Cyndi Lauper. Kim Kardashian. LeAnn Rimes. Cara Delevingne. Besides their fame, these celebrities also have something many consider "unglamorous" in common: psoriasis. 7.5 million Americans (including 50,000 residents in Dallas/Fort Worth) suffer from this common, non-contagious autoimmune disease. For National Psoriasis Month in August, Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, a board-certified dermatologist at DermOne Dermatology Centers in Mesquite, explains psoriasis to better understand the disease and those who suffer its physical and emotional side effects and provides five tips to soothe plaque psoriasis.
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form, affecting 80 percent of those with psoriasis, and appears as raised, red patches of skin covered by silvery, white buildup called scale. Psoriasis can affect any ethnicity and often occurs between the ages of 15 and 35. Roughly one-third of people with psoriasis develop the disease before the age of 20.
“Psoriasis plaque is treatable but can often flare up due to a wide variety of factors, such as stress, skin injury, certain medications, and infection," said Dr. Kuruvilla, who treats many patients with psoriasis in his practice at DermOne. "The major side effect is an incredibly annoying and sometime painful itch, not to mention the abundant flaking of skin, all creating emotional side effects. Those who suffer often report feeling self-conscious, embarrassed, and helpless. Psoriasis can impact their quality of life, their career, their education, and relationships.”
Besides prescribed medical treatment by a dermatologist, Dr. Kuruvilla offers the following tips to soothe plaque psoriasis -- and also the everyday dry skin many of us encounter:
1) Keep skin moisturized religiously. This reduces redness and itching and helps the skin heal. One doesn’t need any fancy product. A store-branded moisturizer works as well. The key is to use it regularly.
2) Use cool water when bathing. Hot water will dry out the skin even more.
3) Make sure the showers aren’t long: 5–7 minutes at the most.
4) A body wash is more moisturizing than a bar soap.
5) Use ‘fragrance free’ or ‘hypoallergenic’ products, especially facial and body cleansers and laundry detergents and softeners.
6) Take care of your well-being. Exercise. Get a good night’s rest. Don’t smoke. Eat well-balanced, nutritious meals. Attend to your spiritual side. Stay healthy in body and mind!