Can You Relate? 5 Members of the Community Share Their Psoriasis Triggers

Everybody’s triggers are different. Members of the community share what makes their psoriasis symptoms flare.

If you have psoriasis, you’ve likely dealt with the pain, itchiness, and frustration that can accompany a flare. Even if you take your medication as directed and follow your self-care routines, you may still experience a flare-up. It can be exhausting and overwhelming.

Nailing down what triggers your psoriasis is a process. Using a trigger tracker app or keeping a journal can help you understand what causes your flares and how you can possibly avoid them in the future.

While everyone’s triggers are different, some common culprits include:

• alcohol
• stress
• extreme weather
• skin injuries
• illness
• inflammatory foods

Talking with other people about their psoriasis triggers may help you identify your own. Members of the Bezzy Psoriasis community shared which foods and other factors trigger their flares. Can you relate?

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Summer weather

“In the summer, a big trigger for me is sunburn or windburn. Any issue with my skin seems to make my psoriasis worse.” — Sarah

Certain foods

“For me, it’s usually red meat, highly processed foods, gluten, and alcohol! I’m also lactose intolerant, so I think the stress my body goes through when I eat dairy can make me flare, too.” — Jenny

Feeling overwhelmed or stressed

“The most intense trigger for me is stress. I can feel a flare coming when I’m overwhelmed with life or work. I try my best to manage it, but sometimes it just breaks through. I mainly use exercise and writing to manage my stress.” — Joni Kazantzis, Bezzy Psoriasis community guide

Alcohol

“Usually my diet and alcohol are the biggest triggers.” — Ohmichellelee

Cold temperatures

“For me, it’s the cold and dry temperatures that trigger my psoriasis flares. I have such a hard time during the winter months managing my psoriasis. It doesn’t matter what treatment I’m using; the cold and dryness alone makes my skin crack really bad.” — Diane Talbert

The bottom line

You know your skin better than anyone. Figuring out what factors are triggering your flares is an important step in managing your psoriasis.

If you want to learn more about psoriasis triggers and how others manage them, visit the Triggers and Flares Forum at Bezzy Psoriasis. You’re not on this journey alone.