3 Afternoon Habits That Can Impact Your Sleep If You Have Psoriasis

Reviewed by Dietitian Mandy Enright, M.S., RDN, RYT

Key Points

• Psoriasis symptoms, including itching skin, can create a cycle of difficulty sleeping.

• Flare-ups can be triggered by afternoon stress, skipping moisturizer or consuming alcohol at happy hour.

• Establishing a sleep routine and working with health care professionals can help manage symptoms.

Managing psoriasis can feel overwhelming at times—including at night. With all the itching and discomfort involved, this inflammatory skin condition can easily interfere with a solid night of rest. Research shows that more than 75% of people with psoriasis also have some type of sleep disorder.

“Poor sleep and psoriasis can become a cycle,” says Samaria Garrett, M.S., RDN. “Itching and discomfort make it hard to sleep, and then lack of sleep can leave the body feeling more stressed and inflamed,” Garrett says.

Interestingly, your afternoon habits may have more of an influence on this cycle than you realize. Here are three afternoon habits that can impact your sleep if you have psoriasis. 

1. Ignoring Late-Day Stress Levels

Living a high-stress life can cause problems for most people, including those with psoriasis. There’s even a bidirectional relationship between the two. Stress can increase the risk of psoriasis flares and worsen symptoms. At the same time, psoriasis can also make you feel stressed.

“People living with psoriasis often have stress associated with managing the disease, which keeps stress levels elevated,” says dermatologist Aleta Simmons, M.D.

This can lead to a cycle of stress and psoriasis flare-ups that is difficult to manage and impacts quality of life, including sleep. People with psoriasis are also often caught in an itch-scratch cycle that tends to be worse at night. And when sleep is disrupted by constant itching, stress can worsen. 

Missing out on sleep doesn’t help matters, either. “During sleep, our bodies are resting and preparing,” Simmons says. “We need adequate sleep nightly as a part of a healthy lifestyle and prevention and management of chronic diseases like psoriasis.”

2. Skipping Moisturizer

If you hop in the shower after an afternoon workout class, it’s a good idea to make time to moisturize afterward. Keeping the skin moisturized is a simple yet important way to ease psoriasis symptoms like itchy, flaking skin or prevent a flare up, which can impact your sleep.Moisturizer helps seal in water, which not only relieves dry skin but can also help the skin heal.Moisturizers that contain ceramides can be effective, since they help maintain and restore the skin barrier, Simmons says.“When the skin barrier is not being treated, psoriasis can worsen, leading to increased itching and stress, which impacts sleep greatly,” Simmons says. She recommends moisturizing twice a day—after bathing and before sleeping.

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3. Having a Few Drinks at Happy Hour

Drinking alcohol is associated with more severe psoriasis and a reduced response to psoriasis treatments. Alcohol consumption also puts people with psoriasis at higher risk for other conditions like cancer, arthritis and heart disease.

“Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition, and alcohol tends to add fuel to the fire,” Garrett says. “While everyone’s triggers are different, many people notice their scalp and skin become more irritated, inflamed or difficult to manage after drinking, especially in larger amounts.”

Additionally, alcohol is known to have a negative impact on sleep. While you might fall asleep more quickly, drinking alcohol often makes it harder to stay asleep and get the type of deep and restorative sleep your body needs for skin repair.“For someone already dealing with itching, discomfort or nighttime psoriasis symptoms, alcohol can make for a pretty restless night,” Garrett says. 

Habits to Help with Sleep and Psoriasis

• Establish a healthy sleep routine. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep each night. Aim to go to sleep and wake up at the same time each day and avoid screen time at least an hour or two before bed.

• Seek help from professionals. “See a dermatologist for treatment and management of psoriasis, which will improve itching that disturbs sleep,” Simmons says.If you’re having trouble sleeping, see a physician who specializes in sleep disorders. For anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges, see a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist.

• Live a healthy lifestyle. “Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition, so it’s important to look at the bigger picture,” Garrett says. “Prioritizing sleep, managing stress, staying active, limiting alcohol and eating nourishing foods to support the gut microbiome can all support overall health and may help people better manage their symptoms.”

• Stay on top of the basics. “Staying on top of medical treatments, gently moisturizing the skin following a warm shower and following a consistent sleep routine can make a meaningful difference,” Garrett says.

Our Expert Take

When you have psoriasis, securing a solid night of rest goes beyond your evening routine. Many afternoon habits deserve some much-needed attention, too. This includes finding ways to keep your stress in check throughout the afternoon, applying a quality moisturizer when needed—especially after showering—and watching your alcohol intake at happy hour. Sleeping well is important for managing psoriasis symptoms and avoiding a flare-up. So if you’re struggling to sleep well, consider discussing the problem with your dermatologist or a sleep specialist.

Read the original article on EatingWell