Summer is The Worst for My Psoriasis

During the summer, my skin is especially dry, irritated, itchy, and plain uncomfortable. The heat also affects my inverse psoriasis. It feels like a never-ending battle between hydrating my skin and protecting it from the elements which dehydrate it.

From my skin to my hair and from my nose to my toes, I do pitifully in the summer. It’s unclear whether psoriasis is a culprit for not doing so well. At any rate, here is how I manage my psoriasis during the summer (or at least try to).

Water to keep skin hydrated in the summer

Hydration. Drink all the fluids! Water keeps our skin hydrated and supple. Realistically, drinking beverages of any kind is a way to get fluids into your body. However, beverages with electrolytes are most helpful during the hottest of months.

Drinking adult beverages, while tasty, can set you back in the hydration department. So, try to keep those to a minimum. Showering is another way to hydrate your skin, which leads me to the next point.

Exfoliating and moisturizing in the summer

Excessive sun exposure, wearing sunblock, and taking dips in the pool and the ocean can all take a toll on the skin. It’s really critical to know your skin and what it can tolerate before attempting to exfoliate.

Personally, I love getting scrubs infused with hydrating oils from a store at the mall. But since stores are closed, I’m back to making a scrub I make when traveling. It’s so simple, too!

Basically, I take coconut oil and add salt or sugar to a cup and mix it really well. If you don’t have coconut oil, you can use almond, olive, avocado, or shea… the list goes on.

As for measurements, I usually eyeball them. However, if you need something more precise, give it a quick internet search and voila, an at-home spa treatment. There are a ton of recipes out there, even ones with caffeine that can help perk up your skin and your mind, because caffeine.

Sunscreen that works well with psoriasis

Sunblock with SPF of 50 or higher. It took me quite a few years to find a sunscreen that was easy to apply due to my psoriatic arthritis. Finding a sunblock that the skin on my body tolerated due to psoriasis took even longer.

It’s been difficult to find a sunscreen for my face that won’t cause reactions or breakouts. Due to hormone fluctuations, a lot of facial sunscreens, even ones that are dermatologist recommended, cause breakouts.

The minute I come back inside, I try to scrub all sunblock off my face before doing anything else. Some days are more successful than others.

Caring for inverse psoriasis in the summer

Taking care of my inverse psoriasis, especially during the summer, takes a little more effort. If I feel the itching burning sensation creep in it usually is time to help cool my skin down. I’ll quickly cleanse the affected areas, blot them dry, and determine if I need to use a steroid cream or a barrier lotion.

My preferred barrier for the groin area is coconut oil. Depending on how raw inverse psoriasis gets under my arm will dictate if I use coconut oil or my antiperspirant. If I’m very raw, I’ll use coconut oil.

The antiperspirant (a recommendation by a dermatologist friend) is a lifesaver from the cracking and bleeding I used to experience during the summer.

Improved psoriasis in the summer months with a biologic

Biologic. Diligently sticking to my biologic’s injection schedule keeps my skin, joints, and digestive system operating. My quality of life now is markedly improved in comparison to previous summers.

Stress Reduction and Sleep. This is something a lot of us really do not take into account. Stress can amplify how our immune system will react in relation to creating inflammation.

Lack of sleep has a similar effect on inflammation. Keeping a decent night’s rest should be as high on your priority list as keeping stressors down. Easier said than done, these days, I know. All we can do is our best.

Does your Psoriasis feel worse during the summer? If yes, tell us how you manage it!