How can you live with psoriasis and care for yourself safely?

How can you care for the skin each day?

Bathe at a comfortable temperature, use gentle products, pat rather than rub, and apply moisturiser as advised. Picking scale, vigorous scratching, or other skin injury may trigger lesions in some people.

Stop using a product if it irritates the skin. Ask the care team before adding a non-prescription or herbal product to the treatment plan.

[1, 2, 3, 5]

Which foods should people with psoriasis avoid?

There is no single list of forbidden foods for everyone with psoriasis. Removing several food groups without a clinical reason may reduce nutritional adequacy. A varied, balanced diet is the foundation, with advice from a clinician or dietitian before restrictive diets.

A gluten-free diet may be relevant for someone assessed as having coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity, but it should not replace psoriasis treatment. Evidence about the effectiveness and safety of some supplements and alternative treatments is limited, so tell the care team before using them.

If someone is above a healthy weight, safe weight management can support overall health and related risk factors. Goals should be individual and should not involve crash diets or promises that weight loss will clear psoriasis.

[4, 5, 6, 7]

How can you respond to stress, sleep problems, and low mood?

Stress may relate to flares, while psoriasis can itself create stress. Address both directions with realistic steps such as a regular sleep schedule, suitable physical activity, relaxation techniques, or professional support when coping is difficult.

Tell a clinician if psoriasis causes social withdrawal, relationship strain, loss of sleep, anxiety, or low mood. Assessing physical, psychological, and social impact is part of psoriasis care, not a separate issue.

[6, 8]

What changes should you discuss at follow-up?

At follow-up, tell the care team how the skin, nails, joints, itch or pain, sleep, and daily life have changed, including how much treatment has helped and whether any problems have occurred.

Do not use a self-assessment to change medicine. Discuss the information with a clinician so disease activity and the care plan can be assessed appropriately.

[6, 9]

Why does broader health matter?

Psoriasis can be associated with psoriatic arthritis and other health concerns, particularly when severe. Keeping appointments and following advice on smoking, alcohol, movement, diet, weight, blood pressure, lipids, and blood sugar helps support whole-person care.

[6, 8]