Summer calms psoriasis symptoms for most people, but others have flares in response to hot-weather triggers. Most people find their psoriasis soothed by the weather that comes with spring and summer. The ultraviolet rays of the sun ease itching and burning for many, while increased humidity levels help soften dry, cracked and scaly skin, lessening the need for psoriasis treatment. However there are steps you should take to make sure that the summer season doesn’t spark a flare-up in your psoriasis symptoms. Some people have photosensitive psoriasis a form that flares up when summer sunlight hits it. Others have been prescribed medication as part of their treatment that makes their skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Even people who do find sunlight a good treatment for their psoriasis need to be careful about overdoing it. A sunburn can cause flare ups. Mild sunburn can make existing psoriasis plaques more uncomfortable and cause new patches to form. A severe sunburn can prompt a fully fledged outbreak across your sunburned skin. Because of this experts recommend that people with psoriasis use sunscreen. Sunscreens that work best for psoriasis patients are :
- have a sun protection factor of 30 or greater
- are water resistant
- offer protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays
- Are not heavily fragranced – perfumes and other substances can irritate the skin
People with psoriasis can also cover up with clothing, put on a hat and wear long-sleeved shirts and pants that are made of breathable fabric such as cotton.
