Managing Psoriasis: Understanding Your Triggers

Key Information:

Ups and Downs: Psoriasis is known for being unpredictable. You may have periods where your skin is calm, followed by sudden flare-ups. This video explains the common “triggers” that cause these changes to help you feel more in control.

Personal Triggers: It is important to remember that triggers are very personal. What affects one person might not affect you at all. The goal is awareness, not worry.

Common Triggers to Watch For

Stress:

A period of high stress is one of the most frequent causes of a flare-up because it affects your immune system.
Management: finding healthy ways to unwind, such as mindfulness, exercise, or hobbies, is vital for long-term skin health.

Lifestyle (Alcohol & Smoking):

Research shows a strong link between psoriasis and both smoking and drinking large amounts of alcohol.
Impact: These factors can also make your medical treatments less effective. Cutting back can make a real difference.

Skin Injury:

New patches of psoriasis often appear where the skin has been injured (eg a cut, scrape, or bad sunburn).
Prevention: Take precautions like wearing gloves when gardening and using sunscreen to protect your skin from damage.

Medications:

A small number of medicines for other conditions can trigger psoriasis.
Advice: Never stop taking prescribed medicine without advice. But, always make sure any doctor treating you knows you have psoriasis before starting something new.

What Happens Next?

Learning to recognise your personal triggers is a powerful management tool. Some people find keeping a simple diary helps them spot patterns.

If you have concerns about your triggers, or need support with lifestyle changes like stopping smoking, please let us know.

Managing Psoriasis: Understanding Your Triggers

Key Information:

Common Triggers to Watch For

What Happens Next?

Further Information