{"id":29914,"date":"2023-08-01T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=29914"},"modified":"2023-12-14T00:04:55","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T00:04:55","slug":"psoriasis-and-sleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/psoriasis-and-sleep\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Keep Psoriasis From Ruining Your Sleep"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For those living with chronic health conditions, getting a good night\u2019s sleep can be challenging. Unpredictable bouts of pain and other related symptoms can be followed by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/sleeping-with-anxiety\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">anxiety<\/a>&nbsp;and tossing and turning all night.&nbsp;Psoriasis is one of those conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/itchy-skin-at-night\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Skin irritation<\/a>&nbsp;and pain often disrupt sleep, leaving you feeling drained the next day. This article explores ways to sleep better with psoriasis and help you get some much-needed shuteye.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-psoriasis\"><strong>What is psoriasis?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPsoriasis is a systemic inflammatory condition that manifests with skin lesions as well as a multitude of systemic problems including arthritis, metabolic, cardiovascular, and endocrine issues,\u201d explains&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dermatologyofboca.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jeffrey Fromowitz<\/a>, MD,&nbsp;board-certified dermatologist in Boca Raton, Fla.&nbsp;\u201cClassically it\u2019s a scaly rash consisting of large red and silver plaques over the extensor surfaces of the body, the scalp, and the buttocks.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The type of doctor who treats psoriasis and other chronic skin conditions is a dermatologist. To locate a board-certified dermatologist in your area, visit the National Psoriasis Foundation\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.psoriasis.org\/navigationcenter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Patient Navigation Center<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-symptoms-of-psoriasis\"><strong>What are the symptoms of psoriasis?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>More than<a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/34190957\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;7.5 million&nbsp;<\/a>people in the US live with this&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/sleep-and-autoimmune-disease\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">autoimmune condition<\/a>. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type and causes chronic symptoms such as:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Skin inflammation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thick areas of discolored skin with scales called \u201cplaques\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patchy rashes characterized by dry cracked skin that often bleeds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Itching, burning, and soreness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Primarily affects the scalp, trunk, elbows, and knees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Flares may be cyclical and last for weeks or months and then calm down. Some common triggers of psoriasis flares include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stress<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Illness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hormones<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Weather, especially cold, dry conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skin injury<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Smoking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excess alcohol use<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodrx.com\/conditions\/psoriasis\/medications-cause-psoriasis-flare-ups\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Certain medications<\/a>&nbsp;such as beta-blockers, corticosteroids, and NSAIDS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Recognizing your unique triggers will help you and your doctor create an individualized treatment plan, which may include medications, lifestyle, and dietary changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFor limited skin disease, we use topical steroid creams to treat,\u201d says Fromowitz. \u201cHowever, recently new topicals have been approved, including\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vtama.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">VTAMA<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.zoryve.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ZORYVE<\/a>, which are novel approaches for treatment. For more extensive involvement, or when joints and arthritis are involved, oral or injectable medications are used.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-psoriasis-and-sleep-what-s-the-connection\"><strong>Psoriasis and sleep: What\u2019s the connection?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Quality sleep often eludes people with psoriasis due to nighttime symptoms such as pain, itching, and burning, which, in turn, can impact&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/sleep-and-mental-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mental health<\/a>&nbsp;and restrict social activities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The<em>&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1111\/bjd.16702\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>British Journal of Dermatology<\/em><\/a>&nbsp;published a study of nearly 300 participants tying psoriasis to sleep difficulties. The study revealed that 25% of participants with psoriasis had clinical&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/tips-for-treating-insomnia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">insomnia<\/a>&nbsp;in contrast to 10.5% not affected with psoriasis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Further, 54% of participants with psoriasis sleep problems reported being poor sleepers compared to 22% of participants not affected by the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4712908\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A large study<\/a>&nbsp;found those with psoriasis and a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/sleep-disorders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sleep disorder<\/a>&nbsp;at a higher risk for stroke and ischemic heart disease. Common sleep complaints include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Difficulty falling asleep<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sleep fragmentation&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Frequent early awakenings&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00403-019-01998-7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pruritus<\/a>&nbsp;(severe itching of the skin), depression, pain, and obstructive sleep apnea also contribute to sleep disturbances for psoriasis patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-sleep-better-with-psoriasis\"><strong>How to sleep better with psoriasis&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBy treating psoriasis, you\u2019ll not only eliminate the lesions but also decrease itch and improve sleep,\u201d Fromowitz says.