Dermatologist’s Tips on How to Effectively Soothe Psoriasis During Summer
For many people, the summer season brings up fond memories of spending time outdoors in the warmer weather and soaking up the sun. For others, it brings up feelings of dread and uneasiness, as this time of the year is associated with irritated skin and bothersome psoriasis flare-ups.
While the humidity and sunshine can often alleviate psoriasis symptoms, other factors like air conditioning, the chlorine in swimming pools, sweating in the heat, bug bites, and aggravating skincare products can trigger unwanted flare-ups.
To help you better manage your psoriasis this season, our expert dermatologists share their top tips on how to soothe psoriasis during summer.
How to Soothe Psoriasis During Summer
Spend More Time Outdoors
Embrace the humidity (and limited sun exposure) and spend more time outdoors. Even though humidity can make your hair crazy and frizzy, it can do wonders for your psoriasis. This is because the excess moisture this time of year helps to keep your skin moisturized and hydrated, which prevents cracking and drying out — a common trigger of psoriasis flare-ups.
Keep Your Skin Cool
While the humidity and mild sunlight exposure can help your skin immensely, you are more likely to experience a flare-up when your skin is overheated and sweaty. So, it’s important to still keep your skin cool on extra hot days to prevent excess sweating and chafing by staying in the shade or spending some time indoors.
Enjoy the Sunshine
Some research has shown that sun exposure can reduce inflammation in people with psoriasis, which is why many see improvements in their psoriasis symptoms and flare-ups in the summer months.
While too much sun exposure can increase your risk of sunburns and developing skin cancer, controlled amounts of sun exposure can soothe your psoriasis during the summer.
Before heading outside, our board-certified dermatologists recommend finding out how much time you can spend in the sun before burning and lathering up in sunscreen to prevent skin damage.
Wear Breathable Clothing
Make sure you wear loose, breathable clothing, like cotton fabrics, which are less likely to irritate your skin, hold in excess heat and moisture, and cause you to sweat in the warmer weather. We also recommend wearing long-sleeved shirts, full length pants, a hat, and sunglasses to protect your skin, scalp, and eyes from UV rays for extended periods of time.
Moisturize Regularly
Spending time in air conditioned spaces, swimming in chlorine-filled pools, and sitting in the sun can seriously dry out your skin. To combat this dryness, it is important to moisturize regularly. We recommend applying your chosen moisturizer within three minutes of getting out of the shower or bath.
Protect Your Skin From Bug Bites
Bites from mosquitos and other insects can irritate your skin and aggravate psoriasis, which can trigger unwanted flare-ups. However, ingredients in common insect repellent, like DEET, can also cause irritation, which is why we recommend choosing a chemical-free option that contains little to no DEET.
Better Manage Your Symptoms with a Personalized Psoriasis Plan
At the Center for Surgical Dermatology, our board-certified dermatologists are experts at building personalized psoriasis treatment plans to help patients better manage their symptoms and find relief from this bothersome skin condition. Contact our clinic today to learn more about how we can help soothe your psoriasis this summer.
Professional Psoriasis Treatment at the Center for Surgical Dermatology
Center of Surgical Dermatology is the largest medical and surgical skin treatment and wellness facility in Central Ohio. Since 2007, our board-certified dermatologists, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeons, and caring professional staff have provided patients with soothing psoriasis treatment they can trust in an environment second to none. Learn more about our state-of-the-art Dermatology Center before booking your appointment today.