How To Deal With The Mess
If you have psoriasis — or know someone who does — you’ve probably spotted the telltale flakes on your carpets, couches, car seats, and clothes.
“The outer layers of the skin grow much faster than normal,” says David Pariser, MD, professor of dermatology at Eastern Virginia Medical School. “As the layers peel off, that’s what makes all the scale.”
Psoriasis flakes look a lot like dandruff. Because they come from your scalp and body, they can get everywhere.
The flakes can be very embarrassing. It’s a part of the disease you can’t hide.
Over more than 4 decades of living with psoriasis, John Latella estimates he’s lost more than 300 pounds of scale. The flakes were a big issue when he had to travel for work.
“If I went out to dinner with somebody and reached across the table and brushed something, I always worried the scales would fall off,” he says.
At hotels, he’d wake up in the morning to find the bed full of flakes.
“I was embarrassed to leave it like that because I didn’t want the maid to have to clean it up.” He says using a moisturizer regularly in both the summer and winter helps keep his skin soft, supple, and less scaly.
Heavy flaking isn’t as common as it once was. Treatments like biologic drugs are available to control psoriasis.
“If you have so much flaking that it’s lying around the house, you should go back to your dermatologist,” says Carolyn Jacob, MD, founder and director of Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology. “Biologic medications can free your skin of the inflammation, which causes the flaking in the first place. They’ve completely changed the entire way of treating the disease, and they allow people to have normal lives so they’re not vacuuming every day.”
It’s important to get inflammation under control, she says, not just to improve your skin, but also to prevent damage to your joints and blood vessels.
Latella says biologics worked for him, helping to reduce his scaling “to practically nothing.”
If you’re on a treatment but still dealing with flakes, there are some easy ways to tidy up.
1. Fire Up the Hoover
“Vacuum every other day,” Jacob suggests.
It’s the easiest way to clean up psoriasis flakes. It’s important, too, because scales can build up in carpets and attract bugs.
“Dry, flaking skin that comes off ends up being food for dust mites,” she says.
A hose with a rubber edge will pick up the smallest flakes. Buy a portable hand-held model for your car and travel. And if you get tired of pushing the vacuum, a robotic one can do the work for you.
2. Go Deep
Psoriasis flakes can go deeper into your carpets than your vacuum can reach. When Latella tore up the wall-to-wall carpeting in his home, he was surprised by what he found.
“The scales had worked their way down through the fibers of the carpet. It was just powder underneath,” he says.
Have your carpets deep cleaned every 6 months to pick up the scales your vacuum cleaner misses.
3. Sweep Them Away
Hardwood or linoleum floors make it easier to clean up flakes. You simply sweep them up with a broom or brush. A broom with softer bristles may make it easier to pick up the scales, Latella says.
4. Scrape Them Off
Latella found his own solution for flakes that covered the bed while he slept.
“I made a hard card out of plastic. In the morning, I’d scrape the scales into a pile and throw it out.” Any hard-edged surface will help you collect the flakes more easily.
5. Roll Them Off
Scalp psoriasis can dust the shoulders of your shirt, much like dandruff. A lint roller or brush is an easy way to remove flakes that fall on your clothes.
“These scales are not sticky,” Jacob says. “They’re not going to stick to your clothing.”
She also suggests wearing light-colored clothes to hide any flakes that do fall.
6. Go Long
If your arms and legs shed a lot, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts with buttoned cuffs when you go out. Your clothes will catch the flakes before they fall.
7. Wash Them Off
Wash your sheets and clothes more often to get rid of the scale buildup, Jacob suggests. Use a gentle detergent that won’t irritate your skin.
8. Filter Them Out
Install an air filter in your home to trap psoriasis particles. This will keep the flakes from floating in the air. Or use a vacuum cleaner with a built-in filter.
We are a group of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community.
Your website provided us with helpful information to work
on. You have done an impressive task and our whole
neighborhood will likely be grateful to you.
Everything is very open with a very clear description of the issues. It was truly informative. Your website is extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing!
Please let me know if you’re looking for a writer for your weblog.
You have some really good articles and I believe I would be a good asset.
If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write
some content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
Please blast me an email if interested. Thanks!
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be
actually something that I think I would never understand.
It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll
try to get the hang of it!
You should be a part of a contest for one of the best websites on the web. I most certainly will highly recommend this web site!
Hello there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I’m using the same blog platform as yours
and I’m having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on website. Regards
Hi there, after reading this awesome piece of writing i am too delighted to share my
experience here with friends.
Hello to all, the contents existing at this website are genuinely amazing for people experience, well, keep
up the nice work fellows.
Do you have any video of that? I’d like to find out some additional information.
Howdy would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re working with?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different internet browsers and I must
say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
Can you recommend a good hosting provider at a reasonable price?
Thank you, I appreciate it!
There’s definately a lot to learn about this subject. I love all of the points you have made.
Have you ever considered publishing an e-book or guest authoring on other blogs?
I have a blog based on the same information you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I
know my subscribers would appreciate your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an email.
