You must have heard a famous proverb – “Beauty is more than skin deep”, meaning there’s more to being physically attractive than just good looks. But when you live with a visible skin condition like psoriasis or eczema, it can be way too challenging to remember and believe that beauty isn’t solely geared towards your outward appearance as these conditions completely shatter your confidence and self-image.
In case you don’t know, eczema is a common skin condition that causes red, itchy, inflamed, and cracked patches of skin. You can even have redness and blisters with eczema. With psoriasis, your skin cells create thick, red, scaly patches of skin, and it is deemed to be an immune system condition. Most dermatologists distinguish between these two skin conditions based on the appearance of the patches, where the patches appear on the skin and the amount of itch.
Living with skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema not just affects the skin but also takes a serious toll on a patient’s self-confidence.
If you have any skin conditions that are struggling with a low confidence level, this blog is for you. We’ve compiled a list of the best psoriasis skin care tips below to help you feel more confident and comfortable.
08 Best Psoriasis Skin Care Tips
Some of the best psoriasis skin care tips are listed below:
Keep your skin moist
It is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do for your irritated skin. There are innumerable types of moisturizing cream, ointments, and lotions available on the market that can help your skin and reduce itching, dryness, soreness, redness, and scaling. Choose the right moisturizer based on your skin dryness.
Ointments are heavy, thick, and great at locking in moisture. At the same time, lotions are relatively thinner and get absorbed into the skin promptly. You may also opt for a cream that falls somewhere in the middle. Choose a fragrance-free moisturizer, and remember any product need not be too expensive to work well.
The perfect time to apply moisturizer is just after you have taken a bath or a shower. Reapply throughout the day, especially when you change your clothes. Use it more frequently on cold and dry days to keep your skin moist at all times.
Take warm baths
Taking warm baths every day using a mild soap can help soothe your itchy skin and remove dry skin. Take about 15 minutes to soak in the warm water to your skin. You might feel more soothing if you add dead sea salt, Epsom salt, oil, or finely ground oatmeal to your bath, but keep the water temperature and soap mild. Hot baths and harsh soaps would be hard on your skin that’s already sensitive due to psoriasis.
If you don’t have enough time for a bath, you can still place a wet towel or cold compress on the affected region.
Also Read: Psoriasis: Know The Types, Symptoms & Treatment
Scrub lightly
When bathing or removing your makeup before going to bed each night, always scrub lightly to prevent skin irritation, make use of a soft washcloth instead of harsh alternatives, which can make your psoriasis worse. Whenever possible, always use a mild or chemical-free beauty psoriasis.
Get some sunlight
The ultraviolet rays in sunlight can decelerate the growth of skin cells, so getting small amounts of sunlight can be a great way to soothe, improve, and even heal your psoriasis lesions.
Try to get some sun twice or thrice a week, and apply sunscreen on your healthy skin before stepping out in the sun. Excessive sun exposure (or sunburn) increases your risk of skin cancer and may make your psoriasis outbreaks worse.
Talk to your dermatologist before including UV therapy in your psoriasis skin care routine to make sure it’s safe for you. Also, schedule regular checkups to be absolutely certain you are not overdoing it. In the winters, when there are fewer hours of sunlight accessible, your healthcare provider may be able to provide phototherapy treatments that can work as an effective UV light substitute.
Take an anti-inflammatory diet
While researchers are yet to discover the exact relationship between psoriasis and diet, several people have observed positive outcomes by switching to an anti-inflammatory diet. The best foods to relieve inflammation are those high in omega-3 fatty acids (such as olive oil, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, etc.) and colored fruits and veggies (such as blueberries, mangoes, spinach, carrots, etc.). In general, try to avoid foods known to cause inflammation, including dairy products, red meat, and nightshade vegetables, including potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers.
Manage your stress
Managing stress is also a crucial part of psoriasis skin care. Once you have mastered how to remain calm and manage stress, your skin will start looking beautiful and healthier. Excessive stress is directly linked to psoriasis flare-ups. Since flare-ups are a major cause of stress, this could turn into a vicious cycle if not managed properly.
There are numerous ways you can consider managing stress from the comfort of your home, including yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises. You can also choose to get outside for some exercise to de-stress yourself, with an additional advantage of some quality time in the skin. But remember not to over-exert yourself. Even a brisk walk around your house can help reduce stress and provide a sense of calmness and tranquility.
Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake
Smoking can trigger psoriasis flare-ups. Talk to your doctor to find the best ways to quit. For some people, nicotine patches make psoriasis worse.
Heavy drinking can also trigger psoriasis symptoms. It can also be dangerous to combine alcohol with certain psoriasis medications. If you drink, try to limit your intake – that’s up to one standard drink for women and two standard drinks for men. Anything more than this amount could make your condition worse.
Try not to scratch and pick
Naturally, when you itch, you’ll want to scratch and pick. However, scratching can tear open your skin, blazing a trail for infection-causing germs. Make sure you keep your nails short and take an antihistamine when you’re itchy.
