My Psoriasis Is Painful: Can You Help?

Approximately 4 in 10 people with plaque psoriasis experience pain. If you’re in that group, take heart. There are myriad ways to combat the pain.

Joshua M. Berlin, MD, and our expert team treat psoriasis symptoms through a range of medications, topical treatments, and nutritional counseling at Premier Dermatology Partners® in Boynton Beach, Florida.

What causes psoriasis?

Psoriasis is considered a hereditary autoimmune disorder. Its main symptom is discolored skin sporting scaly areas called plaque. It affects around 7.5 million people in the United States alone.

Triggers, such as sunburn, infection, injuries, stress, alcohol, or smoking, may cause a flare-up on your:

• Face
• Scalp
• Knees
• Elbows
• Feet
• Fingernails and toenails
• Genitals
• Lower back

Dr. Berlin diagnoses your psoriasis, making sure it isn’t infected, before treating your symptoms.

How to ease your pain

Pain from psoriasis is due to nervous system activation. Scratching the irritated areas usually makes it worse.

Dr. Berlin offers a variety of treatments, depending upon your specific issues and preferences, to stop the overgrowth of skin cells, remove scales, and lessen your pain. These include:

Light therapy

Exposing your skin to targeted ultraviolet light or natural sunlight calms your psoriasis over time.

Corticosteroids

Prescribed as ointments, creams, shampoos, and more, a daily dose of hydrocortisone for a short period helps calm flare-ups. 

Retinoids

Used once or twice daily, oral and topical retinoids slow skin cell growth and reduce inflammation. Side effects may include increased sensitivity to light and/or skin irritation.

Vitamin D cream

Vitamin D slows the growth of skin cells to relieve flare-ups. You can use it on its own or combined with topical corticosteroids.

Salicylic acid

Found in many over-the-counter and prescription shampoos, salicylic acid lessens the scaling from scalp psoriasis.

Coal tar

Often used in conjunction with salicylic acid, coal tar reduces scaling, itching, and inflammation.

Biologics

These medications, mainly offered via injection, disrupt the autoimmune cycle to improve your symptoms. 

Dr. Berlin offers these and other treatments to improve your outbreaks.

At-home remedies

We also suggest ways to relieve your pain and itching in conjunction with our prescribed treatments, such as:

• Soften psoriasis scales with lotions containing salicylic, lactic, or glycolic acids.
• Moisturize with ceramide creams or gel containing seed oils and calming ingredients.
• Ice the area with cold packs for quick relief.
• Soak the pain away for 15 minutes or so with oatmeal baths or Epsom salts.
• Try capsaicin creams to block nerve endings that transmit pain.

Certain products work better than others. Feel free to discuss your choices with Dr. Berlin.

Foods that heal or hurt

Certain ingredients in foods tend to foster psoriasis outbreaks, such as the inflammatory arachidonic acids found in dairy and red meat. Foods high in saturated fat and refined sugar, such as cookies and chips, also trigger inflammation.

The solanine compound in nightshades, such as peppers, tomatoes, and eggplant, may pose a health risk. Alcohol, as well as soy sauce, vinegar, and ketchup, also invite flares.

Your microbiome, gut bacteria, may fuel your psoriasis. Foods high in fat and sugar induce gut-related problems, including psoriasis. Gluten, thought to cause gut inflammation in many people, may also be a culprit.

Dr. Berlin suggests consuming more high-fiber fruits and vegetables to increase your c-reactive proteins and nutrients that lower inflammation. These include:

• Strawberries
• Blueberries,
• Raspberries
• Cherries
• Spinach
• Collard greens
• Swiss chard
• Kale

Essential fatty acids found in nuts, olive oil, and avocados also improve your skin and reduce inflammation.

The doctor also recommends noting what foods you ate before a flare-up, and possibly removing or reducing them from your diet.

Counteract your autoimmune condition

Psoriasis and other autoimmune conditions cause healthy cells to be mistaken for foreign invaders. Instead of undergoing the usual 30-day skin cell renewal cycle, psoriasis accelerates the process to every three to four days, resulting in scales, pain, and shedding.

While we can’t cure autoimmune disorders, Dr. Berlin offers a variety of ways to manage your condition. To reduce the pain and irritating symptoms of psoriasis and or discuss other dermatological issues, schedule a consultation with Dr. Berlin and our caring team today.