Skip to main content
Logo for WebMD
Logo for WebMD
  • Coronavirus Update
  • Check Your Symptoms
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Dentist
  • Connect to Care
  • Find Lowest Drug Prices
  • Health
    A-Z
    Health A-Z
    Health A-Z
    Common Conditions
    • ADD/ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Arthritis
    • Cancer
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Eye Health
    • Heart Disease
    • Lung Disease
    • Orthopedics
    • Pain Management
    • Sexual Conditions
    • Skin Problems
    • Sleep Disorders
    • View All
    Resources
    • Symptom Checker
    • WebMD Blogs
    • Podcasts
    • Newsletters
    • Questions & Answers
    • Insurance Guide
    • Find a Doctor
    • Children's Conditions A-Z
    • Surgeries and Procedures A-Z
    • Featured Topics
    • woman experiencing chest discomfort Symptom Checker COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • photo of migraine Slideshow Get Help for Migraine Relief
  • Drugs &
    Supplements
    Drugs & Supplements
    Drugs & Supplements
    Find & Review
    • Drugs
    • Supplements
    Drug Basics & Safety
    • Commonly Abused Drugs
    • Taking Meds When Pregnant
    Tools
    • Manage Your Medications
    • Pill Identifier
    • Check for Interactions
    • Drug Comparison Tool
    • Featured Topics
    • assorted vitamins Slideshow Vitamins You Need as You Age
    • berry and yogurt on spoon Slideshow Supplements for Better Digestion
  • Living
    Healthy
    Living Healthy
    Living Healthy
    Diet, Food & Fitness
    • Diet & Weight Management
    • Weight Loss & Obesity
    • Food & Recipes
    • Fitness & Exercise
    Beauty & Balance
    • Healthy Beauty
    • Health & Balance
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Oral Care
    Living Well
    • Women's Health
    • Men's Health
    • Aging Well
    • Healthy Sleep
    • Healthy Teens
    • Featured Topics
    • grocery cart Article Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes
    • walking sneakers Quiz Do You Know the Benefits of Walking?
  • Family &
    Pregnancy
    Family & Pregnancy
    Family & Pregnancy
    All About Pregnancy
    • Getting Pregnant
    • First Trimester
    • Second Trimester
    • Third Trimester
    • View All
    Parenting Guide
    • Newborn & Baby
    • Children's Health
    • Children's Vaccines
    • Raising Fit Kids
    • View All
    Pet Care Essentials
    • Healthy Cats
    • Healthy Dogs
    • View All
    • Featured Topics
    • apple slices and peanut butter Slideshow Smart Snacks When You're Pregnant
    • photo of dogs kissing Slideshow Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats
  • News &
    Experts
    News & Experts
    News & Experts
    Health News
    • Coronavirus News & Updates
    • COVID-19 Vaccines -- Latest Updates Here
    • COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts
    • Social Distancing, Quarantine Explained
    Experts & Community
    • WebMD Blogs
    • News Center
    • Featured Topics
    • photo of coronavirus cell WebMD News Get the Latest COVID-19 News Here
    • photo of person typing Newsletters Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter
  • Mobile Apps
  • Subscriptions
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • My Profile
    • My Tools
    • My WebMD Pages
    • My Account
    • Sign Out

    Psoriasis Topical Treatments Home

    • Medical Reference
    • Video
    • Slideshows & Images

    Psoriasis Home

    • News
    • Reference
    • Slideshows
    • Videos
    • Questions & Answers
    • Medications
    • Find a Dermatologist

    Skin Problems & Treatments Guide

    • Skin Discolorations
    • Chronic Skin Conditions
    • Acute Skin Problems
    • Skin Infections

    Psoriasis Guide

    • Psoriasis Overview
    • Symptoms
    • Diagnosis
    • Types
    • Locations
    • Severity
    • Causes & Risks
    • Flare Prevention
    • Doctors
    • Treatments
    • Living With
    • Other Conditions
    • Psoriasis Glossary

    Related to Psoriasis

    • Healthy Beauty
    • Phototherapy
    • Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Skin Assessment
    • Skin Problems
    • More Related Topics
    • Skin Problems and Treatments
    • Psoriasis
    • Videos

    Interactive: How Psoriasis Flares Affect Your Whole Body

    Cosmetic Cover-Ups for Psoriasis

    Video Transcript

    ALISON O'NEIL: It doesn't have to become a huge focus.

