How should I care for my psoriasis in summer and winter?
Different seasons have different affects on psoriasis symptoms. Here, HealthMaker Ellen Marmur, MD. a leading dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon tells you how to manage your symptoms whether at the shore or the ski slope.
Transcript
Apply moisturizer before you dive in the pool or before you dive in the ocean, even if you've already put on your sunscreen.
This will give you a double layer of protection to help keep your skin hydrated. [MUSIC PLAYING]
The summertime is often the best time for people with psoriasis because natural sunlight is an immunosuppressive,
an anti-inflammatory. So it can naturally make your psoriasis better. However, if you are at the beach with the saltwater,
if you are jumping in the pool, getting in a hot tub, all those things can dry out your skin and actually worsen your psoriasis.
So the key to summertime psoriasis is great moisturization. Make sure you have a big, huge bottle of moisturizer
that you love and trust that doesn't irritate your skin. And put on moisturizer first thing in the morning.
Put your sunscreen on right after that. Go have your fun. Reapply your sunscreen all day long. Cleanse off your sunscreen at the end
of the day with a gentle cleanser, not a bar soap. And then put your moisturizer on again. One trick I tell my patients who know that they're
super sensitive is to apply moisturizer before you dive in the pool or before you dive in the ocean,
even if you've already put on your sunscreen. This will give you a double layer of protection to help keep your skin hydrated.
Wintertime can be really, really harsh on psoriasis skin. And it's not the cold. It's the lack of humidity.
It's the lack of moisture in the air when it's cold out. So get a good humidifier in your room.
Even get one for your office if you need it. And try very hard to wear clothing that's not irritating. So avoid things like wool on your skin.
Go for something like silk. Also, don't let sweat accumulate on your skin, because that can irritate psoriasis skin.
Make sure you use little topical cleansers, if you need to, little cleansing wipes after you exercise, or jump in the shower.
And the last thing and the most important thing for psoriasis in wintertime is great, good old moisturizer.
It doesn't have to be expensive. But it has to be gentle, something that you love and that you're happy to reapply several times during the day,
especially on your hands or wherever your psoriasis is the worst. [AUDIO LOGO]
psoriasis
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