smoking and psoriasis

[popzutoo]

Does any one have any opinion on smoking tobacco and what if any side effects it may have on plaque psoriasis. 

I have read it can be a problem.   

what is your take on it?

[jiml]

Does any one have any opinion on smoking tobacco and what if any side effects it may have on plaque psoriasis. 

I have read it can be a problem.   

what is your take on it?

Hi popzutoo and a warm welcome to the site and a group of sufferers who are happy to share experiences and I'm sure you will get some replies to this question

As far as I'm concerned and I was a smoker for years and when I gave up it made not a scrap of difference to my psoriasis.
It is true that smoking is bad for your health but I personally don't think it affects psoriasis

I assume you are a psoriasis sufferer and also a smoker
Jim

[popzutoo]

Thanks for your reply,  

Yes I am challenged by both.  I have gotten to the point I don't suffer from the psoriasis, I am managing it and accept the reality of taking steps to control the flaking by using several topical ointments. I plan on stop smoking by cutting back daily until I can do it with 100 percent confidence. I have quit in the past only to be tempted to start again.  I have by psoriasis on about 15 percent of my back side and front side along with knees and elbows.  Lately it has been getting after I quit drinking alcohol.   The next step is stop using tobacco for reasons concerning heart health. 


Pop

[jiml]

Thanks for your reply,  

Yes I am challenged by both.  I have gotten to the point I don't suffer from the psoriasis, I am managing it and accept the reality of taking steps to control the flaking by using several topical ointments. I plan on stop smoking by cutting back daily until I can do it with 100 percent confidence. I have quit in the past only to be tempted to start again.  I have by psoriasis on about 15 percent of my back side and front side along with knees and elbows.  Lately it has been getting after I quit drinking alcohol.   The next step is stop using tobacco for reasons concerning heart health. 


Pop

I wish you luck with that Pop and I have to admit I gave up smoking several times before I finally succeeded
But persevere and don't use psoriasis as an excuse to pick up a cigarette again, like I did when looking for reasons to start again. Looking after your heart health is a good reason to stop
Jim

[Fred]

Does any one have any opinion on smoking tobacco and what if any side effects it may have on plaque psoriasis. 

I have read it can be a problem.   

what is your take on it?

My opinion is what we all know "It's bad for your health" but as for it effecting psoriasis, I'm not convinced.

I have never seen enough evidence that it makes it worse and I never noticed any difference when I gave up. In fact one could argue that giving up made it worse. #1 I put on a lot of weight and now I still have it, this is not good for psoriasis. #2 It caused me a lot of stress, that too is not good for psoriasis.

I only stay off it now because I have realised it is bad for my general health and the craving has now gone anyway.

As for giving up. I tried many times but always ended up going back to it, the only thing that worked for me was putting myself in one of my stubborn fighting modes and went cold turkey. I put it in my head that no matter what happened I was never going to smoke again, I got all the last remains of tobacco and had one big smoke in up till midnight (it was my mission to smoke everything before midnight, and I did) then I took it one day at a time and got myself some cranberry juice. I read somewhere that if you sip it every time you get a craving it helps, and it did.

Each day was a struggle but I was determined to beat it and not let it beat me this time. I won in the end, but it took about a month to finally feel like I was getting somewhere.

To sum up. I don't think smoking effects psoriasis and it's a myth, but as we know there is enough evidence that it is bad for our general health. Plus it's becoming anti social these days which in a way is a good thing and there is more encouragement to give up.

I wish you luck if you do go for it, it's a hard ride but in the end it has to be worth it to give your lungs and heart a rest.

Cold turkey worked for me, it may not work for you but it did make me feel good winning the battle.

[Sandra]

Hi There
I was informed by my consultant that smokers tend to get psoriasis on palms and soles of feet, more so than non smokers.

[jiml]

Hi There
I was informed by my consultant that smokers tend to get psoriasis on palms and soles of feet, more so than non smokers.

Hi Sandra I used to smoke like a chimney and have never had psoriasis on my hands or feet . I think they will say things in the hope you will be scared and give up,

[Sandra]

Hi There
I was informed by my consultant that smokers tend to get psoriasis on palms and soles of feet, more so than non smokers.

Hi Sandra I used to smoke like a chimney and have never had psoriasis on my hands or feet . I think they will say things in the hope you will be scared and give up,

Unfortunately I am a smoker and I did have it on palms and soles of feet. But yes, I've often said, if I got run over by a double decker bus, they would say I wasn't watching the road but lighting a fag!

[jiml]

Hi There
I was informed by my consultant that smokers tend to get psoriasis on palms and soles of feet, more so than non smokers.

Hi Sandra I used to smoke like a chimney and have never had psoriasis on my hands or feet . I think they will say things in the hope you will be scared and give up,

Unfortunately I am a smoker and I did have it on palms and soles of feet. But yes, I've often said, if I got run over by a double decker bus, they would say I wasn't watching the road but lighting a fag!

Yep smoking gets the blame for most things and some is justified but as Fred said giving up has its draw backs like him, I put weight on ( it's still there) and it was a stressful thing to do.

[AmandaL]

Hi There
I was informed by my consultant that smokers tend to get psoriasis on palms and soles of feet, more so than non smokers.

Hi Sandra I used to smoke like a chimney and have never had psoriasis on my hands or feet . I think they will say things in the hope you will be scared and give up,

Unfortunately I am a smoker and I did have it on palms and soles of feet. But yes, I've often said, if I got run over by a double decker bus, they would say I wasn't watching the road but lighting a fag!

I agree with Jim. They will find an excuse to tell you to stop smoking. You should quit for general health, but as for making a difference with your Psoriasis? I personally wouldn't say it made any difference with mine. If you're thinking of quitting, maybe try one of these vapers? Apparently they're quite good