Psoriasis and Christmas: Making the Most of the Festive Season

I love Christmas. I love the festivities. I love the tunes and I also love coming together with my family.

Sometimes though, when you have psoriasis, Christmas can be difficult. You may have the raw itch sensation, or you may just not like showing parts of your skin where the condition affects. Be pleased though, I am here to tell you that you should enjoy the Christmas period. And I’ve got a few tips on how.

Taking care of ourselves this Christmas season

We know the holiday season can have its challenges for those with psoriasis. Colder weather, changes in your diet and daily routine, and the stress of holiday spending and a long to-do list can all trigger flares and sap your festive spirit.

While the holidays can pose a host of issues for us living with psoriasis, the strategies here will help you enjoy good health and good cheer.

Ask for psoriasis products

Yes, there are so many oils, creams, moisturizers, emollients out there. There’s no excuse for not asking some relatives or friends for anti-psoriasis products. Hemp oil can be good, coconut oil can be good for the scalp, while moisturizers will help to soften the skin or make the red patches less angry.

So, the next time someone asks you: what do you want for Christmas? Why not suggest a product that will help in your psoriasis battle.

Make psoriasis a topic of discussion

Perhaps not the red plaques per se, that may put you off your food. But, do be open about the condition. If you’re seeing a family member or friend (virtually or in-person), have a chat about your condition.

Have they seen anything that may help you? How does it make you feel? What are your plans for the future of dealing with this disease? Don’t shy away from it. Be open and honest. Often people say to me ‘Jack, I know so and so with psoriasis, have you tried this?’

I’m not going to lie, in the early days, my eyes may have rolled at that. I would have thought I’d be receiving yet another talk on what I should or should not be using. But, these people are just trying to help. Take the advice, Google the product they suggest, or ask around. See what’s helped and you never know, it may help you.

Check-in with an online community

There’s no better time to see how your virtual buddies are doing than at Christmas. Have you joined the PlaquePsoriasis community recently? Want to know how to get involved? Have you seen our posts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram?

It’s amazing how much these places attract comments and discussions. Get involved. See what works for you and what doesn’t work. Have a chat with someone who you haven’t before and see where their suggestions take you. You never know, a tip may just help.

Pledge to show off your plaques proudly

The visible plaques we can all see and try to cover are the most visible part of this condition. I’ve written before how it makes us want to hide and sometimes leads to mental and physical health problems. But, try and be proud of who you are.

Make a pledge this Christmas to show off your plaques and stand tall. If someone asks, just say to them: ‘it’s psoriasis, it’s a skin condition, you can’t catch it, but it’s something I’ve got to live with potentially for the rest of my life’.

Choose to be joyful and happy

Try and enjoy your festive period this Christmas. It may be a pretty different one to the previous years, what with the restrictions around coronavirus, but however you are celebrating, be joyful, happy, and engage in conversation. You’re doing brilliantly. Believe in yourself.