Treating Psoriasis on Your Face

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Skin Problems & Treatments Health Center

Psoriasis Treatments: Now and in the Future

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Psoriasis Treatments: Now and in the Future
10 Common Psoriasis Triggers See what may be causing your psoriasis flare-ups – and what to do about them.
State-of-the-Art Psoriasis Treatments Do you know about the latest psoriasis treatments?
How to Get Help During Treatment You need support while treating your psoriasis.
Did Your Parents Give You Psoriasis? What causes psoriasis? What researchers know -- and still don't know -- about psoriasis.
Conquering Psoriasis of the Scalp Find out what treatments can help you get on top of an itchy, scaly scalp.
Treating Psoriasis on the Face Facial skin is thinner and sensitive. Try these medication tips.
Tips for Psoriasis on Hands or Feet Psoriasis on hands and feet can be hard to treat, but these tips may help.
Treating Psoriasis on the Groin Find out how to deal with inverse psoriasis on sensitive skin folds.
Psoriasis-Soothing Creams and Ointments See why psoriasis treatment often begins on your skin and scalp.
Can Sunshine Reduce Psoriasis Symptoms? From supplements to stress reduction, alternative therapies that may help.
Top Self-Care Tips for Psoriasis The best home strategies for reducing symptoms.
Do you Need Advanced Treatment? Weighing your options when creams and ointments aren't enough.
How Biologics Work Learn about the newest approach to treating psoriasis.
Fighting Stubborn Psoriasis With DMARDs Get the facts on these powerful drugs that suppress the immune system.
Phototherapy for Psoriasis How light therapy slows the growth of skin cells – and reduces psoriasis symptoms.
Tracking Your Psoriasis Flare-ups Step-by-step tips that may help you discover your personal triggers.
What to Say About Your Psoriasis Do people ever ask, What's that? Here's how to explain psoriasis to others.
Coping With Psoriatic Arthritis What you should know about it and what you can do about it.
Working With Your Doctor See how a doctor and patient work together to treat psoriasis.

Treating Psoriasis on Your Face

(continued)

How to Apply Psoriasis Medication on the Face

Here are a few basic tips for applying topical psoriasis medication on your face:

Apply small amounts.
Be careful when applying creams and ointments around eyes, which can become irritated.
Follow treatment schedules closely to minimize side effects, especially with steroids.
Check with your doctor about whether or not you can use make-up to conceal the psoriasis on your face. Some can interfere with how well your topical psoriasis treatment works.

Tips for Psoriasis on Your Eyelids

If you have psoriasis on your eyelids,

Scales may cover your lashes.
Eyelid edges may become red and crusty.
Rims of eyelids may turn up or down if inflamed for a long time.

Take great care treating psoriasis around your eyes. The skin on eyelids is delicate and more easily damaged. Stay in touch with your doctor about any problems that occur. Two treatments that your doctor may recommend include:

Special corticosteroids to treat scaling around the eyes. Do not overuse. If they get into your eyes, they can lead to glaucoma or cataracts.
Protopic or Elidel topical drugs. These don't cause the side effects of steroids. However, they can sting the first few days of use.

Psoriasis in the eye is very rare. If you have it, you may experience dryness and discomfort. You may need topical antibiotics to treat infection if it occurs.

Tips for Psoriasis in Your Ears

In some cases, scale build-up can block the ear canal, causing temporary hearing loss. Your doctor can remove it. Usually, ear psoriasis does not affect the inside of your ear.

Take great care in applying psoriasis medication inside your ear. Otherwise, your eardrum is at risk. Your doctor may recommend:

A prescription corticosteroid solution to drip in your ear canal or apply to the outside of your ear canal
Dovonex or Tazorac, usually combined with a topical corticosteroid

Tips for Psoriasis Around Your Mouth and Nose

It is not common, but psoriasis can appear:

On your gums or tongue
Inside your cheek
Inside your nose
On your lips

These are especially sensitive areas. So psoriasis around your mouth and nose can be quite uncomfortable. Treatment tailored for these areas may include:

Topical steroids that are designed to treat moist areas
Frequent rinsing with a saline solution to relieve discomfort
Low-potency corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone 1% ointment
Protopic and Elidel

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WebMD Medical Reference

Reviewed by Stephanie S. Gardner, MD on April 12, 2013

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