Health tips for patients with psoriasis

Recommendations

To contribute to the welfare of patients with psoriasis, it is important that they are aware of a series of tips and recommendations:

• Correct application of treatments:

  • Topical, systemic and phototherapy.
  • It is important to follow the treatment prescribed.

• Treatment:

  • The patient should be aware that treatment might not always be effective and there are other alternatives, on an individual basis.

• Hygiene for patients with psoriasis:

  • Avoid aggressive gels or shampoos.  
  • Eliminate sponges from your personal hygiene routine.
  • Apply moisturisers as usual.  
  • Skin treatments should be used daily.

• Scalp treatment:

  • It is important to wet hair with warm water.
  • Shampoos with a pH between 4 and 4.5 are recommended.

• Factors that should be avoided:

  • To keep this illness under control and reduce symptoms:
    • Follow a balanced diet, rich in fresh food, keeping saturated animal fats in check and eating plenty of foods containing antioxidants.  
    • Avoid toxic products as much as possible (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs).
    • Avoid stress and learn to live with the illness: both of these are important factors in controlling psoriasis outbreaks.

• Infection control:

  • Any type of infection must be treated from the onset.

• Healthy habits:

  • Skin wounds or lesions reduce the body’s ability  to face external aggressions and worsen the symptoms of psoriasis.
  • You should be careful not to put on weight.
  • Traumas and injuries, along with aesthetic aggressions to the skin, may worsen the state of psoriasis plaques.
  • You should avoid wearing very tight clothes and rapid temperature changes.

• Exposure to sunlight:

  • A brief period of exposure to sunlight may be beneficial for psoriasis. However, always avoid burns and use adequate protection.
  • Avoid exposure to sunlight between 12 noon and 4 pm.

• Psychological effects:

  • Self-esteem and self perception should be dealt with on an individual basis with each patient.

• Evolution of the illness:

  • Concomitant and co-morbid illnesses (arterial hypertension, obesity and arthritis) are common. These will also need to be treated and the patient will need to know how to avoid them.