August is Psoriasis Awareness Month, the perfect time for people with the condition to take stock of how well they’re managing it. Can you remember the last time you paused to really think about how your psoriasis and overall health are going? Once I get into routines, I can go day-to-day just fine. But now may be the time to try something new, get back to good habits, or bring up issues that need to be addressed.
I also feel extra motivated to bring awareness to my local community about psoriasis issues during this month. The other day when speaking to a church group, I used psoriasis as a way to introduce myself. I even learned the Chinese word for psoriasis. It takes courage at times, but breaking down myths (psoriasis is not contagious!) and educating others are ways to raise psoriasis awareness.
It’s been said that knowledge is power. With awareness comes knowledge. The more you learn about psoriasis, the more empowered you should feel living with it. Advocating for yourself and speaking out become more natural. You’ll also receive lots of great tips and advice on how to manage the condition.
New information is certainly helpful. But I’ve come to learn what works for me and, frankly, what’s unrealistic and impractical. Some advice is sound but simply hard to follow. That’s partly why I enjoy interacting with others who live with psoriasis: to swap stories and experiences. Each person certainly is an individual, especially with psoriasis. At the same time, others’ experiences help me to interpret mine.
I brainstormed a list of “good but hard-to-do” tips for managing psoriasis. Here are four:
Moisturize After Bathing
Up until about 10 years ago, I didn’t understand the importance of moisturizing my dry skin. Then I heard about the effectiveness of using emollients within 3 minutes of toweling off.
Bathing can strip oils from the skin, but applying moisturizers immediately after bathing “traps” moisture in. Putting on my creams and ointments after showers became a habit I felt good about.
A few weeks ago, I read that tip again. This time I decided I would use my phone’s stopwatch to time how long it took me to apply cream to my whole body. The first time, it took more than 5 minutes. I couldn’t believe how fast the minutes went by. I needed to be sure that the cream was ready to go before bathing, or too much time would be lost looking for it, priming the pump, or getting a new container out.
The next time, I sped up the moisturizing process after my shower; it took 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Staying moisturized is not an Olympic sport, but it requires preparation and commitment.
Take Short, Lukewarm Showers
Moisturizing after bathing is good, but even better is taking short showers with lukewarm water. It’s the drying-out-the-skin concern again.
In the summer, I’m not tempted to take hot showers. And during a heat wave, I can’t get the water cold enough! But on a cold winter’s night, a lukewarm shower leaves me feeling chilled. To make matter worse, I need to apply topical creams and medications afterward in a cold bathroom.
So many times I’ve started to shower with lukewarm water only to slowly turn up the temperature to hot-tub levels. On a blog I wrote about taking short, lukewarm showers, one commenter said they could give up a lot to improve psoriasis, but not hot showers in the winter. I concur — even though I know it’s better to keep the water lukewarm.
Avoid Scratching
Many people with psoriasis consider itching to be one of the worst symptoms to live with. And most know that scratching those red plaques and lesions only worsens the inflammation. It makes sense not to scratch.
So why is it that when I tell myself not to scratch, the urge only intensifies? When my willpower weakens, I’ll scratch until my skin is red and even bleeding.
People tell me not to scratch. I hear it from my family, and once, in a meeting at church, someone told me not to scratch. I felt offended even though I knew they were right.
I’ve woken up with bloody bed sheets from scratching. When I’m sleeping, I can’t even tell myself not to scratch. From time to time, I take an antihistamine to help, but it makes me drowsy. Moisturizers and some topical medications help, too.
“Don’t scratch” definitely fits into the easy-to-say but hard-to-do category of psoriasis management.
Be Open With Your Doctor
Previously, I wrote about six inconvenient treatments I’ve tried for psoriasis and eczema. When a doctor tells me to sleep in wet clothes overnight using wet-wrap-therapy, I think, “That’s easy for you to prescribe, but that’s hours of work on my part!” How do I tell my doctor that?
“Be honest with your doctor” is a great piece of advice, but it’s not always that easy to do. Doctors often don’t have enough time to have the kind of discussion needed for full communication. I read that the average doctor’s appointment lasts 5 to 10 minutes. My doctor takes more time with me, but the nurses remind him to move on to the next patient if he takes too long.
A 2015 survey of members of the health community Inspire asked patients what they always wanted to tell their doctor, but couldn’t or didn’t. Doctors are in positions of authority and can be intimidating. Is it rude to contradict what your doctor says when you feel you know differently?
Other times, my healthcare providers don’t understand the realities of managing care. For example, my dermatologist suggested I take two biologics: one to treat eczema, and another for psoriasis. I told him I doubted the insurance would pay for that, as they have trouble paying for just one. But I felt badly about contradicting him.
Despite these challenges, I’ve worked at developing the kind of rapport needed to collaborate closely with my doctor. It didn’t come naturally, though.
These and other tips really do work. But this psoriasis awareness month, I want to shed light on the reality of living and caring for psoriasis. It can be much harder and more complicated than a simple to-do list.
What has been your experience with psoriasis tips and advice? Which ones have you had to modify to work best for you?
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images