By Cruz Lena
Psoriasis can always give you plenty of reasons not to do any exercise. All those visible plaques, scales, and flaking can make you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. And when the flare-ups happen, it is too hard to motivate yourself to work out. But again, there are plenty of reasons to prioritize exercising in life too. Controlling the body weight will not only help you to cut back the flares but will also improve the response to the treatment procedure.
An active lifestyle is vital
When the doctors diagnosed psoriasis, you might have been hardly a teenager. At that time, the energy level is already high, and you may have already been involved in a lot of activities like sports, dance classes, and others. But right from the beginning, the challenge will be to manage the coexistence with psoriasis and continue all the activities, although the symptoms can be exhausting. It is also equally essential to maintain the same activity level as your age increases.
Bodyweight and psoriasis
There is a strong link between body weight and psoriasis, as being obese or overweight will increase the chances of getting psoriasis. And when you already have the disease, the symptoms will worsen with the body weight. As psoriasis is an inflammatory disease, the presence of extra fat cells releases cytokines, the inflammatory chemicals that lay a major role in psoriasis symptoms.
Choosing to gym
Going to the gym can be a bad idea when you have flare-ups, especially when you don’t want to cover the plaques and the affected areas with any clothing. Even if you choose to go, it is essential to announce to the trainer that you have psoriasis and the disease is not at all contagious. It will help prevent weird looks from the trainers and the other people visiting the gym.
A stepwise process
Here goes a few tips to keep yourself active even if the symptoms are serious and you have sleepless nights.
- Start slow
Trying to exercise vigorously from the first day is never a good idea. A slow and comfortable pace is necessary to start the daily regime. For instance, start with a walk in the neighborhood or joining a beginner’s fitness class.
- Trying to do too much too soon can have a negative impact on your body.
- Building the fitness level over time is a better idea.
- It will also prevent injuries owing to sudden vigorous exercises.
- Focus on the small things
There are several small ways to integrate exercise into your daily routine. You don’t have to dedicate time to do these exercises like separately
- Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
- Park your car at the farthest spot so that you are bound to walk the additional distance.
- Do some squats while brushing your teeth.
- Watch the television and do some calisthenics simultaneously.
You can even try combining the exercise time with the time outside. For instance, have your lunch and take a walk around the block. It will help digestion, a potential boost in Vitamin D synthesis, and extra exercise to keep the psoriasis symptoms in check.
- Stay hydrated
Dry skin becomes a big problem for the dry scales that occur during psoriasis. Doctors always suggest moisturizing your skin at night as it will prevent drying of the skin, which can cause further flare-ups and inflammation. Similarly, it is good to drink lots of water while exercising and all through the day. It will increase the body’s innate water content and prevent dehydration during workouts and at other times.
- Refresh the wardrobe
The regular gym dresses are not for you, and if you have psoriasis, depending on the affected areas, you have to refresh the wardrobe and focus on cotton garments only. Aeration is essential to keep the itching at bay. Tight spandex and sweat will only deteriorate the condition. Modal and rayon are materials other than cotton that can make you feel comfortable and confident too.
- Showers are necessary
Allowing the sweat to dry up on the skin’s surface is a bad idea. Try to get a shower immediately after activities to wash off the toxic and non-toxic elements eliminating through the sweat; cold showers can be incredibly helpful if you are trying to exercise to fight your psoriasis. Sweat can aggravate the plaques of psoriasis. The cold shower will wash off the sweat and also cool down the body to prevent further sweating.
The final takeaway
Exercise is an important aspect of daily life. And the additional advantage is the way you can control the flare-ups. It can be a challenge to stay active when you are having a condition as serious as psoriasis. But with proper medication and a good exercise schedule, you can definitely win over the situation.
