Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disorder that is mainly characterized by the appearance of red patches with silvery white scales on the skin. It can be found all over the body, while in some cases, it can appear in only a few isolated spots. Millions of people all over the world have this peculiar skin disease, but up to now, there’s still no permanent cure for it. Although psoriasis is not a contagious disease, the appearance of psoriasis lesions can scare other people off. There may be no permanent cure for it yet, but there are ways to keep skin flares at bay. Let me share to you some daily lifestyle changes that you can do to prevent psoriasis outbreaks. Here are some of them.

1. Soak up some morning sunshine. Natural sunlight, has been known to improve psoriasis. It is advisable to get daily doses of morning sunshine, but it’s important to keep them short. Also, you should avoid the sun from 10 am to 2pm, when the sun’s rays are strongest. Morning sunshine is still the best.

2. Use natural exfoliants once a week. When added to your bathing ritual, natural exfoliants such as oatmeal, epsom salt and dead sea salt can effectively soften the skin and get rid of dry skin scales. It is very important however, to not exfoliate every day. Once a week is fine as more than that can further aggravate your skin condition. Too much exfoliation can make your skin dry and damaged.

3. Always use moisturizers after bathing. Moisturizing may not necessarily help clear out your lesions, but it can definitely help reduce the itching associated with it. It also helps retain moisture in the skin. Aloe vera gel, jojoba oil, olive oil and vitamin E oil are also good alternatives to your good ol’ lotion. Apart from being inexpensive, these alternatives are all natural.

4. Take supplements every day. Supplements such as zinc, beta carotene, and vitamins A, C and E can help protect skin tissue. These supplements also aid in the formation of collagen and skin tissue. This can help soothe and nourish the skin cells and prevent lesions from forming.

5. Decrease your intake of red meats and dairy products. Red meats and dairy products contain arachidonic acid which can cause skin inflammation. They can make your psoriatic lesions swell and red so it is advisable to keep your consumption of such foods to a minimum.