    JANICE MCDONALD: Alison O'Neil specializes in what she calls appearance therapy, working with patients who often face debilitating injuries and skin conditions. She helps people like Carter cope with potentially embarrassing outbreaks of psoriasis.

    CARTER: It's not pretty right now, but it's a lot prettier than during the winter time when it really flares up bad.

    JANICE MCDONALD: Alison is going to help Carter minimize the appearance of his outbreaks with a technique called paramedical cosmetology, or corrective camouflage.

    CARTER: But ideally, you'd want to do this on an area that's not scaled up.

    ALISON O'NEIL: Preferably not scaled up, so use your medications. And the scaling gets under control, then you can camouflage the discoloration.

    CARTER: Right.

    JANICE MCDONALD: Begin by working with your doctor to find a medication to bring your scaling under control, and remember, never apply corrective camouflage to open skin lesions, unhealed cuts, or raw or irritated skin.

    ALISON O'NEIL: This product I'm going to show you is pretty much in general what most of these-- how most of these products are made with the same ingredients, and It's waterproof. It doesn't just come off with soap and water.

    JANICE MCDONALD: Camouflage products can be purchased through makeup specialists, or even over-the-counter. Since most contain tout that wicks away natural moisture and can potentially irritate, it's best to start with a protective moisturizing barrier. Then it's a matter of matching skin tone, which usually requires a blend of several shades of concealer.

    ALISON O'NEIL: Here's your normal skin tone right here mixed with the green and then some of the red. It's OK to have some of the red shine through, but I'm going to get a different shade.

    JANICE MCDONALD: Use an applicator to get the product from the container, but to blend and apply, use your fingers. A little concealer goes a long way.

    ALISON O'NEIL: If you can't see your fingerprint, you have too much product on your finger. Look for the fingerprint, and then you know. And then you're going to tap and press it right into the skin, just like we did on your finger, which is the firm pressure that which lays the base. All we want to do on your cheek is kind of break up the redness, and we don't need a whole lot of it.

    JANICE MCDONALD: Only light pressure is needed to pat the application. Too much pressure will likely result in the product coming off and sticking to your fingers. Because of the scaling and creases psoriasis can cause, be sure to take your time. ALISON O'NEIL: This may take three, four set kind of applications, and the reason you use your hand is because the warmth of your finger actually warms this product. So that it will actually stay in place.

    JANICE MCDONALD: Don't get frustrated if you don't achieve 100% coverage. Perfection is not the goal in working with cosmetic camouflage.

    ALISON O'NEIL: You can get 100% improvement if you're going to have a photograph taken, and then it looks normal.

    CARTER: Right, I understand. ALISON O'NEIL: But if we get beyond 65%, 70%, usually it looks like there's a product covering.

    JANICE MCDONALD: Also remember that while you may know where the outbreak is, other people do not. Having camouflage should help make it easier to keep it that way. For WebMD, I'm Janice McDonald.

    Related Videos

    Editor's Picks

    • woman with cup of coffee

      Video

      The Truth About Coffee
    • tongue scraper and tongue

      Video

      5 Ways to Beat Bad Breath
    • couple having sex in bed

      Video

      Why Orgasms Feel Good

    Latest Videos

    Top Picks

    • 7 Psoriasis Triggers to Avoid
    • Treating Psoriasis When You Have Other Conditions
    • Is Salicylic Acid Good For Your Skin?
    • What Shampoos Are Best for Psoriasis?
    • Psoriasis: Should You Avoid Certain Foods?
    • Psoriasis and Depression: What's the Link?

    further reading

    • 14 Natural Treatments & Home Remedies for Psoriasis Relief
    • Scalp Psoriasis -- What You Need to Know
    • An Overview of Psoriasis Treatments
    • Topical Creams & Lotions To Treat Psoriasis
    • Can Coconut Oil Help Psoriasis Symptoms?
    • Video on the Truth About Aloe
    • Cosmetic Cover-up for Psoriasis
    • Psoriasis Topical Treatments Topics

    Today on WebMD

    woman in uv light

    Who’s Got Psoriasis?

