What Athletes with Psoriasis Want You to Know About Training Through Flares

There’s an interesting relationship between psoriasis and exercise: While the condition can make playing sports and working out more challenging in some ways, staying active can also help improve symptoms and simply make you feel better overall.

For men with psoriatic arthritis, symptoms like joint stiffness, pain, and swelling can make their typical exercise routine feel tougher, or unrealistic at times. Psoriasis with no joint involvement can also be limiting for a few reasons. For one, psoriasis on the hands and feet, called palmoplantar psoriasis, can be particularly troublesome, causing pain when lifting weights or running, respectively, says Khattri Saakshi, MD, a board certified Dermatologist, Rheumatologist and Internist at Mount Sinai and one of only a handful of triple board certified physicians across the United States. It can also cause unforeseen issues: “When skin gets itchy, it bleeds, so that can be a real issue with exercise,” says Jack Taylor, 26, a content creator in London, England, who was diagnosed with psoriasis five years ago. “Just the other day I was at a workout class and one of my psoriasis pieces on my elbow started bleeding and I had to leave the class because I can't work out holding a tissue.”

The other way skin psoriasis can affect active men is more psychological: “If it's in visual areas, then certainly there could be an impact from a social perspective where patients might be uncomfortable going out,” Dr. Saakshi says. This can be compounded in a gym or sport environment, when oftentimes tanks and shorts are unavoidable.

But staying active while dealing with psoriatic arthritis or skin psoriasis (or a combination of both) is 100% doable, according to Dr. Saakshi and others we spoke to for this story who are living with one or both conditions. “The biggest change for me has been learning not to let psoriasis define how I see myself or what I believe my body can do,” says Sam Cushing, 34, based between Chicago and Miami.

Here’s what Cushing, Taylor, and two other athletic men with psoriasis want you to know about training through flares.

Use your sport as an outlet

When Taylor was first diagnosed and 90% of his body was covered with psoriasis, he could barely leave the house. But then he found an outlet in daily walks, and ultimately, running, which he’s found to be a huge escape and stress-reliever—and he even ran the London Marathon at the height of his psoriasis two years ago. “It really helped channel some of that tension,” he says. “You had an awful day with your skin, your skin is bleeding, whatever, but you can go on this run. That feels so victorious to me.” He adds that running, and exercise in general, is something that’s in your control. “I could never control anything to do with my skin. I can't control the itchiness.” Whether you like to run, swim, or lift, he says that finding a sport that provides you with this outlet is clutch when dealing with psoriasis.

Accept that people will look, but they’re probably not judging

Taylor accepts that when his skin goes really red with psoriasis, particularly after swimming, people will look at him. “It's upsetting because it's not in your head. People are obviously looking,” he says. But, that doesn’t mean they’re necessarily judging, and most likely they’re more curious than anything. Still, he let this self-consciousness keep him from certain fitness activities he loved, until he decided to change his mindset. “The voice in my head is like, ‘you deserve to be here as much as everybody else,’ and I'm never going to see any of these people again 99% of the time.”

Wear what you want—and what’s best for your activity

Liam Roberts, 40, in Margate, England, was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 2006 and struggled with feeling comfortable in his own skin for years. “Even something as simple as wearing shorts and T-shirts was not an option so I could hide the psoriasis,” says Roberts. But as a personal trainer and assistant gym manager wearing clothing that exposes his psoriasis is unavoidable, and something he’s become more comfortable with, despite still feeling self-conscious.

Taylor agrees that it’s important to wear the right gear for your workout rather than covering up for the sake of your psoriasis: “Never stop wearing what you want to because workout gear is important,” he says. “Don't put tracksuits on when you are in a workout class. I promise no one is going to be that bothered and you deserve to be comfortable.”

Cushing, who is currently training for a HYROX competition, says he too embraces wearing shorts and tank tops. “For a long time, I was embarrassed by my psoriasis and worried about people noticing it,” Cushing says. “It’s not something I have to love every day, but something I also don't feel the need to hide like I used to.”

Modifying workouts as needed

During a flare, Cushing pays closer attention to friction, sweat, and the clothing he wears during workouts, making adjustments if a particular movement is irritating his skin. “For me, modifying a workout isn’t a setback. The goal is to stay active without making things worse.”

Roberts, too, tries not to let his psoriasis dictate his routine, but psoriatic arthritis often means flareups of the joints that can restrict his ability to perform certain exercises or routines. “All you can do is listen to your body and adapt by either changing the routine, going lighter on the weights, or taking more rest,” he says.

Accessorize

Reece King, 34, a content creator in Toronto, Canada, says psoriasis on his feet can make his go-to weightlifting and boxing workouts tricky. “I’ve had to make quite a few practical changes, from the types of socks I wear to the running shoes I use,” says King, who was just officially diagnosed with psoriasis this year. “With it being on the soles of my feet, any fabric that runs on it is unbelievably uncomfortable.” He opts for soft cotton running socks over synthetic materials that he says aggravate his psoriasis. “I usually look for a thicker, cushioned cotton sock with some stretch, particularly around the heel,” he says. For running, he opts for a shoe with good cushioning around the heel, currently the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080s, to help reduce the impact on the area.

For Cushing, gloves have been a helpful accessory when dealing with psoriasis on his hands and handling weights. “I look for breathable, lightweight, fingerless gloves with padded palms,” he says. “They help reduce friction from barbells and dumbbells without trapping too much sweat.”

Moisturize

With psoriasis, moisturizing can help in general, and in terms of alleviating discomfort during workouts. “At one point I even started carrying moisturizer in my gym bag in case my skin becomes uncomfortable during a workout,” King says. Cushing likes gentle, fragrance-free options that help support the skin barrier. “I moisturize consistently, especially after showering and training,” he says. A few specific products via Cushing: CeraVe's Psoriasis Moisturizing Cream, Eucerin Advanced Repair Cream, and Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream or Moisturizing Lotion.

Listen to your body

“If my skin is especially irritated or I’m feeling run down, I’ll take a rest day,” Cushing says. King agrees: “If it’s really bad, I’ll move my rest day to that day instead of taking it on the day I originally planned.” Cushing sees this not as a set-back, but as a natural part of the training process: “Taking a day to recover can help me come back stronger and stay more consistent,” he says.

Don’t let it keep you down

“The best advice I could give to someone else is just to accept that this is part of you, own it, and don’t let it stop you from achieving your goals,” Roberts says. Cushing has similar words of wisdom to offer: “I’d tell anyone with psoriasis that you don’t have to wait until your skin is ‘perfect’ to do the things you love. Show up as you are, take care of yourself, and make adjustments when you need to.”