The Importance of Tracking Psoriasis Symptoms

Many aspects of psoriasis are outside your control. You may experience flare-ups when symptoms worsen and periods when the symptoms are relatively mild. To better manage your condition, your dermatologist may ask that you keep careful track of your flare-ups.

In this article, we share common psoriasis triggers and offer a free downloadable symptom tracker that can help you look for patterns in your psoriasis care.

It starts with understanding triggers

One of the easiest ways to take control of your condition and manage your psoriasis symptoms is by tracking what triggers them. Not only does it empower you as a patient, but it is also a practical way to manage those symptoms on a daily basis.

By finding your triggers and learning how to manage them, you can gain better control of your psoriasis and have fewer flares. To find yours, you will have to do a bit of detective work. Here is a list of common triggers, which may be a good place to start:¹

• Emotional and physical stress
• Medications
• Weather
• Skin injuries such as shaving, tattoos, scratches, and sunburns
• Lifestyle choices such as drinking caffeine or alcohol, or smoking
• Diets that include gluten, fatty meats, and/or nightshades

Whether it is a food that triggers skin inflammation or stress that causes flare-ups, being a symptom sleuth can help you become better equipped to speak to your doctor about treatment.

Find ways to track your psoriasis symptoms!

By recording the changes on your body, you will be able to track patterns and see exactly how much the skin is affected by flares. Keep at it each week, and make notes about events such as doctor visits and new treatment to see patterns over time.

We invite you to download this symptom tracker and implement symptom tracking into your daily or weekly treatment plan. Feel free to use reuse this tracker multiple times and share your findings at your next doctor visit.

Download a printable copy

Fitting symptom tracking within your lifestyle

In addition to our symptom tracker, there are many other ways you can keep on top of triggers and symptoms, including phone applications, keeping a photo record on your phone, or using a good old-fashioned journal to document flare-ups. Whichever method you use, make sure you keep in mind external factors as well, including mood, diet, medications, and weather.

The most important part of keeping symptoms in check is finding a method that works for you.