While you’ve acquired dry patches of pores and skin, it’s tempting to need to scrub away the flakes. But when these dry patches are brought on by psoriasis, bodily exfoliation is without doubt one of the worst issues you are able to do. In response to Ivy Lee, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Pasadena, California, whereas sloughing your pores and skin could enable you eliminate a patch within the brief time period, it may make it worse in the long term.
“There’s a identified phenomenon known as the Koebner Phenomenon, the place any sort of trauma—so cuts, scrapes, and even self-induced trauma, like scratching and rubbing—can flare your psoriasis,” says Dr. Lee. “A number of my sufferers begin off with actually delicate psoriasis, possibly on their elbows or knees, and so they’re like, ‘Oh, properly it’s only a patch of dry pores and skin, so let me go forward and let me use a pumice stone or use my loofah and scrub it,’ after which they’re like, ‘However after I did that, my psoriasis acquired worse and it unfold to a bigger patch.’” So because of the Koebner Phenomenon, bodily exfoliation is a no-go whenever you’re coping with psoriasis.
If you happen to’ve acquired dry patches you need to clear up, go for a hydrating chemical exfoliant as an alternative. In contrast to your typical scrubs, which bodily take away lifeless pores and skin cells and will be abrasive, these components soften the “glue” that holds them to the floor of your pores and skin and gently whisks them away.
“When individuals have thicker plaques on their pores and skin, use of an alpha hydroxy acid, resembling lactic acid, or a urea-based product can actually go a good distance to assist to get these scales off the pores and skin,” says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based mostly in Connecticut. Dr. Lee additionally recommends salicylic acid, which she says is “a keratolytic, which means it breaks up pores and skin cells and may also help clean the feel and reduce scaliness and flakiness.” Pair your chemical exfoliants with hydrating components (both in the identical product or in several routine steps), like ceramides and omega-3 fatty acids, which is able to assist hold your pores and skin barrier sturdy, soothed, and nourished.
Whereas these actives received’t remedy your psoriasis, they are going to make the situation much less uncomfortable and simpler to stay with. Store some choices under.
This super-moisturizing cream is made with lactic acid, the gentlest AHA. It additionally contains glycerin, a humectant that helps draw moisture into the pores and skin, and petrolatum, an occlusive that locks that moisture in.
This lotion makes use of urea, which breaks down psoriasis plaques whereas additionally hydrating and softening the pores and skin. It’s additionally made with ceramides, which hold the pores and skin barrier sturdy by serving to it retain hydration.
Scale back psoriasis scales with this salicylic acid cream. The SA helps to alleviate dry and flakey pores and skin together with itching and redness. The method additionally contains niacinamide to assuage the pores and skin and ceramides to maintain it fortified.
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