Why Does Psoriasis Itch?
A report by the National Psoriasis Foundation revealed that about 90 percent of people with psoriasis experience itching. The itchy feeling is often described as being painful, burning, and biting.
Many people with the disease also admit that itching is one of its most annoying symptoms because it affects their sleep quality and interferes with sex life and concentration.
If you have psoriasis, various factors can be responsible for your itchiness. I’ll be sharing some of these causes and how you can relieve the comfort and enjoy your life.
What causes the itch?
Psoriasis itching is caused by inflamed skin and the flakiness and scales that occur due to psoriasis. Although, other body parts without scales and flakes may also be itchy.
This inflamed skin occurs because psoriasis is a problem of the immune system whereby your body produces excess skin cells rapidly.
Then, the dead cells can move to the outer part of your skin faster and build up. This leads to the formation of red patches covered in flaky, silver scales, turning your skin to become red and inflamed.
Did you know that psoriasis is derived from the Greek word for “itch” because of its role in the condition?
However, doctors do not consider itching as psoriasis’s primary symptom, especially during its earlier stages of discovery.
Rather, they usually measure the severity of the condition by the number of scaly patches a person has. But now, doctors increasingly see itch as a primary symptom of psoriasis.
Things That Make Itchiness Worse
Scratching
Psoriasis or not, itching can be tempting, and your first reaction to it will be to scratch. As a psoriasis patient, you don’t want to increase inflammation or make your condition worse.
Doing this will mean you’ll be creating an unhealthy itch-scratch cycle, and the damage may be severe. Scratching can damage your skin and lead to the formation of more itchy plaques and infections.
Stress
Another thing that worsens itchiness is stress. You’re more likely to suffer from psoriasis flare when you’re under stress, increasing the itching.
Weather
Very dry and warm weather conditions also affect itching. So, if you live in a place like this, always keep your skin moisturized to reduce itching.
How to Soothe the Itch
You can soothe the itch by following the tips below:
- Avoid scratching, no matter how bad it is, and do not pick at your plaques. Scratching can worsen your condition and make you bleed.
- Also, follow your doctor’s prescriptions strictly. If it doesn’t work, you can try the remedies below:
- Moisturize your skin with ointment or cream that contains ingredients like petrolatum, glycerin, and lanolin.
- Refrigerate the cream before use to ensure it has a cooling effect on your skin.
- Use scale-softening products that contain urea or salicylic acid. These products will help improve flaky and cracked skin.
- Use OTC (over-the-counter) products that relieve itching. Go for products that contain ingredients like camphor, calamine menthol, benzocaine, and hydrocortisone. Please ensure you check your doctor before using these products to avoid worsening the condition.
- Take cool showers at night and use a moisturizer after
- Practice relaxation exercises like meditation and yoga to relieve stress.
- Distract yourself by reading a book, drawing a picture, watching TV, or anything that keeps your mind off the itching.
Lifestyle changes can also help. So watch out for things that may trigger it and avoid them. If the condition doesn’t improve, you may have to talk to your doctor about other treatment options.