis flare up can be miserable, especially in the summer. If you follow the steps here, you’ll reduce your chances of a flare up and you’ll have safe, natural ways to find relief if you need to.

Stay well,
Danny Wallace

Dry, Itchy Skin Driving You Crazy

It's wintertime and the cold weather can take a real toll on your skin. Between the dry air and the tendency to take longer, hotter showers, your skin can dry out. That can lead to flaking, itching, and chapping, none of which are fun or attractive.

Fortunately, you can easily take better care of your skin during the winter. Just follow a few simple steps.

First, stay hydrated. The dry air tends to suck the moisture out of your skin. Your body has to replenish it and to do that it needs water. So make sure you're drinking enough water each day.

Second to the dry air, long hot showers are most often the cause of dry skin. You can counter this by turning down the heat a bit and taking shorter showers.

There are plenty of body creams and lotions that can help restore moisture to your skin and protect it from drying out. My favorite is all natural aloe vera gel. It's doesn't feel oily or heavy and it doesn’t have a strong fragrance so it's good for men or women. Aloe vera promotes healing in the skin and reduces inflammation.

One of my least favorite things about the dry, winter air is that my nose dries out, too. I've found that running a humidifier at night helps keep my skin from getting overly dry and makes breathing more comfortable, too.

Finally, invest in a good skin care regimen—one that will cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize your skin.

Just a little extra care can keep your skin looking its best—and you feeling your best—all winter long.

Stay well,
Meghan Krohn

Itchy, Dry Skin Doesn't Have to be Par for the Course this Winter

With wintertime comes dry, cold air outside and dry, warm air inside. The combination is a perfect recipe for dry, chapped skin. Usually dry skin is most noticeable on the hands, but the season can also take a toll on your elbows, the skin behind your knees, your legs, and your face.

In my experience, women are more vocal about dry skin concerns than men, but dry skin affects both sexes equally, and it is certainly just as uncomfortable for men as it is for women.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to prevent dry skin and to relieve it where it's already a problem.

The number one step for both prevention and treatment is to find a good hand and body moisturizing lotion that suits your skin.

There are plenty of light, unscented lotions that work well for men and that won't make you smell like you're wearing your wife's perfume.

Look for a lotion that is made of natural ingredients that won't irritate your skin further.

I also highly recommend using a humidifier in your home during the winter. Not only will this help stop your skin from becoming dry and itchy, it can also help reduce the number of bloody noses you get during the winter, and improve how well you sleep.

Finally, water—especially hot water—can strip the skin of oils and lead to drying. Try to shower in warm water rather than hot water. Same goes for washing your hands. And always dry your skin thoroughly.

By following these steps, you can stop dry, itchy, flaky skin before it starts.

Stay well,
Heather Robwell