As someone who has been living with psoriasis for over 15 years, you’d think that I’d have this disease figured out by now. But when you live with a chronic disease, there will always be curveballs. As much as you have your psoriasis under control, you may still be prone to unexpected flare-ups.

Because of this, it’s best to be prepared for any situation. That’s why I’m sharing with you the three things I never leave home without.

1. Lotion

This might sound cliché, but I always carry a travel-size bottle of lotion in all of my bags.

You know those samples you receive in the mail, at conferences, or at the grocery store? Grab those babies and toss them in your bag!

You never know when your flare-ups are going to bother or irritate you. Having lotion with you wherever you go means you’ll always have something nearby to help ease the irritation.

Also, living that #momlife means I’m always carrying baby lotion. This works great on my flares when I’m in a pinch! I love finding products that serve multiple purposes.

2. Lip balm

I know others can relate to the notoriously dry skin you get when living with psoriasis. For me, my lips get super dry as well.

No matter where I go, you’ll always see me carrying around lip balm. Organic lip balms with minimal ingredients that I can actually pronounce are my favorite. For example, one of my favorite lip balms is only made with organic cocoa butter, beeswax, extra-virgin coconut oil, and essential oils. These have become my go-to whenever my lips feel dry at all.

In a pinch, I even apply the balm to minor flare-ups. I tend get small patches of psoriasis along my hairline and ear every now and then. Lip balm is a lifesaver, for sure.

3. A cardigan

Does anyone else just always seem to get cold whenever you leave the house? Even if it’s 90-plus degrees outside, I’ll still end up feeling cold at some point.

In these situations, a lightweight cardigan has saved me so many times. I always tend to stick with cotton or viscose, since these fabrics are the most breathable. Because of this, I don’t have to worry about irritating my flare-ups when it’s a little on the chilly side.

The takeaway

When I’m looking for skincare products, I always like to make sure they can be used for multiple things. If you can get more than one use out of an item, why wouldn’t you get it? It’s even better when you can pronounce the ingredients because you know exactly what’s in the products.

With a chronic disease like psoriasis, you never know what can be an irritant for your flare-ups. When you know what the products you’re using are made from, this becomes one less thing you have to worry about. That’s why I choose to never leave home without lotion, lip balm, and a lightweight cardigan that I know won’t irritate my skin.

Sabrina Skiles is a lifestyle and psoriasis blogger. She created her blog, Homegrown Houston, as a lifestyle resource for millennial women and those living with psoriasis. She shares daily inspiration on topics like health and wellness, motherhood and marriage, and managing a chronic disease while living a stylish life. Sabrina is also a volunteer mentor, coach, and social ambassador for the National Psoriasis Foundation. You can find her sharing psoriasis tips while living a stylish life on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.