Managing Psoriasis With Topical Treatments
Quit Or Reduce Smoking And Alcohol Consumption
Both smoking and alcohol consumption dehydrate the body. If you are a habitual smoker and drinker, psoriasis will affect you much worse than others. The worst part about tobacco and alcohol is that they will hinder other things you do to deal with psoriasis. Getting rid of the habit is the best thing you can do for long-term health. In the short term, the results will reflect the severity of psoriasis.
While quitting cold turkey is not for everyone, you should at least try to moderate the amount of tobacco and alcohol you have. If you have had a night of heavy drinking, remember to hydrate yourself continuously. The same goes for smokers who smoke throughout the day. The benefits of not smoking and drinking will show up in every aspect of your life.
Complementary And Alternative Treatments
Youll find plenty of these for treating psoriasis. The US Food and Drug Administration doesnt regulate these products. As such, few of these treatments have been studied. Those that have been studied were tested on small numbers of people, so we dont know how well these treatments work. We also dont know whether theyre safe.
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What Is Psoriasis Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment And Prevention
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes plaques, which are itchy or sore patches of thick, dry, discolored skin.
While any part of your body can be affected, psoriasis plaques most often develop on the elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms, and feet.
Like other autoinflammatory diseases, psoriasis occurs when your immune system which normally attacks infectious germs begins to attack healthy cells instead.
How Do You Treat Psoriasis On Your Face
Because the skin on your face is more sensitive than other parts of your body, the treatment will most likely start out conservative. Your treatment plan will also depend on how severe your symptoms are and if you are experiencing psoriasis sores or plaques on other areas of the body.
Your healthcare provider will recommend using a quality moisturizer on your face, as dryness is a trigger for psoriasis symptoms. Other possible treatments include steroid creams, vitamin ointment, light therapy, and immune therapies.
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When To See A Doctor
If a person is uncertain about whether psoriasis or a different health condition is causing their symptoms, they should see a doctor.
A dermatologist, or skin specialist, will most commonly treat psoriasis. A primary care physician can refer a person to a dermatologist.
People should see their doctor about facial psoriasis symptoms when:
- areas on the face are painful or uncomfortable
- the discomfort makes it difficult to get through the day
- lesions are extending toward the eyes
- they have concerns about their skins appearance
- they are experiencing joint problems as well as facial lesions
Generally, people should see their doctor whenever their psoriasis is causing them problems or when they wish to discuss treatment options.
What Is The Relationship Between Psoriasis And Your Diet
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disorder. The body mistakenly attacks its own tissue, explains Wesdock. It starts overproducing skin cells, which lays down plaques on your skin. Plaques are red, scaly patches that can be itchy or painful. Sometimes psoriasis is accompanied by psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory joint condition.
Neither of these conditions is caused by anything you eat, but theres an important link between your diet and psoriasis. Many foods are known to cause inflammation throughout the body. In some people, this widespread irritation can make the symptoms of psoriasis worse.
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How Facial Psoriasis Affects Mypsoriasisteam Members’ Lives
Facial psoriasis has a huge impact on self-esteem and well-being. Members of MyPsoriasisTeam talk about feeling isolated and depressed by their condition:
- It gives us low self-esteem.
- Every day I get asked whats wrong with my face.
- Im trying to find a job, but my face is flared up all the time. When people stare, it makes me more anxious.
- Sometimes I don’t want to go to work because its very stressful. Is there a disability benefit for psoriasis?
- I have psoriasis on my forehead and scalp. I get so embarrassed, I stay home most of the time.
- During exercise class, I sweated off all the makeup covering my red, sore forehead! Mid-class, a woman shouted at me, ‘Whats wrong with your head?’ I went to the gym to de-stress and ended up crying alone in the toilet!
How To Apply Psoriasis Medication On Your Face
Here are a few basic tips:
- Use small amounts.
- Be careful when you apply creams and ointments around the eyes. Some treatments can irritate them.
- Follow your doctorâs instructions for taking the medication so you can prevent side effects, especially with steroids.
- Ask your doctor if you can use makeup to conceal the psoriasis on your face. Some products can prevent treatment from working.
- If your medication doesnât help or causes too many side effects, work with your doctor to figure out a treatment that will help.
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Psoriasis On Feet: Symptoms Causes And Treatments
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease in which skin cells grow and build up faster than normal. Some people with psoriasis develop symptoms on their feet. Itching, rashes, and dry, thick skin can be particularly bothersome on the feet and make walking or standing uncomfortable.
