Are you suffering from psoriasis? Symptoms, triggers and how to treat

Winter is known for causing havoc with our skin due to the drop in temperatures, lack of sunlight and more central heating.

But aside from dry skin, you’re also more likely to suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis in the colder months.

To raise awareness of National Psoriasis Week (1-7 November), we spoke to skincare experts about what it is, its triggers and symptoms – and how to treat it effectively.

What is psoriasis?

Affecting two-three per cent of people in the UK, psoriasis is an auto-immune disease that causes sore and itchy skin on the face and body.

“Psoriasis is a skin condition caused by a speeding up of the skin cell growth cycle,” said Bao-Tam Phan, Pharmacist at Eau Thermale Avène.

It’s not a seasonal condition but Bao-Tam told us that people might notice it more in the winter months.

“Sufferers may find that their skin can become drier from the cold weather and air conditioning,” she said.

“Also, layering up to keep warm can mean that skin can become irritated from clothing rubbing against the skin.”

What are the symptoms?

The condition causes ‘psoriasis plaque’ on the skin – you’ll notice itchy, sore and scaly skin.

“Varying in severity, most people experience only small areas of irritation, though it can cause scaling of large areas of the body and even require hospitalisation in its most severe form,” said Dr Nemesha Desai, Consultant Dermatologist at London Bridge Hospital.

Over half the people that suffer from psoriasis suffer from it on their scalp, according to experts.

What are the triggers?

“There are many causes that trigger psoriasis - the main being, stress, smoking, an open wound or a recent illness,” said skincare experts at Naturtint.

It can also be triggered by external factors such as diabetes, obesity and depression.

Most recently at London Fashion Week, model Cara Delevingne admitted stress caused psoriasis on her legs – spotted by supermodel Kate Moss who urged her to get treatment.

“Kate Moss saw me before the Louis Vuitton show at 3am when I was being painted by people to cover the scabs. She said ‘This is horrible! Why is this happening? I need to help you.’ She got me a doctor that afternoon,” Cara told journalists at the time.

Psoriasis can make people unconfident and conscious in many normal day-to-day life situations, making life unpleasant for most.

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What are the treatment options?

There’s currently no treatment for psoriasis but in severe cases, sufferers can be prescribed treatments from their GP.

Skincare products can be used to alleviate the symptoms, but it’s important not to scrub or strip psoriasis-prone skin, says Avene’s pharmacist, Bao-Tam.

It’s best to clean skin with a gentle, soap-free solution such as the Eau Thermale Avène Ultra Rich Cleansing Gel with Cold Cream, which cleans and comforts skin without stripping it of moisture.

Next, use the Avène water spray to soothe irritation followed by an intensive moisturiser, such as Eau Thermale Avène Akérat 10 Body Care Cream.

Sufferers can also make lifestyle changes to help alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis, including exercising more and having a healthy diet.

“Although there is no clear evidence that changes in diet affect psoriasis, recent research has shown that psoriasis can be linked with cardiovascular disease,” said Dr Nemesha Desai, Consultant Dermatologist at London Bridge Hospital.

“A healthy balanced diet is therefore important, especially for those with a severe form of the disease where the risk of heart disease and stroke may be raised. Take care to keep alcohol within recommended limits since this can act as a trigger for psoriasis flares.”   

Do you suffer from psoriasis? How do you treat it? Tell us over on Twitter now.

For more information, visit http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/psoriasis/pages/introduction.aspx or speak to your GP.

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