Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that primarily affects the skin, but can also cause arthritis. There can be extensive red, itchy, and flaky plaques that also affect your face. Carefully choosing products for your skin care regimen can help camouflage psoriasis plaques and make them less noticeable.
Use A Gentle Cleanser
Use a gentle cleanser to remove oil and dirt from your face. Depending on the extent of psoriasis, you might benefit from cleansers that do not lather and are free of any dyes or scents. Since everyone is different in what exacerbates their psoriasis, you should start with the most basic cleanser before trying others. Another alternative can be baby soap because it is the most gentle soap available since it is designed for cleansing the sensitive skin of babies. When you wash your face, you will want to avoid aggressive scrubbing or tools meant to exfoliate. Use your hands to rub the product into your face and rinse with warm water.
Consider Acids
It may seem strange to use acids on psoriasis, but there are advantages to using either salicylic or glycolic acids. Regular use of either has been shown to reduce psoriasis plaques, redness, and itching. Some people with psoriasis may have an adverse reaction to using acids or they might burn. Start by trying a salicylic or glycolic acid pad, which allows you to only smooth the product over a specific area. This will give you the chance to find out if the acid makes those areas burn and how your skin will react to the product without risking agitating the skin over your entire face. Pads soaked in an acid solution help soften and lightly exfoliate current plaques and can make them appear less noticeable. If you do not experience any issues using acid, try using the pads on alternating days to avoid over-use while keeping your psoriasis under control.
Moisturize
Choosing a moisturizer can be challenging. Not only do you have concerns about the way your skin will react to the moisturizer, but some moisturizers may not work well on certain skin tones and in certain conditions. For example, a traditional cream moisturizer on deeper skin tones may create a white cast on psoriasis patches, especially if you sweat. A gel moisturizer can be a better option since it is clearer than cream. Whatever moisturizer you use, you will need to give it time to absorb into the skin. Only then can you tell if it exaggerates or helps smooth psoriasis plaques. Another option might be moisturizers that include anti-inflammatory products, like steroids or even turmeric. Anti-inflammatory products can be used to spot-treat psoriasis plaques and potentially calm them.
The key to good skin care when you have psoriasis is a combination of being as gentle as possible, while trying treatments that might calm psoriasis plaques. Reducing the inflammation of psoriasis can make itching and flaking less of a problem. For more information on skin care, contact a professional near you.