If you think you have psoriasis on your feet, its important to get the right diagnosis and work with your dermatologist to find the best treatment for your skin.
Ways To Manage Psoriasis On Your Face
by Health Writer
Psoriasis on the face may affect the eyelids, the eyebrows, the skin between the nose and upper lip, the upper forehead, the ears, and the hairline. Because the skin on the face is thinner and more delicate than skin on other parts of the body, it may be more sensitive to treatments. Its therefore crucial to choose products carefully taking your doctor or dermatologists advice and recommendations on board and look out for any adverse reactions.
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What Are The Types Of Psoriasis
In children, common types of psoriasis include:
Plaque psoriasis. This is the most common type of psoriasis. It causes plaques and silvery scales, usually on the knees, elbows, lower back, and scalp. They can be itchy and painful and may crack and bleed.
Guttate psoriasis. This type often shows up after an illness, especially strep throat. It causes small red spots, usually on the trunk, arms, and legs. Spots also can appear on the face, scalp, and ears.
Inverse psoriasis. This causes smooth, raw-looking patches of red skin that feel sore. The patches develop in places where skin touches skin, such as the armpits, buttocks, upper eyelids, groin and genitals, or under a woman’s breasts.
Why Does Psoriasis In Sensitive Areas Sometimes Require Specific Treatments
The absence of scales is most obvious in the skin flexures or folds because the continual friction between the two skin surfaces rubs them off. The enclosed area of a skin fold and the thinness of the skin in sensitive areas can affect the action of topically applied treatments . With both of these factors there is a tendency for an increase in the absorption of the treatment through the skin, thereby enhancing its effect and any adverse side effects, such as skin thinning. In addition, the potential for a cream or ointment to cause irritation is increased when it is applied in a flexure and comes into contact with two skin surfaces that are rubbing together.
For these reasons particular creams and ointments are better than others for use in sensitive areas of the skin. Some others are not recommended at all.
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‘can’t Hide This Anymore’
Ashling said: “It came onto my face and that’s when I was like ‘I can’t hide this anymore’.
“I was just sitting in my room one night and I was like ‘should I talk about this?’ I’m just sitting here, fighting with myself and it’s making me more stressed not telling anybody and hiding it.
“I bought a top to wear after my psoriasis cleared up and it got to Easter Sunday and then I said ‘you know what, I really want to wear this top, I’m just going to wear it’.
“I asked my friend if I should put up a post and she was like ‘yes go for it, what’s the worst that can happen? If anybody says anything it says a lot more about them to be honest’.
“I posted it and it’s literally the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I feel so amazing about it.
“My confidence has skyrocketed, I can’t even describe it, it’s amazing. I feel really powerful.”
Ashling claims she was told by the doctor that her psoriasis would be gone within two to three months, but she still has it five months later.
She’s starting light therapy that she’s hoping will help to get rid of her psoriasis – but in the meantime she’s not letting it impact her living life to the full.
Ashling said: “It’s everywhere – my ears, face, the bridge of my feet, legs, hips, bum cheeks – everywhere.
How A Dermatologist Can Help
With so many products, it can be difficult to know what to use. If you dont see the results you like with OTC treatment for psoriasis, you may want to see dermatologist. Dermatologists are the skin disease experts. They know how to tailor psoriasis treatment to the type of psoriasis you have. Sometimes, this requires combining treatments. You may also need one treatment plan to gain control over your psoriasis and another to maintain the results.
ImagesGetty Images
ReferencesMenter A, Korman NJ, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Section 3: Guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 60:64359.
Paghdal KV, Schwartz RA. Coal tar: Back to the future. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Aug 61:294-302.
All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology
The American Academy of Dermatology gratefully acknowledges the support from Amgen and .
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What Does Psoriasis Look Like On Your Face
Psoriasis on your face usually starts out as small, red bumps that grow into reddish-pinkish sores. The sores are then covered in silvery-white scales that may flake off.
Psoriasis signs can appear differently on various parts of the face. Sebo-psoriasis on the scalp usually presents as skin plaques with greasy, yellow scales.
What Does It Look Like
So, how do you know its facial psoriasis youre dealing with and not another type of rash? Research explains that facial psoriasis is likely to appear near the eyebrows, hairline, on the skin between the nose and upper lip, and on the upper forehead. It appears as an inflamed red rash, that looks dry, and can often scale. It can be quite painful and irritable.
