Skin care tips for people with psoriasis

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the skin, affecting 2-3% of the world's population .

Symptoms include itchy, discolored skin and sometimes painful skin patches.

Psoriasis is a skin disease that is extremely itchy and is said to be the skin disease that has the lowest quality of life (QOL). It is believed that inflammation caused by psoriasis stimulates the nerves in the skin, causing itching and pain.

It has been shown that moisturizing can help ease symptoms, but applying cosmetics that are prone to drying or irritation to the skin may actually make the condition worse.

It is essential to be diagnosed by a dermatologist and receive treatment with prescribed medication, but in many cases, psoriasis treatment is long-term and expensive.
Therefore, it is important to develop a safe skin care regimen in combination with prescription medications, as skin care can help manage psoriasis symptoms and avoid the causes of exacerbations while also treating the condition with medication.

What causes psoriasis to worsen

Skin becomes sensitive when its barrier , the outermost layer of the skin that protects the body from external stimuli and pollutants, is disrupted.

When this barrier is broken, irritants that normally cannot enter the body can pass through the skin, which can trigger an immune response that can worsen the inflammation caused by psoriasis.

In other words, it is important to reinforce the damaged barrier. That is why moisturizing care is said to be essential for psoriasis skin.

Ingredients to avoid for psoriatic skin

Even though moisturizing is important, there is no point in choosing a moisturizer randomly.

That's why it's important to be aware of ingredients that may cause or worsen your symptoms.

The ingredients that cause irritation vary from person to person, but if you've been diagnosed with psoriasis, it's generally a good idea to avoid ingredients that are likely to irritate weakened skin.

For example, the following ingredients are generally quite irritating to sensitive skin:

• Fragrances
• Essential oils
• Ethanol / Denatured alcohol
• PG
• Retinol
• AHA (fruit acid)
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
• Synthetic colorants (components listed as "color + number" such as Red 205, Blue 1, etc.)

Everyone's skin is different, so the above may not apply to everyone. Also, other ingredients in cosmetics may worsen psoriasis, depending on the formulation and frequency of use.

Effective ingredients for psoriatic skin

Once you have checked the ingredients you want to avoid, the next step is to actively incorporate ingredients that may be effective against psoriasis. Currently, there is research showing that the following ingredients are effective against psoriasis.

Ceramide

A 2020 study showed that a moisturizer containing ceramides and linoleic acid was effective in treating moderate psoriasis.

Shea butter

It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, and one study found that combining it with certain concentrations of salicylic acid has helped psoriatic skin.

Vitamin D

It has been shown to be effective when applied to skin with plaque psoriasis, and getting enough vitamin D through diet or supplements may help.

Coal tar (tar ointment)

Although it is not a cosmetic ingredient, it has been used for many years to treat psoriasis. It is also an active ingredient in topical medications (ointments) prescribed by dermatologists.

Finally

Psoriasis is said to be an inflammatory skin disease that is difficult to treat. That is why it is important to prevent the symptoms from worsening. To do this, in addition to the medication prescribed by a dermatologist, proper moisturizing and skin care may be important.
It is important to use moisturizing products that support weakened skin barriers and are less irritating.