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Your Summer Psoriasis Survival Guide
Easy and effective ways to prevent and manage flare-ups when the weather is hot
Sun, sweat and swimming can all affect psoriasis. Simple steps can help keep symptoms in check.
Elena Lacey (Getty Images)
Key takeaways
- Summer can improve or worsen psoriasis, with one in five seeing flares and one in three improving
- Heat-related triggers like sunburn, sweat, air-conditioning, and bug bites can spark symptoms
- Simple steps like sunscreen, hydration, and loose clothing help manage flare-ups in hot weather
High summer is in full swing, and for some people with psoriasis, the sizzling days and sultry nights can create a conundrum. Heat and sun can worsen psoriasis symptoms, but diving into an air-conditioned room to escape the swelter can have the same effect.
Call it an itch-22.
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“A number of people experience improvement in the summer because they’re getting more ambient sun, which can calm inflammation and improve psoriasis,” says Dr. Juliana Berk-Krauss, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. “For those patients, summer can be a respite or relief from wintertime.”
But for others, warm-weather activities like bicycling and jogging, along with the sweating and sunburn that often result, can dry out skin and exacerbate itchy, painful psoriatic patches. A 2021 systematic review of 13 studies published in Skin Research and Technology found that 1 in 5 psoriasis patients experienced worsening of symptoms in the summer months, while 1 in 3 experienced improvement.
This variability is pretty characteristic of psoriasis. Some people have flare-ups that last a few weeks, while others may suffer for months. And a flare-up can mean psoriatic plaques appearing in new areas of the body or existing patches becoming more severe. Some individuals don’t experience flare-ups at all, while others live with continually shifting symptoms.
If your psoriasis tends to worsen in hot weather, you need a summertime plan of action. Here’s what to know.
What triggers summer flare-ups?
Psoriasis is the Incredible Hulk of skin conditions: It can be thrown into a rage by everything from a stressful argument to a shot of tequila to a stubbed toe. Anything that sparks inflammation, whether it’s chronic inflammation inside your body or acute inflammation on your skin, can cause an outbreak. But summertime brings its own set of triggers.
Sunburn. While moderate ultraviolet light, emitted naturally by the sun, can calm symptoms for many people, excessive sun exposure can cause sunburn — and that’s a skin injury. It may trigger the Koebner phenomenon, the appearance of new psoriatic lesions on healthy skin following an injury or other trauma.
The key is finding a balance. “UVA light can generally be beneficial, but we don’t want anyone to get burned,” says Kim B. Sanders, associate professor of dermatology at the Oregon Health & Science University. Phototherapy treatments in a dermatology office are the safest way to treat psoriasis, she says, but carefully managed natural sun can be beneficial. Her recommendation: “Small, incremental amounts of natural sunlight. I tell people 15 minutes of unprotected natural sunlight, then cover up or put on sunscreen.”
Sweating. Excess sweating can irritate the skin and trigger psoriasis flare-ups, particularly in skin folds such as the groin area and under the arms. Sweat moisture is an irritant, and as it dries, the salt left behind can trigger itching. Sweating also creates a humid, warm environment that promotes bacterial or fungal growth, which can cause intense itching and flare-ups.
Air-conditioning. Cold, dry air from constant air-conditioning can dry the skin, leading to increased irritation and flare-ups.
Insect bites. Bug bites can activate the immune system and trigger psoriasis. As an inflammatory response to the bite, the immune system overreacts, leading to cell overproduction and plaque formation at or near the affected spot within days or weeks.
Seasonal pollen. High levels of grass and tree pollen in summer can trigger immune responses that cause flare-ups.
Heat rash and friction. Hot weather often leads to increased psoriatic activity, and tighter clothing, such as athletic wear, may trap moisture and trigger skin eruptions. The same can happen when you sweat, and your clothes rub against damp skin.
Your summer psoriasis strategy
If it sounds like the main job of psoriasis is to ruin your summer, you may be right — it’s the health equivalent of picnic ants and barbecue rainstorms. But with a few simple steps, you can keep the condition under control. Here’s the plan.
Drinking plenty of water can ease discomfort.
