What triggered your P and what triggers flare up's

[ThePGuy]

My mum has scalp P, so I can only assume I got it from her. My sister also suffers from it, although much worse than me.

The worst trigger for me is drinking too much beer. Gotta take it easy sometimes otherwise my scalp gets red above my ears and starts flaking up.

[GSC]

To this day i do not know what triggered it, i am thankful (not that anyone should be thankful to have this awful disease) that i got it at age 20 so i didn't go through school with it, (that really would have been hell)

For the flare ups i still have no idea what triggers them, although i am a believer like most dermatologists are that diet has no effect on psoriasis.

[BabyD]

mmmm intresting question well i was 18 months old when i was diagnosed so yr guess is as good as mine but i did have a trumatic birth?
do have a family history of P and my middle child has developed mild P so brings in the question of hereditary? (was always told its not)

triggers ...STRESS STRESS STRESS a few mirical cures have brought on a bad flare........been down the diet road including allergy testing HAS NOT MADE A BIT OF DIFFERENCE

[yannibenji]

I changed my washing powder to Bold 2 in 1.  Before that I had never had psoriasis! Many years ago, I got eczema in my hands and had to use steroid cream to control it for 2 years. I then read that eating Hydrogenated fats/oils predisposed eczema! So, I dumped the Flora margarine I had been eating, went back to pure butter and took evening primrose oil capsules.
In 2 days the eczema went! I couldn't believe it!
Since then I tell everyone NOT to eat margarine's or cook with vegetable oils (polyunsaturated oils become hydrogenated when heated to a high temperature).
The best fat/oil to cook with is either Coconut oil or Lard (these are both saturated fat but we need saturated fat in our diet). Second best is pure extra virgin olive oil but not to heat it too high or for too long.
Our bodies requirement for Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated fats/oils is best from Extra Virgin olive oil taken cold eg, on salads or from nuts.
Following this regime my Psoriasis has gone.
I hope this is of help to all suffers of skin conditions.

[susiedragons]

I'm 65 and I have suffered with depression and stress related problems on and off for most of my life.  About two years ago close family problems became difficult beyond belief and I was diagnosed with Palmoplantar Psoriasis in March this year. First symptom of problems were trauma lines growing across my fingermails, followed about 6 months later by PPP starting on both my feet.  My GP (who is great) says it's down to all the severe stress, which nearly cracked me completely. I'm now much more conscious about stress inducing situations.    I'm just getting a flare up, which seems to be coinciding with a cold - the nurse at the derm clinic told me that infections can make PPP worse.  Hope this helps.  If you want any more info, just ask.  Glad to know you're all there   

[Scruff]

My trigger was sunburn when I was 4 years old (28 years ago now). My mum and uncle both have p, though they developed it when they were older. I'm UV sensitive, and this has got worse as I've got older, however I've recently gone through UV treatment and my skin reacted well to it (though I never got above 56 seconds). My flares are mostly caused by stress, though I have had a flare following illness once.

[leeollie]

Hi

I have the type of psoriasis which appears on the upper arms in the form of tiny hard white postules. As far as I can remember I have had it ever since I was a child/teen. I was told it's Psoriasis ul Erythema and apparently it's genetic. It's definitely *stress* related and I have almost 90% cured it. I went through a depression and it got so bad I had it on my face (cheeks). I'm a web designer and I now don't take on any jobs that I anticipate being stressful or any remote jobs where I haven't met the client - without meeting face to face it invariably goes wrong. I have made a concerted effort to fill my life with the things I love doing and use humour, love and affection to keep my marriage stable = no stress. For me, it's the *deep* emotional stress that seems to cause it, not everyday stress.

I have found Baobab oil to be absolutely amazing for my arms. I always get break outs if I use any cream/suntan cream. Baobab oil is the only oil I can use that never causes breakouts (it's amazing for pigmentation too!). I use about 3 drops and rub hands together and rub it on my arms every night. I don't know so much that it prevents it (it hasn't been bad in a long time - def not since I started using it), but it's so nice to be able to moisturise my arms. Now and then I use Dead Sea salt scrub or Charlotte Rhys scrub (South African product) on my arms (just a small amount is enough) if I get a few 'pimples' and this sorts them out in not time and seems to prevent them developing. The Charlotte Rhys one has baobab oil in it so you get the moisturising effect. Dead Sea salt scrub may also contain it.

I believe that you really can get this type of psoriasis under control, but you need to be prepared to makes changes to your life to ease stress. Maybe by trying to do something that you love a few times a week - even for half an hour - and this will sow the seed to caring for yourself and respecting yourself. From this you'll notch your needs higher and start saying no to things which you know cause you stress or find ways to handle them. I'm obviously not a psychologist, but this is what worked for me.

Hope this helps anyone with the same condition
Lee

[Kirstie]

I've never been sure what triggered my P, but it was probably stress related, at the time I had just moved on to high school and there were many family things going on. I also recently found out, that it runs on both sides of my family, and my younger brother used to suffer from eczema.
Currently I am having the worse flare up I have ever had, it started on my left shin when the washing powder was changed, it now covers most the shin, some of the other, my neck and just below, my right upper arm and lower left, I've also began developing patches on my forehead and cheeks. Every day there seem to be new patches developing; I don't know if it's caused by the cold weather or from the washing powder- which I stopped using two months ago.

[terri24]

I had eczema badly as a child but did grow out of this as the doctors predicted. My first patch of psoriasis appeared at the age of 21 during my teacher training year (a super stressful time!). Stress definitely triggers flare ups as my return to teaching after the summer has proven.

I have always had a dodgy immune system though - had glandular fever, mumps and shingles all in my late teens/early twenties!

[nnparker74]

I first noticed plaques on my elbows when I was 18. (Now 37) I had ulcers as a kid, at age 7 and 17, so I just assumed it was how my body handled stress. But alcohol and smokes were introduced into my life then. I also had it on my scalp and sometimes in my eyebrows. I kind of just suffered with it, using steroid creams here and there. I fell while hiking in 2001 and got a crazy rash on my leg that didn't go away for weeks. The doc gave me Clo-betasol. I rubbed it on my elbows too and it was the first thing that ever cleared my p. But it is super strong and really thins the skins. I used it for a long time, just here and there to keep it at bay.
In the last few years, the p has spread to my ears, my triceps and my forearms. Tiny dots, making it hard to apply the steroid. Plus, it's damaging my skin, so it's out.
 I was diagnosed with alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency in 2007. It's a genetic disorder that is caused by the liver not releasing the alpha-1 protein and can lead to both lung and liver issues. The treatment is blood transfusions which I have heard as a side effect get rid of p. I have even heard of people rubbing the blood directly on the skin and it being cleared. I'm not at the point of getting transfusions, so don't know first hand.
I just got married this summer and my skin looked its best, thankfully.  But 6 months after the honeymoon spent in salt water (and very clear skin) I am now having the worst outbreak of my life. My arms and legs are almost 50% covered. As is my scalp. The only changes are getting off birth control and quitting caffeine. My doc gave me a lesser steroid, which I am trying to not use at all. I moisturize with all kinds of things and notice that Epsom salt baths help the most. I quit gluten 2 weeks ago and my legs are clearing slightly. I am on the gluten free diet for 3 months to see the effects. In the past, I have been a vegetarian, stopped alcohol and done a low carb diet. Varying results.    After showers and working out, my skin is super red and angry. The morning after a bath is when it almost looks okay. Sending positive thoughts to all of you.