Hot water has a tendency to leave your skin drier than it should be and, for a person with psoriasis, dry skin can be especially bad.

Even without hot showers it can get extremely dry here in Phoenix, especially during the winder months when sweating all day is no longer an issue.  I have noticed that my knuckles will dry up to the point of cracking and bleeding during the Phoenix summer months.  I have found that increased dryness in my skin tends to amplify the irritation that psoriasis is already causing my skin.

Thus my recommendation for taking showers with cool (or at least not blazing hot) water.  This way, you can start off the day not scraping all the natural oils off your skin.  I have found that my skin feels immediately better when I take showers in cool (not steaming hot) water.

Of course, taking cooler showers can be an issue during winder months when the house might be a lot cooler.  Please don’t freeze to death trying to ward off your psoriasis itch.

During summer months here in Phoenix (about 8 months out of the year) taking a cool shower is not only better for my skin and all around refreshing, it’s like a cheaper form of Air Conditioning.