Psoriasis Guru

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Another Tip For Battling Psoriasis — Shower With Cool Water

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

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.

Disadvantages to Using Topical Psoriasis Treatments For Extended Periods of Time

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

Keep in mind that not all of the skin affected by psoriasis is “bad,” or needs to be treated.  For this reason prolonged use of many topical treatments can harm healthy skin as much as it treats infected / irritated skin.

Some of Neutrogena’s psoriasis shampoos in particular can really irritate the scalp after a while (such as T-Gel, Extra Strength or Stubborn Itch Control), which is why they print on the bottle that you shouldn’t use it for long periods of time without first consulting a dermatologist.

On a similar note, it is also possible that the disease can adapt to the same treatment that is repeated over and over for months or years.  I have found that mixing up my shampoo usage between different types and none at all helps to keep my scalp as healthy as it possibly can be.

With something so irritating as a chronic itch, it is tempting to over-medicate in an attempt to beat the disease into submission.  However I am sure that this will not work nearly as well as for battling psoriasis as will maintaining balanced, reasonable habits over long periods of time.

Another Potential Trick to Fighting Scalp Psoriasis — Don’t Wash Your Hair

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

I know at least a few people who swear by their habit of not bathing everyday.  They do this to preserve the natural, moisturizing oils that the skin produces.

I tend to agree with these folks on occasions when I don’t bath for one day (on a day off for example) and then forget that I have scalp psoriasis at all.   This is a good thing, since it means it my scalp must not have been itching that whole time.

The main issue I have with not washing my hair is that it gets greasy and unkempt looking… I need to look at least somewhat presentable for work.  One of these days, I might keep my head shaved for a longer period of time so I won’t have to worry about styling my hair, so I can go without washing my scalp for a longer time and test the hippy treatment in earnest.  While doing this I can also incorporate the sunlight factor I mentioned in a previous post.

At the same time, I have found that, when I don’t wash my hair, my psoriasis itch can come back with a vengeance all of a sudden.  This has led me to believe that swearing off washing my hair altogether might not be as effective as maintaining a more balanced alternative.

The most effective washing regimen I have found thus far can be summed up as “keeping the psoriasis guessing.”  This involves rotating between different kinds of shampoos and sometimes using no shampoo at all.  Keeping the scalp as free as possible from unhealthy build-up is key in my humble opinion.

Be Prepared for Your Dermatologist Visit

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

If you suspect that you might have Psoriasis then you should visit a dermatologist to find out for sure.  One you make your dermatologist appointment, I would recommend making preparations, especially by writing everything you need to remember on a piece of paper.  Your goal should be to get all your concerns and questions addressed.  If you don’t come with specific questions and concerns in hand, then there is a fair chance that the doctor will rush you out of the room in an attempt to get to his next appointment.

The last time I visited a dermatologist, I got about 3 minutes of face time, which ended up being completely useless to me.  This was partially my fault because I expected him to ask probing questions or do something proactive to see if my concerns were valid (this was expecting too much I guess).  The appointment ended as abruptly as it started, with him looking at me crossly the whole time as if I was interrupting him while he was doing something else that was much more important.  He listened for a minute, took a glance at my scalp, said it didn’t look too bad, then gave me a prescription for the equivalent of T-Sal, which, ironically, did not work as well as over-the-counter T-Sal (plus the copay was more than T-Sal would have cost by itself).

All this to say, be prepared for your visit.  Don’t be defensive, mind you, but if you are prepared you won’t have to be defensive.  Know what your concerns are, have a list of specific symptoms and don’t let yourself be rushed.  Keep in mind that there are bound to be at least a handful of dermatologists within a 10-15 minute drive of your house (if you live in a city), so if one is unhelpful, you can always make an appointment elsewhere.