My Saviour
For the past 5 years, Enstilar Foam has been my best friend. Enstilar comes out as a white snowy like foam but once rubbed in, it is like a clear and thick oil-based cream. By oil-based, I mean it stains your clothes just like oil when it comes into contact with materials. Even black colours. So, before bedtime, I apply Enstilar to the patches I have and use cling wrap to wrap myself so the cream stays absorbed into my skin (see below image).
When my spots are red and inflamed, they feel hot and itchy. The relief I get from Enstilar once I spray it on, is like that first slurp from a slurpee on a hot summers day. It cools down my spots and relieves me from itching.
After consecutive days of using Enstilar, my spots go flat, the skin surrounding the patch peals and it makes life much more easier to SHAVE.
Vitamin D!
BUT.. not to this point.
So, umm, this was me on the first day of experiencing Hawaii's sun in 2022. Their heat felt so different yet so good. I didn't apply sunscreen at the time, obviously thinking "Nah I'll be right!" but I was wrong. Cooked my arm as quick as you can blink!
Theoretically, GRADUAL sun exposure for me is great. It slows down the rapid rate of my skin growth. For psoriasis sufferers, sunscreen even as low as 30SPF should be worn and yes, I should take my own advice! I get told all the time! This is because we are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer. From personal experience, when my psoriasis patches peal, the skin that sheds, leaves a thin layer underneath, allowing the sun to crisp me up quicker.
Though sweat causes friction and inflammation in certain areas, the moisture from humid climates is the best for psoriasis. Melbourne's weather for example, is a dry climate and tends to really dry out your skin. This is why I would be lost without moisturising cream. If I went a whole week without moisturising, I am almost certain that my skin would be itchy and. having withdrawals.
Jan 2022 - This was a month of embracing, accepting and loving the skin I'm in. Losing weight contributed to being in remission, sun exposure was not too little and not too much. Mentally at this point in my life, I was stress free and feeling my best.
As my flare up was only on my arms, I honestly felt good. By March, they had almost fully disappeared. It's crazy to think, as quick as my skin becomes inflamed, the inflammation can disappear just like that. When my body feels happy, my gut feels healthy and my mind is stress free, my skin treats me good and I treat her good too.
Embrace, Face & Conquer
Gym!
Though it isn't clear, research shows the more you weigh, the more severe your psoriasis symptoms will be. As psoriasis is an inflammatory disease, increased fat cells release inflammatory chemicals. Therefore, more than likely to be contributing to your symptoms.
November 2021, I was 10kgs heavier than what I was in this photo. My arms were SO angry for quite some time. As I started making the small changes such as exercising and using perfume free soaps, I saw a significant change in my plaques and skin in general. Less dry, less flakey and less itchy.
Currently on a weightless journey to losing my mum weight and the past couple of months, I have already noticed a change and have been able to manage my skin better. My skin isn't great but as I always say, it's a working progress.