Psoriasis is different for everyone, and symptoms may vary. Many factors can cause your psoriasis to flare up, and your specific trigger may not be bothersome to another person. It is possible to develop psoriasis even with no family history of the condition, and you may have several factors that trigger your psoriasis. As such, identifying your triggers will help you know how to manage them and be in better control of the situation.
If you are constantly experiencing flare-ups and you don’t seem to understand their cause, doing some little detective work with the help of Magnolia Dermatology will be a good place to start. Some of the triggers that might cause your psoriasis to flare include;
1. Stress
Research studies describe the relationship between psoriasis and stress to be complex. Your psoriasis can flare up when you are feeling down and overwhelmed. Worst still, your psoriasis may induce even more stress, which may create an endless loop of mystery. Relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation have been shown to improve your stress levels and, subsequently, your psoriasis.
2. Illness
Certain infections can affect your immune system and cause a psoriasis flare. Bronchitis, tonsillitis, ear, throat, and respiratory infections affect the immune system and have been linked to psoriasis outbreaks. Even though psoriasis may flare 2 to 6 weeks after the infection, it is advisable to seek treatment promptly.
3. Skin Injury
Scratches, bug bites, sunburns, and vaccinations can all trigger a psoriasis outbreak. The flare may occur 10-15 days later and may affect around or near the area that sustained the injury. To reduce the risks of flare-ups, it is advisable to treat the injured area immediately. If the area is itchy, try not to scratch it and use insect repellent to ward off the bugs.
4. Weather
For some people, certain weather factors worsen their psoriasis. Conditions such as humidity, exposure to air-conditioned environments, a drop in temperatures, and sun exposure that cause sunburns trigger a psoriasis breakout. Warm weather may, however, improve your psoriasis because of natural sunlight. To manage your psoriasis, try using a humidifier, layer up when going outside, especially during winter, use sunscreen, and moisturize accordingly.
5. Smoking
Smoking or exposure to tobacco smoke is a common risk factor for immune-related psoriasis. You have noticed that smoking or spending time with tobacco users causes your psoriasis to flare up. As such, you have to stop smoking. Even though quitting smoking is not a practical solution for habitual smokers, if you are to seek psoriasis treatment, chances are it won’t be effective. This is because smoking reduces the efficacy of psoriasis treatment. Worse even, your psoriasis symptoms may worsen.
Psoriasis triggers vary from person to person, and it is not always possible to avoid them since you can have a range. However, keeping a log of their symptoms and when they show up might help to identify your specific triggers. By this, it will be possible to avoid situations or places that may worsen your symptoms. Moreover, quickly attending to the flare-up will help ease the discomfort and alleviate the symptoms on time.