How to Manage Psoriasis in Winter

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition which can be itchy and causes red and scaly patches to appear on the skin. It affects 2-4% of Indians and gets worse in Winter

Winter is bad for People with psoriasis as their dry skin gets worse with colder and drier climate. Less exposure to sunlight and certain types of clothes, spending longer hours taking showers in hot water further adds to dryness in the skin

Moisturizing needs to be done with thick cream/ointment that will lock moisture in your skin. Eg Shea Butter and cold cream. One should avoid fragranced creams as they can lead to further irritation. Avoid scented soaps and choose non-comedogenic soaps instead.

Avoid wearing clothes made of wool or synthetic fibers, rather opt for breathable fabrics such as cotton.

One should avoid eating very fatty foods and drink lots of water for better skin hydration.

Certain anti-inflammatory foods can be beneficial to reduce skin sensitivity, like berries, broccoli, spinach, fatty fish should be taken for better skin.Food items with Omega-3 fatty acids such as sunflowers, flaxseeds, walnuts, almonds, etc can help with mood and keep the skin healthy. Some foods such as processed foods, red meat, dairy and gluten should be avoided as they have adverse effects.

Stress can lead to Psoriasis Flair up. Manage your stress with enough exercises, meditation, and stress-relieving activities and aim at relaxed state of mind.

While spending long hours in hot water showers can be detrimental to the skin, warm water soaks are good for loosening up dry skin. Gently exfoliate to get rid of excess skin you could also use exfoliators such as oatmeal, sea salts, or Epsom salts. After the bath, avoid rubbing the skin very harshly, gently dry yourself and use a high moisturizing cream and lotion to lock in moisture.