Experts Share Skin Care Routine Tips for Psoriasis

Finding a skin care routine that works with psoriasis can feel overwhelming, but simplifying your approach can help. 

Psoriasis may affect your skin unpredictably, flaring in response to almost everything from a stressful day to applying the wrong moisturizer.

Thanks to its unpredictability, finding a skin care routine that works with your psoriasis requires some experimentation.

The process starts with identifying the most effective treatment for the condition itself. Whether it’s a soothing emollient or a topical steroid treatment that your skin responds well to, many treatment options exist.

“Psoriasis is an inflammatory disorder of the skin that affects roughly 2% of the worldwide population and about 4–5% of the USA population,” said board certified dermatologist Dr. Matthew LaCour, MD, FAAD. “It is caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors that result in an inflammatory response.”

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How does psoriasis affect the skin?

“This can present in a variety of different ways and locations, but it often results in thick, white, scaly plaques on the elbows, knees, and scalp,” LaCour added.

But psoriasis treatment isn’t consistently effective, largely depending on your body’s reaction to the available options.

Work closely with your physician and dermatologist to determine the best approach for your psoriasis.

“The most common question I hear is, ‘Will this ever go away?’” said LaCour. “With proper treatment, the majority of psoriasis will clear!

“Everyone has different expectations on how clear the skin should respond following treatment,” LaCour continued. “A dermatologist should help maximize the medication treatment regimen to get a patient’s skin almost completely clear.”

Learning your triggers

To navigate the life path living with psoriasis, get to know your body intimately.

While doctors can assist in selecting appropriate medical treatments, you’re the one who can best understand your body’s responses, nuances, and irritations.

As an autoimmune condition, psoriasis flares from various factors, such as stress, chemicals, or too much heat or cold exposure.

Maintain a symptom diary to record any flare-ups.

Educate yourself and stay current with the latest treatment developments.

Avoiding skin care mistakes

Several factors may help or hinder your skin’s condition.

Acquiring a new tattoo during flare-ups is rarely a good idea. Consult your doctor before getting one.

Avoid falling down the rabbit hole of alternative cures online, especially any that involve attempting to remove plaques yourself.

“Attempting to physically scrape or peel off areas of psoriasis is the biggest mistake I see,” said LaCour. “Any amount of physical trauma to an area of psoriasis can result in a further immune response and a subsequent worsening of psoriasis.

“Although patients may feel that removing the plaque will help, it will ultimately result in more inflammation,” he added. “There are multiple topical treatments that can help chemically thin the psoriasis plaques without causing this immune response.”

Building your skin care routine

“The first option is commonly trying an emollient, which comes in different formulations: cream, gel, or ointment,” said Paula Oliver, a dermatology nurse consultant for EPIMAX. “Emollients help to ease skin soreness and discomfort and help to decrease any dryness, scaling, cracking, and itchiness.

“These should be applied gently in the direction of hair growth and should never be aggressively rubbed into the skin, as it could lead to further aggravation,” she added.

Ingredients to look out for include aloe vera, jojoba, vitamin E, shea butter, and cocoa butter. Consider using over-the-counter products to thin psoriasis plaques, like hydrocortisone, salicylic acid, coal tar, and lactic acid.

“Taking a warm [not hot] bath or shower before applying the medications can help soften the scales further,” advised LaCour. “Products containing camphor, menthol, or calamine can help with the itch symptoms.”

Try to avoid getting carried away by experimenting with everything at once. Hundreds of retailers will claim that they have the treatment for you, but it’ll take time to figure out the routine that works for your skin’s needs. Keep a record of everything you try.

Refining your beauty routine

When psoriasis symptoms flare up, it’s a good idea to avoid wearing any heavy makeup to cover flare-ups. This will only irritate the condition more.

Instead, opt for lighter coverage items, like blemish balm creams or tinted moisturizers.

“It depends on the skin condition, but in general, avoid overcomplex skin care products aimed primarily at anti-aging, don’t use products with perfumes or alcohol in them, and opt for mineral SPFs rather than chemical filters,” said Dr. Eva Melegh, MD, a dermatologist and cosmetologist.

“Avoid makeup removers, cleansing washes, and shampoos that contain solvents to dissolve grease. Stick to products that have only a few ingredients in them and don’t contain high levels of preservatives,” she continued.

To remove makeup, consider using makeup remover cloths, which you can activate by wetting them in warm water or micellar water to remove the day’s makeup. Do not scrub your skin too hard, though, as this could trigger a flare-up.

Adjusting your lifestyle

Your skin care and beauty regimen also extends to building a healthy lifestyle and daily routine. While you’re figuring out the right skin care routine, set aside some time to think about how you can improve your overall well-being.

“Shower in the evenings once a day or after intense sweating to remove sweat before sleeping, as sweat can be a trigger for skin flares,” said Melegh.

If you’re among the many people who have difficulty drinking enough water, download a habit tracker app or buy a water bottle with measurements on the side to track and increase your daily intake.

Star Khechara, founder of the Skin Nutrition Institute and author of “The Holistic Beauty Book,” has built a brand around focusing on how skin care should begin with diet. Her view is that “every single skin cell and structure, such as collagen and elastin, are built from the materials supplied in the foods we eat on a daily basis, which makes it far more impactful than the products used on the skin’s surface.

“It’s not an effective solution to have the best skin care routine in the world if the diet is working against skin health,” she added.