From which aspects should the prevention of psoriasis start? Although the occurrence and recurrence of psoriasis are influenced by various factors, some patients fall ill due to upper respiratory tract infections, others because of excessive mental stress, and still others because of dampness or cold exposure. However, every disease has its own pattern of onset. Patients need to learn to summarize and explore the patterns of psoriasis outbreaks in order to achieve the goal of preventing psoriasis.
1. Preventing Infections: Local infection foci are a major trigger for psoriasis, especially after catching a cold, followed by tonsillitis or bronchitis. These conditions require active treatment to shorten the course of the illness. If the tonsils repeatedly become inflamed and are closely related to the occurrence of psoriasis, tonsillectomy may be considered. This is particularly important for adolescent patients.
2. Allergic Factors: Allergies are one of the main triggers for psoriasis. Allergic reactions caused by diet, medication, or contact with certain substances can often trigger psoriasis. After each recurrence, patients should carefully recall what they recently consumed or came into contact with that caused skin itching, followed by red spots. Such substances should be avoided as much as possible in the future. For example, certain seafood, beef, mutton, spicy foods, and other substances.
3. Dampness and Cold Exposure: A significant number of cases of psoriasis are triggered by wind-cold invasion. Humid living environments and cold weather can cause or worsen the condition. Therefore, patients should try to avoid extreme temperatures affecting the skin and ensure that their living spaces remain well-ventilated and dry.
4. Psychological Factors: Daily life stress, poor rest, excessive mental tension, emotional instability, worry, anger, and an inability to adjust and protect the skin properly can lead to psoriasis outbreaks and recurrences. Irregular eating habits, binge eating, consuming too many pungent and greasy foods, excessive alcohol consumption, and external causes such as colds, fevers, tonsillitis, weakened immune function, and lack of resistance can all contribute to the onset and recurrence of psoriasis. Excessive mental tension, irritability, and depression are psychological factors that serve as triggers, accounting for the highest percentage among other triggers. In China, they account for about 18.6% of the total incidence of psoriasis. Excessive mental tension can produce a series of psychological or physiological responses, leading to neuroendocrine disorders, damaging the body's immune defense system, and causing metabolic confusion, thereby promoting the onset of psoriasis. Therefore, when encountering irresistible or unpredictable sudden events, patients should try to control their emotions, maintain a calm mind, ensure adequate sleep, and take appropriate sedatives if necessary.
5. Cautious Use of Certain Control Medications: The choice of the first drug used to treat psoriasis plays a critical role in its effectiveness and whether it will recur. In a period of time, the medical community largely went astray in studying the direction of treating psoriasis. This is mainly reflected in: when psoriasis patients begin to show papular erythema, this indicates reduced immune capacity, endocrine dysfunction, impaired microcirculation leading to skin excretion dysfunction, causing internal toxins that should be excreted to accumulate under the skin. Instead of using drugs to enhance immunity, restore normal skin metabolism, and excrete internal toxins, hormones and immunosuppressants are used to suppress immunity and control skin excretion functions. As a result, the condition worsens over time, eventually making the disease more stubborn and difficult to treat. Therefore, patients should have a basic understanding of these types of drugs. Commonly used drugs to control psoriasis include corticosteroids and anti-tumor drugs.
In summary, the prevention of psoriasis requires personal action from the patient. Avoid smoking and drinking, maintain regular sleep patterns, exercise frequently, and thereby achieve the goal of preventing the onset of psoriasis.