    About 7.5 million people in the U.S. Get the facts.

    woman scratching

    Triggers Can Come and Go

    What might spark your psoriasis today?

    woman bathing

    Slideshow: Home Remedies For Psoriasis

    Slideshow: Home Remedies For Psoriasis

    coconut oil

    Can Coconut Oil Help Psoriasis?

    Get the facts.

    Recommended for You

    scientist in lab Slideshow

    New Treatments for Psoriasis

    woman scratching head Article

    Is It Dandruff or Scalp Psoriasis?

    Woman sitting in front of UV lights Slideshow

    Psoriasis Treatment: What's Right for You?

    Beware Miracle Diets For Psoriasis Article

    Beware Miracle Diets for Psoriasis

    fruit and vegetable variety Slideshow

    11 Food Tips to Tame Inflammation

    Psoriasis Laser Therapy Article

    Laser Treatments for Psoriasis

    scratching an itch Slideshow

    What Each Type of Psoriasis Looks Like

    psoriasis Slideshows

    10 Psoriasis Triggers

    Tools & Resources

    • Why Scratching Feels So Good
    • Where Is Your Psoriasis?
    • How Severe is Your Psoriasis?
    • Psoriasis and Pregnancy
    • What Is Plaque Psoriasis?
    • Diabetes and Psoriasis
    • When Kids Get Psoriasis

    Health Solutions

    • Penis Curved When Erect
    • Could I have CAD?
    • Treat Bent Fingers
    • Long-Term Acute Care
    • Enlarged Prostate Facts
    • Cancer Detection
    • Rethink MS Treatment
    • Is My Penis Normal?
    • Risk of a Future DVT/PE
    • Discover hATTR Symptoms
    • Weight-Loss Surgery
    • Healthy Weight Loss
    • Bent Finger Causes
    • AFib-Related Strokes
    • Preventing Infection
    • Missing Teeth?

    More from WebMD

    • Finding the Care You Need for MS
    • New Hope for Narcolepsy
    • Eat Better in the New Year
    • Psoriatic Arthritis and Your Sleep
    • What Psoriasis Feels Like
    • First Psoriatic Arthritis Flare
    • Talking to Your Doctor About RA
    • Start a Home Fitness Program
    • Avoiding Crohn’s Flares
    • Common Psoriasis Triggers
    • Relief for Blocked Hair Follicles
    • Types of B-Cell Therapy for MS
    • Tackling Pain of Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Why Prostate Cancer Spreads
    • When Ulcerative Colitis Flares
    • Where Breast Cancer Spreads
    • Logo for WebMD
      • Visit WebMD on Facebook
      • Visit WebMD on Twitter
      • Visit WebMD on Pinterest
    • Policies

      • Privacy Policy
      • Cookie Policy
      • Editorial Policy
      • Advertising Policy
      • Correction Policy
      • Terms of Use

      About

      • Contact Us
      • About WebMD
      • Careers
      • Newsletter
      • Corporate
      • WebMD Health Services
      • Site Map
      • Accessibility
    • WebMD Network

      • Medscape
      • Medscape Reference
      • MedicineNet
      • eMedicineHealth
      • RxList
      • OnHealth
      • WebMDRx
      • First Aid
      • WebMD Magazine
      • WebMD Health Record
      • Dictionary
      • Physician Directory
    • Our Apps

      • WebMD Mobile
      • WebMD App
      • Pregnancy
      • Baby
      • Allergy
      • Medscape

      For Advertisers

      • Advertise with Us
      • Advertising Policy

    © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.

    WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

    See additional information.