It ain’t easy living with skin issues. If you’re scratching and itching and feeling like you wanna yank your skin off, you’ve probably got more than just a normal problem. The question is, what is it? Because oftentimes, darker skin tones can make it harder to diagnose!
Many times, Black folks with constant skin irritation and inflammation don’t even know it’s more than just a temporary inconvenience. In the case of psoriasis, it’s actually a full-blown autoimmune disorder.
And if you’re trying to shed those pesky pounds, improve your health, and get your body looking something special (or at least better), the problem can get even worse…
Exercising with psoriasis, as it turns out, can be a double-edged sword. The type of exercise, intensity of exercise, and your unique lifestyle habits can all make or break that workout routine.
Sweating up a storm? Let’s cover what you need to know about psoriasis and exercise.
RELATED: If I Have Psoriasis, Am I Going To Get Psoriatic Arthritis?
A Quick Rundown on Psoriasis
First, you’ve gotta know what you’re working with. While white folks usually get psoriasis ‘plaques’ that are pink or red, psoriasis shows up on Black folks as anything from darker brown to gray or even a purplish color. Heck, sometimes you can’t even see it.
That said, some areas on your body may stay discolored for a year (but don’t worry, it isn’t permanent). You’ll usually spot these little buggers on your knees, scalp, back, and elbows. Your fingernails may also have thick ‘ridges.’
So much for Black don't crack, huh?
You May Also Like
But here’s the good news. Most of the time you can manage your flare-ups with creams, lotions, and shampoos, and if need be, with more powerful medicines and even ‘immune therapies.’
With your psoriasis under control, you can worry about getting other aspects of your health on lockdown. Such as… sculpting that body!
Wait, So Is Exercise Good or Bad for Psoriasis?
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, you should be hitting at least half an hour of moderate exercise every day, as well as some muscle workouts five days a week.
Now, we aren’t talking about running a marathon or huffing and puffing till you’re blue in the face. You don’t need to be drenched in sweat, hanging over a fence.
Again, keep it moderate. Go for a brisk walk, and lift some light dumbbells. You aren’t reinventing the wheel here, you’re simply improving your health, step by step. If you can gradually increase your workouts - and finetune that hot bod - you’ll find exercising with psoriasis is actually quite liberating!
But here’s the catch. If you’re going too hard, and not taking proper precautions, all that sweaty mess can spell disaster for your skin.
Sweat & Psoriasis - It’s Complicated
Sweat and psoriasis have a love/hate relationship. Look, we all sweat at some point when we exercise - especially if we’re carrying around a few extra lbs. Especially if it’s hot and we’re getting that heart thumping. It’s natural. But what happens when all that mess comes on too strong?
Here’s the conundrum: Exercising can improve your psoriasis. But exercise also causes us to sweat, which can worsen psoriasis. The reason exercise improves psoriasis is because it reduces fat and inflammation in the body.
Sweat is a different story. It can make your psoriasis a hot mess express because of what it does to your skin. Sweat naturally slickens your skin, which means your skin folds - and lesions - rub together more easily. Not to mention, these damp areas can be friendly to fungus and yeast.
Nasty, I know. But fortunately, you’ve got some options.
Here’s What You Can Do
If you’re dripping, and feeling like a pig in a sty, we’ve got you covered. Turns out, that managing your sweat and psoriasis doesn’t have to be crazy difficult. There are simple steps you can take to prevent and treat psoriasis flare-ups.
Depending on the type of psoriasis, you can use a powder to dry out your skin folds. Some shampoos and soaps also prevent itching and inflammation when you’re sweating. For that beautiful ivory skin of yours, try African black soap and pine tar soap.
Now for the lifestyle stuff. If your body’s waterworks are causing you pain, get ahead of ’em!
Enjoy a little fan time on those hot days. Hop in the pool. Choose a cool morning or evening to exercise. Look for shaded areas and always, always, always make sure you’re well hydrated. But don’t go overboard. Also, if you’re indoors and the AC is jacked too high, that may actually worsen your psoriasis.
In the end, it’s all about doing what works for you. Talk to your doctor, try out different approaches, and enjoy the benefits of regular exercise. You got this!
