Thursday, March 26, 2009


How To Care for your skin if you have Psoriasis

As far as caring for one's skin against psoriasis is concerned, there is no magic formula. By carefully taking a look at the ingredients listed on the label of skin care products, someone with psoriasis can make better choices. To keep the symptoms of psoriasis under control, several factors should be considered. First, when choosing a cleanser, those with psoriasis need to look for a product that gently removes dirt and makeup without leaving an oily feel. It ought to be able to remove some of the oil from the skin without any kind of harsh chemicals. It should also be free of perfumes, alcohol, or other ingredients that dry the skin. These only exasperate scaling. Most skin care regimens have an exfoliating product. For psoriasis patients, most of these products are too harsh and irritating to their inflamed skin. Two ingredients that might work well to exfoliate the skin of people with psoriasis are oatmeal and Epsom salts. These are both gentle enough not to cause a worsening of the condition but strong enough to lightly remove flaking skin. All sufferers of psoriasis should follow their cleansing routine with an excellent moisturizer. A good moisturizer will help psoriasis sufferers keep their skin supple and soft. It will lubricate the dry patches, lessening the chance of cracks or sores developing. Natural emollients such as cocoa butter, mineral or plant oil, and petrolatum work well in products used as moisturizers. In a good moisturizer for psoriasis, these ingredients should be combined with the perfect balance of agents that attract and hold water against the skin. The moisturizer should not contain alcohol or perfumes as these tend to dry the skin of psoriasis victims. Thick creams usually work best to keep moisture against the skin. Although sunlight is sometimes helpful to those with psoriasis, too much sun can be drying. Sunburn is especially hard on skin damaged by psoriasis. Sometimes a moisturizer will include a sunscreen to protect tender skin. If a moisturizer is chosen that does not have an added sunscreen, people with psoriasis need to add a good sunscreen to their skincare regimen. This product ought to also be gentle, non-drying, and even perfume free. All those products in a skin care regimen of those with psoriasis may not improve the condition, but they should certainly not add to the problems. If, after going through the labels and trying the most likely products, a psoriasis skin care regimen is not working, it is best to consult a dermatologist.

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