Tips for Psoriasis Skin Care
Monday, September 29th, 2008
Psoriasis Care and Tips for Healthy Skin from
Do you have psoriasis?
Symptoms of psoriasis appear in different ways. Psoriasis can be mild, with small areas of rash. When psoriasis is moderate or severe, the skin gets inflamed with raised red areas topped with loose, silvery, scaling skin. If psoriasis is severe, the skin becomes itchy and tender, and the large skin patches may be uncomfortable and embarrassing. The patches can join together and cover large areas of skin, such as the entire back.
If you have psoriasis, your skin is very sensitive. The most important thing you can do is to keep your skin moist and lubricated. Use moisturizing creams, bath treatments and lotions. Bath and Spa Supply has many choices to help you care for your psoriasis and get back to healthy skin!
Tips for getting your psoriasis under control and prevent outbreaks:
· Avoid using skin care products that irritate your skin. Stay away from products that use petroleum and alcohol. Bath and Spa products contain no alcohol, no petroleum and are made from natures most skin loving ingredients.
· Don’t scratch and pick at your skin, and treat skin injuries such as cuts or scrapes quickly. Apply Bath and Spa Strawberry Psoriasis Mask to sooth your skin instead of scratching
· Cold, dry climates can make your psoriasis worse. Using a humidifier and staying warm can help avoid dry cracking skin.
· Protect your skin by avoiding harsh skin products. Use only all natural plant based skin care for cleansing and moisturizing. Bath and Spa recommends Goat Milk Soap and Silk Skin cream for moisturizing. A good soak every day in an Egyptian Bubbling milk bath with green tea leaves to reduce inflammation is extremely helpful.
· Keep your skin moist and lubricated by using Goat Milk Lotion for during the day at any time and then apply Silk Skin Cream for morning and night treatments. For really tough areas, apply a thick layer of Silk Skin Cream and then wrapping the area.
· Preparing your skin for applying cream or lotion helps your skin heal. Gentle softening and removal of psoriasis crusts and scale can help your skin absorb lotion. Psoriasis crusts can be removed by gently rubbing Silk Skin cream into the crusts to soften them and then carefully peeling them off. Also, soaking in a Milk Bath will soften the skin and make it easier to exfoliate.
· Stress and anxiety. Stress can cause psoriasis to appear suddenly (flare) or can make symptoms worse.
· Infection. Infections such as strep throat can cause psoriasis to appear suddenly, especially in children.
· Certain medicines. Some medicines, such as NSAIDs, beta-blockers, and lithium, have been found to make psoriasis symptoms worse. Talk with your doctor. You may be able to take a different medicine.
· Overexposure to sunlight. Although short periods of sun exposure reduce psoriasis in most people, too much sun can damage the skin and cause skin cancer. And sunburns can trigger flares of psoriasis.
· Alcohol. Alcohol use can cause symptoms to flare up.
· Smoking. If you smoke, try to quit. Smoking, especially in women, makes you more likely to get psoriasis and can make it worse if you already have it.
Sources: Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH, Ralph Poore, Medical Review: Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine , Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
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