Skincare for Psoriasis Patients

Today, there are many great treatment options for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis — there is no need to suffer! Oral and injectable biologic medications have been invented to target the exact part of the immune system that causes the problem.

Psoriasis can be unsightly, itchy, and uncomfortable, but that is not all. It has been shown to be linked to many diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. It is critical to keep psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases under control to increase your overall health. In addition to a biologic, using the proper body care is a good choice.

Dr. Baumann’s Skincare Recommendations for Psoriasis

Psoriasis patients have dry, inflamed skin. Choose products that will help to calm inflammation and soothe itching and flaking and avoid ingredients that could cause irritation or dryness. Below are my skincare recommendations to help soothe your skin:

Avoid scratching your skin.

Trauma and injury worsens psoriasis and could cause what is known as the Koebner phenomenon. This happens when psoriasis lesions develop in uncharacteristic areas due to trauma to the skin. This can include scratches, cuts, bruises, or even areas where a belt buckle or bra strap irritates the skin. Using the proper skincare is key to soothe dryness and itching instead of scratching your skin.

Use gentle non-foaming cleansers.

Choose gentle cleansers that do not foam very much for the body. Foaming cleansers strip the skin of its natural lipids, leaving you feeling dry and itchy. Instead, look for creamy moisturizing cleansers that will be gentle on your skin. Brands such as Aveeno and Euverin were developed exactly for this reason — to be gentle on delicate skin.

Look for moisturizers with MLE technology.

Multi-lamellar emulsion, or MLE technology, mimics the natural lipid structure of the skin, thus restoring proper barrier function and skin hydration. Look for the terms “MLE technology” or “multi-lamellar emulsion” when choosing a moisturizer. Our favorite body cream that uses MLE technology is Zerafite Ultra Rich Body Cream. You can buy it using my doctor’s code (DRB) or find a Skin Type Solutions approved doctor in your area.

Studies show that MLE technology normalizes levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6. There is evidence to suggest that by decreasing these inflammatory factors, topical MLE products could also improve chronic inflammatory diseases caused by those same proinflammatory cytokines. In addition, MLE moisturizers increase hydration levels of the stratum corneum (SC) of the skin, decrease transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and lower the skin’s surface pH — all crucial aspects of maintaining healthy skin and eliminating dryness and itching.

Ask about prescription treatments.

There are many new treatments that can help to control psoriasis. Talk to your dermatologist about the latest prescription treatment options that have greatly improved over the last decade.

In Summary

Psoriasis is more than a dry skin condition, although treating dry, itchy skin is a crucial step in managing the disease. Fortunately, there are many new treatment options now available to manage psoriasis and reduce the risk of developing complications such as heart disease and diabetes. Combine the latest prescription treatment options with the proper skincare to calm inflammation and help you feel more comfortable and in control of your symptoms.

For more skincare advice from Dr. Baumann, follow Baumann Cosmetic on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can also head to www.derm.net to sign up for our newsletter, or call 305-532-5552 to schedule an appointment at Baumann Cosmetic Dermatology in Miami.

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