Soothing the Itch
Psoriasis causes a variety of symptoms that can make life difficult when you don’t have the right coping skills. However, of these symptoms, many patients with psoriasis say that the itchiness that comes along with the condition is the most difficult one to deal with.
Psoriasis causes you to suffer from an itchy sensation that is often difficult to get rid of without the proper treatment. While this symptom alone can be hard to deal with, you can have peace of mind in knowing there’s a variety of ways you can sooth this itch and continue on with your life.
By learning more about soothing the itch that comes along with Psoriasis, you can prevent this symptom from getting you down, and live your life to the fullest.
Control and Distraction
One of the first and most important things to understand when dealing with the itch that comes with psoriasis is that scratching is not recommended. No matter how bad or annoying the itch is, and how good it may feel to scratch it, scratching will not help or make the itching sensation go away. Rather, it will eventually return.
Learning self-control over itching is one of the most difficult things individuals with psoriasis have to do. It takes time and dedication to stop yourself from scratching, especially when it has become such a reflex. So, controlling the itch means learning to take your mind off the sensation.
Try distracting yourself by reading a book or taking a walk. Taking your mind off of the itching sensation and redirecting it can prove to be effective. While trying to distract yourself, remind yourself how scratching will only increase the severity of your psoriasis instead of helping. This is the main key to learning self-control over the itch, reminding yourself why scratching your itches is not a good idea.
Try these tips for controlling the itch!
Use Moisturizer
While moisturizing your skin is important for everyone, it’s even more important for those with psoriasis. When you provide your skin with the moisture it needs, you are helping to reduce the symptoms of psoriasis, such as drying of the skin, redness, soreness, and scaling, all which lead to itchiness. Aside from reducing the itchiness of psoriasis, it can also help your skin heal quicker when you have an outbreak.
For the moisturizer to work properly, you need to use the right type. To find the right type for your condition, you need to first determine how dry your skin is. For almost all patients with psoriasis, you’ll want to use a heavy cream that is able to penetrate the skin deeply. Cream products are the most moisturizing, as lotions are thin in consistency, and may not be able to penetrate the skin.
You can also opt for a jelly-like product to moisturize deeply. Products like petroleum are cheap to buy, but they work to provide lots of moisture to the skin.
Choosing the right time to apply the moisturizer is also important. The best time to apply is after a shower or bath, while your skin is still moist. Rather than rubbing the lotion in, you want to gently pat it on the skin for it to work most effectively.
While starting your moisture regimen is most effective after a shower, you also want to apply the product throughout the day to ensure your skin is getting the moisture it needs.
