Skincare Products that Can Help Reduce Psoriasis

While there is no cure for psoriasis, that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it! Psoriasis can be managed, and even go into periods of remission with treatment. The key is finding the treatment that works best for you, which for some may take months, if not years.

Keep in mind that not every treatment works for everyone, and that it’s important to find a dermatologist who specializes to determine the severity of the disorder and prescribe what might work best.

If you have psoriasis, it’s still important to select skincare products based on your skin type—oily, combination, normal, or dry. Topical prescription treatments to control the symptoms of psoriasis can be worked into your routine, as directed by your doctor, and you shouldn’t experience any compatibility issues by adding such products to your usual skincare routine.

Very important! Be very careful to use only products that are free of potential irritants.

Treating psoriasis is tricky enough on its own, so how do you put together a skincare routine that won’t make it worse and that will help manage it? Are there skincare products that can help reduce psoriasis?

Consider Topical Retinoids and Salicylic Acid (BHA)

Topical retinoids (various forms of vitamin A; the over-the-counter ingredient to look for is retinol) are helpful in managing psoriasis because of their ability to improve the way new skin cells are formed. They do this by way of cell communication, meaning they essentially connect with a receptor site on a misbehaving skin cell and “tell” it to act in a more normal and healthier manner.

Retinol is the most common and most thoroughly researched topical retinoid in skincare, but there are other retinoids, including retinyl palmitate, retinaldehyde, and retinoyl linoleate. These are included in select skincare products, but the gold standard, retinol, is available in a wider range of products that are available at both drugstores and department stores.

Salicylic acid (also known as beta hydroxy acid [BHA]), when well formulated, is an extremely gentle exfoliant that can soften and help remove the layers of scaly, thickened psoriatic lesions. Removing these layers not only improves the appearance of your skin, but also allows other topical medications to better penetrate the skin.

In addition, because of salicylic acid’s chemical relationship to aspirin (aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid), it has anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce the redness associated with psoriasis. Given how salicylic acid functions, a leave-on salicylic acid–based exfoliant (2% to 6% concentration) is considered a viable skincare treatment for psoriasis. However, treatment for psoriasis often requires a strength of 6%, which is available only by prescription.

Salicylic acid exfoliants can be used once or twice daily, and present minimal to no risk of side effects. Note that those who are allergic to aspirin should not apply salicylic acid unless directed to do so by a physician.

Putting Together a Skincare Routine for Psoriasis

All of the basic skincare needs that apply to every skin type remain important for those with psoriasis, but there are special considerations and warnings that must be taken even more seriously. Overall, it’s vitally important that you:

1.Do not do anything to irritate your skin, as this will only make matters worse.
2.Avoid harsh cleansers, abrasive scrubs, hot water, and products with irritating ingredients.
3.Stop using fragranced products, whether the scent is synthetic or natural. This will go a long way toward improving how your skin looks and feels.

The best skincare routines for those with psoriasis start with a gentle water-soluble cleanser, followed by a skin-soothing toner. A leave-on topical salicylic acid (BHA) exfoliant comes next. During the day, follow with an anti-aging serum and then sunscreen (if approved by your dermatologist). At night, apply your serum and/moisturizer (with or without retinol).

All of these types of products should be available in a texture appropriate for your skin type and preferences. In terms of moisturizers, that means gels or liquids if you have oily skin; lotions if you have normal to combination skin; and creams or balms if you have dry to very dry skin.

If you are using topical medications, such as a vitamin D, cortisone, coal-tar, or an over-the-counter or prescription retinoid product, apply them before your sunscreen during the day and before your moisturizer at night. Note that if you are using a prescription retinoid product to combat the symptoms of psoriasis, you may not need an over-the-counter retinol product as well. However, you can apply both, either at the same time or alternately (for example, apply the over-the-counter retinol during the day and the prescription retinoid at night), but always pay close attention to how your skin responds. Retinoids are potent, and you never want to tip the scales in favor of irritation.