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Skin Care Products To Try For Facial Psoriasis
Finding a skin care routine that helps with your facial psoriasis is key, although you may have to experiment a bit with different products to perfect it.
In addition to discussing prescription creams with your doctor, you may find it helps to use an over-the-counter emollient. These soothe the skin and can create a barrier of oil to protect your skin from drying out.
Humectants, like glycerin and aloe vera, can also help hydrate your skin.
You may also want to look for products with salicylic acid, which can help your skin shed psoriasis scales, or coal tar, which can reduce itching and inflammation.
What Causes Psoriasis On Your Face
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation and skin cells to grow too quickly. Healthcare providers do not know why some people develop psoriasis while others do not. There appears to be a genetic factor because you are more likely to experience psoriasis if your parents have it.
Common triggers that lead to a psoriasis outbreak include stress, skin injury, infection, cold weather, and certain prescription medications. Facial psoriasis is not contagious, and you cannot give it to or get it from someone else.
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Stay Hydrated Inside And Out
Psoriasis, as we all know, is a dry skin problem. It is intuitive that you would want to be hydrated to deal with this problem. Drinking enough water is the first step for everyone.
On top of that, consider adding moisturizing products to your skincare routine. Consider this shea butter and cocoa moisturizing lotion that has no harmful chemicals. Both the ingredients are also known for their hydrating properties. Since psoriasis can occur in the scalp as well, it is important to keep your scalp hydrated at all times. That also brings us to our next point.
Articles On Psoriasis Locations
Psoriasis on the face is different than on other parts of the body. Your skin there is thinner and may be more sensitive to treatments. In this area, the condition usually affects your:
- Eyebrows
- Skin between your nose and upper lip
- Upper forehead
- Hairline
You have a lot of options for treating psoriasis in these areas. Work closely with your doctor to find what works best for you.
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Foods To Eat If You Have Psoriasis
Just as some foods trigger inflammation, others can help combat inflammation. In general, having a balanced whole-foods diet is the best approach to reduce inflammation throughout the body. It may reduce psoriasis flare-ups or make your symptoms less severe. Following a Mediterranean diet for psoriatic arthritis or psoriasis can also reduce chronic inflammation that contributes to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and other conditions.
The best foods if you have psoriasis include:
- Fish, lean protein or plant-based proteins such as tofu or tempeh
- Fruits and vegetables
- Small amounts of low-fat dairy
- Whole grains
Theres no evidence that vitamins or supplements help ease psoriasis symptoms. The best way to get all the vitamins and minerals you need is from the foods you eat. But its generally safe to take a daily multivitamin. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian about other supplements that might be right for your needs.
Get A Prescription From Your Dermatologist
Your dermatologist may prescribe a low-potency corticosteroid ointment, cream, lotion, or spray to reduce redness and swelling. Another treatment for facial psoriasis is synthetic vitamin D, such as calcipotriene or calcitriol ointment or cream. Some dermatologists recommend pimecrolimus and tacrolimus , which are FDA-approved for atopic dermatitis, but should only be used for a short time.
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Psoriasis Can Cause Arthritis
For an unknown reason, psoriasis can cause a form of arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms include:
- discomfort, throbbing or swelling in one or many joints
- tenderness in any joint
- pain caused by inflammation in the joints, which stimulates nerve endings.
- The joints most likely to be affected are the last joint in the fingers or toes, the sacrum , wrists, knees or ankles.
What Else Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
If you have psoriasis, ask your healthcare provider:
- How can I prevent outbreaks and control symptoms?
- What medication will work best for me?
- What else should I do to improve symptoms?
- What are my options if creams dont work?
- Will psoriasis ever go away?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Psoriasis, an itchy skin condition, can come and go throughout your life. Its related to an overactive immune response and is not contagious. If you have skin changes that arent going away, talk to your healthcare provider. There is no cure for psoriasis, but psoriasis treatments can improve symptoms. Your provider may prescribe a special cream or moisturizer or medications. Other therapies are available if creams or medicines dont work. Maintaining your overall health will also help improve symptoms.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/17/2020.
References
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Treatments For Psoriasis Of The Face
Although theres no cure for facial psoriasis, it can be controlled with prescription and over-the-counter medications that are safe for thin, delicate skin. Consult with your dermatologist about treatment options that are right for you. They may include topical treatments, systemic treatments, phototherapy, and moisturizers.