Psoriasis: Skin care

How do I take care of my skin?

Protect your skin by:

• Avoiding harsh skin products. For example, use a mild soap (such as Dove, Basis, or Neutrogena) instead of deodorant soaps or other harsh soaps (such as Camay, Lava, or Zest). Avoid lotions that contain alcohol, which can dry the skin and make psoriasis worse.
• Preventing skin injury. Don't scratch and pick your skin or cuts and scrapes. An injury to the skin can cause psoriasis patches to form anywhere on the body, including the site of the injury. This includes injuries to your nails or nearby skin while trimming your nails. Tight shoes, clothing, watchbands, and hats can also irritate the skin.
• Avoiding cold climates. Cold, dry weather makes symptoms worse.

Keep your skin moist by:

• Using moisturizing creams and lotions.
• Taking baths or soaks once a day to replace skin moisture that may be lost due to cold, dry climates or to drying medicines. You will benefit most by applying an ointment, cream, or lotion within 3 minutes after your bath to seal in moisture. Otherwise, when the water evaporates, it will make your skin even drier. Adding bath oils to your bath water can also help, but this can make the tub slippery. If you add oils to your bath water, be very careful.
• Using a home humidifier to increase moisture in the air.
• Applying creams or lotions, then wrapping the area with tape, fabric, or plastic to keep the skin moist (called occlusion therapy).

Use prescribed medicines by:

• Following the instructions for skin products and medicines prescribed for you.
• Preparing your skin for topical medicines. Gentle softening and removal of psoriasis crusts and scale can help your skin absorb creams and other skin products. Psoriasis crusts can be removed by gently rubbing cream into the crusts to soften them and then carefully peeling them off.

Test Your Knowledge

1. Injury to your skin, such as cuts or scrapes, can affect psoriasis.

1. True
2. False

Continue to Where can I learn more about skin care for psoriasis?
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Author:	Maria Essig	Last Updated: December 26, 2009
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
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