By Mike Marenick

Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease that doesn’t discriminate. If affects people of all ages, races and genders. Psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body including the scalp. Just as psoriasis doesn't discriminate neither do these bad habits.

1. Letting Your Body Become Too Stressed

There are many triggers that can cause a psoriasis flare up.  Most people realize they are stressed but don't understand the seriousness of stress on our bodies and more importantly our immune system.  For some individuals a severe case of stress may even bring out their first symptoms of psoriasis.  For others stress will cause another flare up.  For individuals with psoriasis taking some time daily to reduce stress will significantly help to reduce its affect on your body.  This can be as simple as taking 15 minutes to meditate.  Other ways to reduce stress are to exercise, listen to calming music or even take some digital time off.  Put down the electronics for an hour and just relax.

2. Not Going Outside Enough in the Sun

Unfortunately for most people our busy lifestyles leave little time to enjoy the outdoors.  Vitamin D is essential to control psoriasis.  Sunlight helps your body to naturally generate Vitamin D.  In addition, the UVB rays provided by the sun can help slow the over productive skin cells that cause plaques on your skin.  Getting as little as an hours worth of sunlight each day can be extremely beneficial.  Try going for a walk during your lunch break and soak up some wonderful sunshine.

3. Smoking Cigarettes

Other than the obvious health reasons that smoking is bad, smoking also affects your skin. Nicotine causes your blood vessels to constrict or narrow, which limits the amount of blood flow to your organs. Over time, the constant constriction will make your blood vessels stiff and less elastic. Constricted blood vessels decrease the amount of oxygen and nutrients your cells receive.  This can lead to skin sensitivity an inflammation that can worsen your psoriasis.  Keep in mind that vaping and e-cigarettes also contain nicotine and can have the same affect on the body.

4. Picking the Plaques

Psoriasis scaly build up can itch and many people find themselves unknowingly picking at their skin.  Constant picking can bring more stress on the body and cause trauma to the area.  The bodies natural defensive response will be to produce more skin cells to protect and heal the area.  Remember when you were little and your mom would tell you not to pick the scabs on your cuts.  Mom's always know best and this applies to your psoriasis as well. It is very important that you resist picking.

4. Self Diagnosing

Many doctors often misdiagnose psoriasis when it is first seen on the skin.  You might be told you just have dry patches or that you have eczema.  If it is difficult for doctors to diagnose you should avoid trying to figure out and treat your condition simply by reading website information.  Eczema and Psoriasis can sometimes look very similar but there are some distinct differences in the symptoms and treatments.  Psoriasis is often very symmetrical and appears usually on the elbows and knees.  Eczema is often found first on the hands or neck.  Eczema can be treated with topical steroids or OTC Skincare products.  Psoriasis can also be treated with steroids and OTC skincare products but may also require more serious treatments such as light therapy or systemic medications. 

About Dermasolve

Dermasolve is a line of psoriasis treatment products that covers both body and scalp psoriasis.  Dermasolve is also active in educating about psoriasis. For more information just click here: Dermasolve