Caring for Your Psoriasis: Self-Care Tips

Treatment for psoriasis can mean taking pills or injections, smearing on creams, or even getting some rays. Added to doctor-prescribed psoriasis treatments, self-care strategies can further reduce psoriasis symptoms.

Because there’s no cure, psoriasis treatment is a lifelong process. Between the drugstore, the dermatologist, and your daily routine, though, there are plenty of effective ways to care for your psoriasis and yourself.

Psoriasis: A Treatment Overview

Treatments for psoriasis fall into three main categories: topicals, systemic therapies, and phototherapy.

Topical Psoriasis Treatments

These psoriasis treatments are creams or heavier ointments, smeared on the areas of skin affected by psoriasis.

• Salicylic acid is available over-the-counter and can reduce inflammation and scaling.
• Corticosteroids are available over the counter or in stronger forms with a prescription. These steroids (such as hydrocortisone) are some of the most frequently used psoriasis treatments.
• Tazorac (tazatarotene) is similar to vitamin A and is often used on the nails, face, or scalp for psoriasis.
• Dovonex (calcipotriene) is a form of vitamin D that interferes with skin cell overgrowth in psoriasis.
• Tar products are available as shampoos, creams, and oils. It’s not yet understood how they work, but they do seem to hinder cell growth.
• Emollients help keep skin hydrated and soft and can help minimize itch and tenderness.

Systemic Medications for Psoriasis Treatment

Taken as pills or injections, these psoriasis treatments work throughout the entire body, not just on the skin.

• Cyclosporine, methotrexate, and soriatane are oral medications that slow down either the immune system or skin cell overgrowth.
• Biologic medications (medicines are made from materials in living organisms) include Amevive, Enbrel, Humira, Stelara, and Remicade. Biologics block aspects of the immune system that are overactive in psoriasis.

Phototherapy for Psoriasis Treatment 

Controlled exposure to ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB rays) is a potent psoriasis treatment.

Light treatments can be combined with psoralen, an oral medicine that sensitizes skin to UV rays.

8 Tips for Psoriasis Self-Care

Medicines for psoriasis are often invaluable in controlling symptoms. But there are plenty of natural ways to treat psoriasis, too.

Psoriasis Self-Care Tip 1: Keep Skin Moist

Using moisturizer is an important part of self-care for psoriasis. Dry skin makes irritation and itchiness caused by psoriasis worse than it needs to be. A vicious cycle can result: dry skin can cause itching and scratching, leading to new psoriasis patches developing on the irritated skin.

The best way to keep skin moist? Apply thick ointments like petroleum jelly (Vaseline) or heavy skin creams everywhere you can reach. Pat yourself dry and put on ointment immediately after getting out of the shower.

Also, try super-moisturizing areas of skin affected by psoriasis. At bedtime, cover a patch of skin with ointment, and wrap it with a bandage or plastic wrap overnight. In the morning, wash the area gently. Over time, this can reduce scaling.