AARP (Getty Images, 2; Alamy Stock Photo)
Wear sunscreen. Make sure to apply sunscreen to all exposed skin, including your psoriasis plaques. Select a sunscreen that’s fragrance-free, made specifically for sensitive skin and has “broad spectrum” written on the label, which means it protects against UVA and UVB rays. Pick a product with a 30 or greater SPF. A spray may be easier to apply on sensitive skin, but if you have a lotion, pat it on gently to avoid irritating your psoriasis — no rubbing. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or heavy sweating. Also, don’t apply sunscreen to open, bleeding or severely cracked plaques. If you have any questions, talk to your dermatologist about which sunscreen is best for you.
Swim smartly. Swimming pools and water parks help you cool off, and swimming in salt water can help remove dead skin and improve the appearance of psoriasis. Chlorine and salt water can also strip moisture from your skin, however, so be sure to rinse off and moisturize after your swim.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Fill a water bottle and sip from it dutifully throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated and reduce itching and scratching.
Use DEET-free bug spray. DEET is a potent insect repellent, but it can also make psoriasis symptoms worse. Plenty of brands offer DEET-free products, including Off!, Sawyer, Badger, Murphy’s Naturals and All Terrain. And consider some natural ways to repel bugs. Wear long-sleeve shirts with long pants, and stay indoors at dusk, when insects are most active. Citronella candles can help help keep mosquitoes away, though their efficacy is limited.
Wear loose clothing. Clothes made of breathable fabric, like cotton, are best during warm months. Opt for light colors, which absorb less heat.
Psoriasis on vacation
If you’re traveling over the summer, “map out how you are going to manage your psoriasis while away from home,” says Dr. Wilson Liao, director of the Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center at the University of California, San Francisco.
Pick up several travel-size containers of the over-the-counter products you use for your psoriasis, such as moisturizers and shampoos, and speak with your health care provider about prescription refills or traveling with a biologic. And don’t forget ice packs if your medications require refrigeration.
Here are some other issues to consider when you’re on the road:
Sunscreen and stress relief can help prevent flare-ups.
AARP (Getty Images, 3; wernimages/Shutterstock; Alamy Stock Photo)
Keep topicals top of mind. During the summer months, some topical medications may become too sticky to apply effectively. Ask your doctor if it makes sense to switch to a cream or lotion that feels lighter on the skin.
Watch skin injuries. If you’ll be engaging in any sort of water sport, consider wearing a rash guard and make sure you have protective footwear. Be extremely cautious around any unfamiliar vegetation that might be poison ivy. And if you do get a skin injury, treat it quickly. Avoid scratching, which can trigger a flare-up.
Monitor your mood. Traveling can be stressful, and stress can lead to a number of health issues, including psoriasis flare-ups. There is a well-documented connection between mental health and psoriasis; patients with psoriasis tend to have a higher frequency of anxiety and depression that requires medication. And depression is associated with elevated inflammation in the blood and likely the brain, says Liao; researchers are investigating whether that translates to a greater incidence of skin inflammation as well.
New hope for psoriasis
If you’ve watched television lately, you’ve probably seen a spate of ads for psoriasis treatments, most of which feature smiling people moving about to upbeat pop songs. But while the ads make it seem as though one magic remedy will change your life, Dr. Juliana Berk-Krauss, a dermatologist, says treating psoriasis is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. “The best treatment is usually determined by a patient’s individual profile, including the kind of psoriasis he or she has, comorbid conditions, where the psoriasis is located and even insurance coverage.” Here are a few of the newest psoriasis-busting treatments.
Injectable biologics. FDA-approved injectable treatments such as Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) and Tremfya (guselkumab) treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis by inhibiting interleukin-23 (IL-23), a protein that drives inflammation, to reduce symptoms and clear the skin. “IL-23 inhibitors have great safety profiles” and high rates of clearing up skin that “make them appropriate for some patients,” says Berk-Krauss.
Oral medications. Icotyde (icotrokinra) was approved by the FDA in March 2026 to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis through a daily oral pill. This is the first IL-23 receptor inhibitor available in pill form, offering an alternative to traditional injectable biologics. About 70 percent of patients who took icotrokinra had clear or almost-clear skin after four months, with no new safety concerns identified after one year of use.
Nonsteroidal topicals. Two FDA-approved, steroid-free topical treatments, Vtama (tapinarof) and Zoryve (roflumilast), have been shown to clear psoriasis in many people. Traditional steroid-based creams can still be safe and effective for many patients, says Berk-Krauss, although some people who use steroid creams may develop negative side effects, especially on their underarms, genitals and face.
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