Since I work in the beauty industry, I spend a lot of time talking about products and skincare routines. This also means that many people expect to have perfect skin, but this is definitely not the case.
I struggled with breakouts, dehydration, and dealing with psoriasis. I was first exposed to this disease a few years ago. Although I have always been an anxious, stressed-out person, my life is more stressful than ever.
I was exhausted from working two part-time jobs, attending college full-time, and commuting to New York to network. I remember waking up one morning before class and finding red, scaly patches on my face and body.
After a brief panic and some research, I found out I had psoriasis. This realization did not come without confusion and frustration. I have a complete skin care routine. I try to live a healthy lifestyle.
Yet here I am, staring at these spots on my skin. But the thing about psoriasis is that you’re born with it and you don’t know it until it’s triggered.
What is psoriasis? For those who don’t know, psoriasis is an autoimmune disease of unknown cause. Most people, myself included, have plaque psoriasis.
I was exhausted from working two part-time jobs, attending college full-time, and commuting to New York to network. I remember waking up one morning before class and finding red, scaly patches on my face and body.
After a brief panic and some research, I found out I had psoriasis. This realization did not come without confusion and frustration. I have a complete skin care routine. I try to live a healthy lifestyle.
Yet here I am, staring at these spots on my skin. But the thing about psoriasis is that you’re born with it and you don’t know it until it’s triggered.
What is psoriasis? For those who don’t know, psoriasis is an autoimmune disease of unknown cause. Most people, myself included, have plaque psoriasis.
Essentially, your skin cells are shed faster than usual, causing flaking and red spots that may feel itchy or painful. Flares may also occur on the arms, legs, neck, and other parts of the body.
Symptoms of psoriasis are triggered by factors such as high stress, increased alcohol consumption, and a drop in body temperature. Although there is no cure for psoriasis, there are many things you can do to treat and control it. Here are the skincare routines and ingredients that work for me:
How to develop a psoriasis skin care routine: pH balanced . Most people are addicted to the clean and refreshing feeling that facial cleansers provide. These formulas are usually in gel form and contain high levels of active ingredients and dry alcohol.
The reality is that while these types of products may work for some people, they stripped my skin of its natural oils, leaving it tight and dry.
Instead, I use a pH-balanced milky cleanser with oat milk and marula oil to soothe and nourish dry, irritated, and sensitive skin. Best of all, it protects my skin's moisture barrier, which I believe is key to fighting psoriasis.
BHA and Niacinamide Serum. Minimizing my skincare routine has been a game changer. Using too much active ingredient, especially at higher concentrations, can disrupt the barrier (an important contraindication for psoriasis).
I took inventory of the products I used and kept just a few serums that addressed multiple skin concerns at once, like Just Breathe . This balancing serum contains willow bark extract and niacinamide.
A precursor to salicylic acid, willow bark extract is a natural beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that gently exfoliates the skin. At the same time, niacinamide’s anti-inflammatory properties can relieve plaque-related irritation.
Retinol treatment. Even for those who don't have psoriasis, the thought of adding retinol to their daily routine can be scary. But when used strategically, it can even out skin texture, prevent breakouts, and help fight signs of aging.
Most dermatologists will prescribe a topical retinoid called tazarotene, but I found a gentle retinol serum that contains encapsulated retinol that bypasses the skin's surface, Minimize risk of irritation.
Mineral sunscreen. The International Journal of Health Sciences links psoriasis to a lack of vitamin D in the body. Although one of the purest forms of vitamin D is direct sunlight, prolonged exposure to UVA/UVB rays increases the risk of sunburn, which can worsen psoriasis and lead to a compromised skin barrier. So, no matter what your skin type or concern, I always recommend using SPF sunscreen in your daily routine.
Most dermatologists will prescribe a topical retinoid called tazarotene, but I found a gentle retinol serum that contains encapsulated retinol that bypasses the skin's surface, Minimize risk of irritation.
Mineral sunscreen. The International Journal of Health Sciences links psoriasis to a lack of vitamin D in the body. Although one of the purest forms of vitamin D is direct sunlight, prolonged exposure to UVA/UVB rays increases the risk of sunburn, which can worsen psoriasis and lead to a compromised skin barrier. So, no matter what your skin type or concern, I always recommend using SPF sunscreen in your daily routine.
Mineral options like Guards Up physically protect skin from the damaging effects of the sun while blocking environmental stressors and HEV light (aka technical blue light).
Daily mentality. One of the most important aspects of my daily life is giving me confidence even when everything tells me I shouldn't be doing it.
Society tells us that the standard of beauty is flawless. This is unrealistic and unachievable. I stopped hating my imperfections and started being neutral about them.
They are what they are, and while I can't change them, I can emphasize all the things I like about myself. Easier said than done, but I have no doubt you can do it.
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