You know all too well what it feels like when your psoriasis is about to flare: There’s a subtle crawling sensation beneath your skin, and a sensitivity across the skin surface that makes even your loosest clothing feel irritating.
Before long, you’ve got tiny, raised bumps where your psoriasis plaques typically appear, and those bumps are accompanied by an intense, relentless itch that’s hard to soothe.
At Keehan Dermatology in Fort Worth, Texas, our team knows that even the most proactive psoriasis management plan can’t prevent every symptom flare. For Psoriasis Action Month this August, we’re discussing five self-care strategies that can help relieve the constant itch and inflammation of a psoriasis “plaque attack.”
More than eight million people in the United States have psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes skin cells to multiply up to 10 times faster than normal.
Whereas a normal skin cell cycle takes about 30 days, the immune system of someone with psoriasis causes skin turnover to happen in just three or four days, leading to a rapid buildup of thick, scaly patches that can be painfully dry and itchy.
Like other autoimmune disorders, psoriasis cycles through periods of inflammatory “symptom flares,” followed by periods of remission and skin clearance. Proactive management — from trigger avoidance and gentle skincare to lifestyle changes and medication — can go a long way in keeping the condition under control.
When psoriasis flares, you want instant relief from the constant itch and inflammation. While the right approach for your symptoms depends on their type and severity, most treatment plans involve the following management strategies:
For most people with psoriasis, itchy skin is the most bothersome symptom of a flare-up. Gentle daily skincare is the first step toward easing the itch and keeping it from worsening:
Right after bathing, lock in hydration with an ointment-based moisturizer or cream that repairs dryness and protects a compromised skin barrier. Choose a product that carries the National Psoriasis Foundation Seal of Recognition to ensure it’s safe and non-irritating for psoriatic skin.
When you have an intense urge to scratch the itch, try applying some more moisturizer to the itchy area. Alternatively, you can apply a cold, damp washcloth or a cloth-covered ice pack to the area instead; cold therapy reduces nerve sensitivity and quickly soothes sore, itchy skin.
There are many non-prescription psoriasis lotions to help control mild symptom flares. Over-the-counter (OTC) anti-itch creams made with active ingredients like menthol, camphor, or low-dose hydrocortisone can help calm sensitive nerves upon application.
Products with coal tar help reduce skin itching and flaking, decrease redness, swelling, and scaling, and slow skin cell growth. Products with salicylic acid can help soften and remove psoriasis scales and ease inflammation.
Very dry, itchy, or irritated psoriasis plaques may improve with wet wrapping: Apply a thick, ointment-based moisturizer to an affected area before bed, then wrap it gently with plastic film or dampened gauze overnight. Gently cleanse the area in the morning.
Given that “scratching the itch” can worsen the psoriasis immune response, delay healing, and raise your risk of infection, keep your nails trimmed short to help avoid additional skin trauma. If nighttime scratching is an issue, wear cotton gloves to bed.
It’s also helpful to wear looser clothing for the duration of your psoriasis flare; choose soft, breathable fabrics like cotton to prevent friction and heat buildup. Avoid chemical irritation by using fragrance-free laundry detergents made for sensitive skin.
Sometimes, the most effective way to minimize and soothe psoriasis flares is with a targeted treatment approach, and our team at Keehan Dermatology is here to help.
Mild to moderate symptoms typically call for a lighter approach, usually starting with the application of prescription medicated lotions. Many people gain substantial symptom relief by applying corticosteroid or retinoid creams directly to their psoriasis patches.
Phototherapy is a first-line treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis flares. Via targeted ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, phototherapy slows skin cell turnover and reduces scaling and inflammation for faster plaque clearance and longer remission.
For expert help in managing your psoriasis flares, contact Keehan Dermatology today to schedule a visit with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Patrick Keehan.
