Psoriasis is a chronic, incurable but highly treatable autoimmune disease that is characterised by red, inflamed patches of skin that often itch and burn.
There are a number of different forms of psoriasis that affect about 125 million people, between 2-3% of the world’s population. Both men and women are affected equally.
Psoriasis can vary in severity and there are a number of treatment options that range from medicated skin creams to high technology medicines that help to stop skin cells from growing too quickly.
If you suffer from psoriasis, it’s important you pay particular attention to your skincare routine and the products you use on your skin to reduce the risk of aggravating your already inflamed skin.
Choose a natural barrier cream
It is important to protect your skin from the elements but even more important to choose a natural barrier cream.
While it is touted as a dry-skin cure all and may initially seem to hydrate the skin, petroleum jelly is not a good option for people with skin conditions. It can block pores, trap dirt and inhibit the skin’s ability to breathe, having a drying and dehydrating effect on the skin. Opt for natural emollients and barriers such as beeswax that allow the skin to breathe and maintain its own moisture balance.
Avoid perfumes and fragrances
Unless your skincare product specifically says it does not use artificial fragrance, that supposedly luscious scent is more than likely a commonly used synthetic chemical such as acetone, phenol, toluene, benzyl acetate or limonene. These chemicals are grouped by the US National Academy of Sciences with insecticides, heavy metals, and solvents and indicated as a high priority for neurotoxicity testing. The safest option for psoriasis sufferers is to reject any skin or personal care product with perfume or artificial fragrance.
Read ingredients labels
It’s not only fragrance you need to worry about. Up to one in eight ingredients in skin care products are known industrial chemicals that are cheap to manufacture and give cosmetic firms great margins for profit. They are regularly used as humectants, solvents and preservatives in skincare products despite having potentially toxic and irritating effects on the skin and body. It is very important that psoriasis sufferers check the label on their skincare products to ensure they don’t include ingredients such as paraffin, petrolatum, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, paraben, dibutylphthalate (DBP, DEP or butyl ester), synthetic colours, or ingredients those that end in glycol.
Natural alternatives
Natural ingredients can have a powerful anti-inflammatory, soothing and healing effect on itchy and burning skin without causing the skin irritation of chemical ingredients.
Chamomile comprises a number of powerful chemical compounds that in laboratory studies have had positive effects on inflammation. It is used regularly to sooth red, angry and inflamed skin.
Rosemary Oil is also known to kill bacteria, fungi and viruses on the skin, and combined with properties that encourage cell rejuvenation, it is ideal for sufferers of dermatitis, acne, eczema or psoriasis.
Evening Primrose Oil is another powerful anti-inflammatory used in skincare to treat skin disorders. It is packed with Omega-6 essential fatty acids that can help regulate prostaglandins, cytokines and leukotrienes which when triggered in the immune system can create an inflammatory response. As a result, Evening Primrose Oil is an effective skincare ingredient for treating people with inflammatory skin conditions and sensitive skin.
Bee Loved uses these and many more natural ingredients that are proven to help the skin manage inflammation, redness, itching and pain. Find out more about our active ingredients or search our online store for the product that is best suited to you.