I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles
or blog posts in this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I
eventually stumbled upon this web site. Reading this information So i’m happy to express that I’ve an incredibly excellent uncanny feeling
I discovered just what I needed. I such a lot certainly will make certain to don?t forget this site
and give it a glance regularly.
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I do think that you need to write more about this issue, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people do not discuss these subjects.
To the next! Cheers!!
These are truly wonderful ideas in concerning blogging.
You have touched some good points here. Any way keep up wrinting.
I will right away grasp your rss feed as I can’t find your email subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service.
Do you have any? Please allow me know so that I may subscribe.
Thanks.
Your style is so unique compared to other people I have read stuff from.
Thank you for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I’ll just book
mark this web site.
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is
added I get several emails with the same comment.
Is there any way you can remove people from that service?
Appreciate it!
This text is priceless. Where can I find out more?
Actually when someone doesn’t know afterward its up to other
people that they will assist, so here it happens.
Great goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely fantastic.
I actually like what you’ve acquired here, really like what
you are stating and the way in which you say it.
You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it smart.
I can not wait to read much more from you. This is actually a great website.
I was more than happy to discover this web site.
I wanted to thank you for your time just for this
wonderful read!! I definitely liked every part
of it and I have you saved to fav to look at new things on your site.
I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your blog.
Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility problems?
A handful of my blog audience have complained about
my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox.
Do you have any recommendations to help fix this issue?
This is a topic that is near to my heart… Take care!
Exactly where are your contact details though?
This bet is created by putting a chip on the marked odd or even sections of the table.
For casual use, this tool is a winner, but committed sporty forms may possibly obtain it lacks
oomph.
Everyone loves what you guys are usually up too. This sort of clever work and coverage!
Keep up the terrific works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll.
Another prominent feature of Ignition Casino is its bonuses
and promotions.
Hello there! Quick question that’s totally off topic.
Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My
blog looks weird when viewing from my iphone.
I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve
this issue. If you have any recommendations,
please share. Cheers!
Because the admin of this web page is working, no hesitation very quickly it will
be well-known, due to its quality contents.
I think the admin of this web site is in fact working hard in support of
his web site, as here every information is quality based material.
I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts
on this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this website.
Reading this information So i am glad to show that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed.
I most definitely will make certain to don?t omit this website and provides it a look regularly.
Wow, this post is good, my younger sister is analyzing these things,
thus I am going to tell her.
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but,
I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing.
Either way, great blog and I look forward to seeing it grow
over time.
Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to
mention that I have really enjoyed browsing your weblog posts.
In any case I will be subscribing in your rss feed and I hope
you write once more soon!
I truly love your website.. Great colors & theme.
Did you create this website yourself? Please reply
back as I’m looking to create my own personal website and would love to learn where
you got this from or just what the theme is named. Kudos!
Pretty part of content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog
and in accession capital to assert that I get actually loved
account your weblog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your augment
or even I achievement you get entry to constantly fast.
Hi there very cool web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Superb ..
I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds also?
I’m glad to seek out a lot of useful information here within the put up,
we’d like develop more strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing.
. . . . .
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add
to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and
was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this.
Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
It’s impressive that you are getting thoughts from this
paragraph as well as from our dialogue made at this
time.
I’m not sure where you’re getting your info, but good
topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this info for my mission.
I every time emailed this web site post page to all my associates, because if like to read it
after that my contacts will too.
Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve consider your stuff
prior to and you are just extremely excellent. I really
like what you have bought here, really like what you’re
saying and the best way through which you say it. You are making it entertaining and you still take care of to stay it wise.
I can not wait to learn much more from you.
That is actually a great web site.
great submit, very informative. I ponder why the opposite specialists of this sector don’t realize this.
You should proceed your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site,
how could i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a acceptable deal.
I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast
provided bright clear concept
Howdy! I just wish to offer you a big thumbs up for the great info you have
got here on this post. I will be coming back to your site for more soon.
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Nonetheless, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!
Hello, yup this post is genuinely nice and I have learned lot of things from
it concerning blogging. thanks.
Greetings! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout
out and tell you I truly enjoy reading your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same topics?
Thank you!
Because the admin of this web site is working,
no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.
Hi mates, pleasant post and good arguments commented at
this place, I am actually enjoying by these.
If some one wishes expert view concerning blogging then i propose him/her to pay a quick visit this webpage, Keep
up the good work.
Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I quite enjoyed reading it,
you’re a great author. I will be sure to bookmark your blog and may come back in the future.
I want to encourage you to definitely continue your great
posts, have a nice day!
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for Small
Business Branding
Great beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog website?
The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast
offered bright clear concept
What a stuff of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable knowledge concerning
unexpected emotions.
It’s in reality a nice and useful piece of info.
I am glad that you simply shared this helpful information with us.
Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
My coder is trying to convince me to move to .net
from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses.
But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on a number of websites for about a
year and am anxious about switching to another platform.
I have heard very good things about blogengine.net.
Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress content into it?
Any help would be really appreciated!