8 Ways to Relieve Your Psoriasis Itch

It might not be just the red, scaly plaque from psoriasis that drives you nuts. The itch that goes along with psoriasis can bother you even in places that are lesion-free.

Up to 90 percent of people with psoriasis experience itching, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), and it can impact your quality of life. Itching can interfere with your sleep, increase your stress, and even take a toll on your sex life.

“It’s not always a pure itch,” says Gil Yosipovitch, MD, a professor of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida. Instead, you might feel a burning or pinching sensation. And though the urge to scratch can be hard to resist, scratching can just make psoriasis symptoms worse. Scratching can damage your skin, leading to infection or skin injuries that can trigger a psoriasis flare.

Following your psoriasis treatment plan is the best way to prevent bothersome itching. But there are other steps you can take to find relief when itching from your psoriasis strikes.