Your Health
YOUR SUMMER PSORIASIS WORKBOOK
Help your skin keep its cool when the weather gets hot
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.
“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 found that 1 in 5 psoriasis patients saw their symptoms worsen in the summer months, while 1 in 3 saw symptoms improve. This variability is pretty characteristic of psoriasis, which affects people differently. Some have flare-ups that last a few weeks, while others may suffer for months. And a flare-up can mean psoriatic plaques showing up in new places on one’s 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 the skin—can cause an outbreak. But summertime brings its own set of triggers.
▶︎ Sunburn. Although moderate ultraviolet light, emitted naturally by the sun, can help calm symptoms for many people, excessive sun exposure can cause sunburn—and that’s an injury to your skin. That may trigger the Koebner phenomenon, which is the name for the emergence of new psoriatic lesions on healthy skin areas following an injury or trauma of some kind.
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 sweat can irritate skin and cause psoriasis flare-ups, particularly in skin folds such as in your groin area and under your arms. The moisture from sweat is an irritant, and as the perspiration dries, the salt left behind can trigger itching too. Sweating also creates a humid, warm environment that promotes bacterial or fungal growth, which can cause intense itching, leading to flare-ups.
▶︎ Air-conditioning. Cold, dry air from constant air-conditioning can dry out 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, can result in trapped moisture and skin eruptions. The same can happen when you sweat and experience friction from clothes rubbing 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:
▶︎ Wear sunscreen. Make sure to put sunscreen on all your exposed skin, including your psoriasis plaques. Select 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 might be best for you.
▶︎ Swim smartly. Swimming pools and water parks can help you cool off, and swimming in salt water can help remove dead skin and improve the look of psoriasis. But chlorine and salt water can also strip moisture from your skin, so be careful to rinse off and moisturize after your swim.
▶︎ Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Fill up a water bottle and sip from it dutifully throughout the day to retain your skin’s moisture and make you less prone to 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. Wear long-sleeve shirts with long pants and stay indoors at dusk, when insects are most active. Citronella candles can also help keep mosquitoes away, although their effectiveness is limited.
▶︎ Wear loose clothing. Clothes made of breathable fabric, like cotton, are best during warm months. Opt for light colors, as they absorb less heat.
PSORIASIS ON VACATION
If you are 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:
▶︎ Keep topicals top of mind. During 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 might feel 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 strange vegetation that might turn out to 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. 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.
Jeanne Dorin McDowell, a former Time magazine correspondent, writes for an array of publications.
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 may 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 the protein interleukin-23 (IL-23) to target inflammation, reduce symptoms and help clear up 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. —J.D.M.