&nbsp;Some tips for sleeping better with this condition include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Take a warm (not hot) bath for 20 minutes before bed to help soothe irritated skin and ease nighttime itching.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moisturize daily and at night with OTC creams and lotions<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>with ingredients such as coal tar, salicylic acid, and corticosteroids.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5518573\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Studies<\/a>&nbsp;show&nbsp;these particular ingredients are effective in calming itching in some people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep a regular sleep schedule and silence electronics a few hours before bed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take a brief afternoon or evening walk to help reduce stress before bedtime and use sunscreen as needed outdoors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid coffee, nicotine, and alcohol close to bedtime as they can disrupt sleep.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set your thermostat between 60-67 degrees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/bedding?types=sheets+type\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sheets<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/bedding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bedding<\/a>&nbsp;clean from irritants and use a gentle laundry detergent if your pajamas cause itching.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><strong>FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-does-psoriasis-affect-sleep\"><strong>Does psoriasis affect sleep?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe itch from psoriasis is vexing and can lead to sleep disturbances,\u201d Fromowitz says. \u201cThis creates a debilitating cycle of itching, scratching, nighttime waking, and lack of sleep, which contributes to depression and worsening quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-does-lack-of-sleep-make-psoriasis-worse\">&nbsp;<strong>Does lack of sleep make psoriasis worse?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Lack of sleep can cause flares and exacerbate symptoms in some patients. It can also lead to stress and become a vicious cycle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-does-psoriasis-get-worse-at-night\"><strong>Why does psoriasis get worse at night?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The body regularly releases&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/what-are-cytokines.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cytokines<\/a>&nbsp;as part of healthy immune system regulation. However, more of these molecules are released at night and can increase inflammation and trigger itching.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-do-people-with-psoriasis-sleep-a-lot\"><strong>Do people with psoriasis sleep a lot?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>People may sleep more during the day especially if their sleep was disturbed at night. Related conditions caused by the condition such as depression can cause people to sleep more.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7489316\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Studies<\/a>&nbsp;reveal a significant number of people with severe psoriasis battle some form of depression. This is compounded by the stigma and related loneliness and isolation people living with psoriasis endure.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-additional-resources\"><strong>Additional resources&nbsp;<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aad.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">American Academy of Dermatology<\/a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.psoriasis.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Psoriasis Foundation<\/a>&nbsp;offer resources and updated research about psoriasis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.psoriasis.org\/one-to-one\/#:~:text=Psoriasis%20One%20to%20One%20connects%20you%20with%20someone,caring%20for%20a%20loved%20one%20with%20psoriatic%20disease.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cPsoriasis One to One\u201d program<\/a>\u00a0is sponsored by the National Psoriasis Foundation and facilitates matches with a peer mentor for support and encouragement.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Psoriasis is a challenging condition, but you don\u2019t have to face it alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Lack of sleep can lead to skin conditions like psoriasis and cause premature aging. Here&#8217;s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/how-to-wake-up-refreshed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to get your beauty sleep and protect your skin<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For those living with chronic health conditions, getting a good night\u2019s sleep can be challenging. Unpredictable bouts of pain and other related symptoms can be followed by&nbsp;anxiety&nbsp;and tossing and turning all night.&nbsp;Psoriasis is one of those conditions. Skin irritation&nbsp;and pain often disrupt sleep, leaving you feeling drained the next day. This article explores ways to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":31348,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[389,398],"tags":[],"coauthors":[427],"guest":[],"host":[],"class_list":["post-29914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sleep-health","category-sleep-disorders-conditions"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/63"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29914"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29914\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31349,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29914\/revisions\/31349"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29914"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=29914"},{"taxonomy":"guest","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/guest?post=29914"},{"taxonomy":"host","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host?post=29914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}