Subconscious Psoriasis Habits

I realized that I have developed many little habitual routines over the years that I was not aware of until recently. This most likely comes from the fact that I started having symptoms of my disease from a young age, so I naturally evolved and these habits were a byproduct of having such a visible, messy disease.

#1 Sweeping/Vacuuming Obsessively

Anyone with psoriasis that has hardwood floors in their house knows that it feels like there are ALWAYS skin sheddings on your floor, no matter how many times you sweep. I honestly feel like a slug, but instead of slime everywhere I go, there is a path of flakes. This is one of the many reasons why I would never hack it as a criminal. My DNA follows me like a Hansel and Gretel crumb trail. Because of this, I have obsessively swept over the years. You would think I would have given up, seeing as when I move my arms to sweep, I just shed even more.

#2 Shoulder Check

Without fail, every single time I go to get out of my vehicle, I check out my shoulders in the rear view mirror. Since the time I could drive until just the last year, there would always be a fresh dusting on my shirt, so I always made sure to brush it off before going in anywhere. Even during my periods of remission from my symptoms, I caught myself still doing this.

#3 Wipe the Chair

Anytime I get up from sitting, its commonplace for me to quickly and discretely wipe off the chair I was in. Most people with psoriasis that plagues their midsection like myself will tell you that this is one of the most embarrassing aspects of the disease. It seems as if just the act of sitting opens some secret flood gate where skin was just piling up, ready to be released. Another crazy phenomenon: it seems to double if it knows you are going to be sitting on a black chair. You may recall from a previous article that my wife actually thought I spilled parmesan cheese all over my chair after dinner (even though we weren’t having Italian) due to the large amount of myself I left behind. So, I have developed ninja-like reflexes that can wipe off a chair before I’m completely standing up out of it.

#4 Pocket Hands

When you have psoriasis on your hands, especially if it is cracked/bleeding, (thanks, Winter) it is second nature to try and hide your hands. I have found I do this now whether I am symptomatic or not. Unless I absolutely need to shake a hand or pay for something, my relaxed posture is hands in the pockets. As I’ve gotten older, I have realized that I probably need to ditch this habit, as I look like I am about to rob a bank or demand a stick-up. Nervous big guy + hands balled up in pockets = suspiciouuuuuuuuuuuuus!

#5 Product Hoarder

If you find a product that works well for your psoriasis, you don’t ever, ever, ever want to run out of it. This is so true for me, that I have developed the habit of picking my favorite over-the-counter products up during regular grocery shopping trips. Just like milk or eggs, I naturally go to the aisle that holds my skincare stuff. Regrettably, I do this without even checking if I am out of what I need. This has caused me to have a big stash of creams, ointments, and soaps. I finally have had to consciously break the habit on this one while I work through my current collection.

As you can see, it is not unusual to acquire little quirky habits without recognizing it when you have a chronic disease. We do what we need to do to make life a little easier or to protect ourselves. If you have a unique habit you have picked up in relation to your psoriasis, be sure to share it in the comments.