Living with Psoriasis-Bathing Tips

Bathing is an important part of skincare, and this is no different for those who have psoriasis.

It not only cleans the skin, which is very important, but loosens the scales, and provides an opportunity for moisturizers and topical medications to reach the skin easier. Here are some tips:

Tepid water for short periods

Do not use hot water when bathing. Hot water can increase itching significantly. Shorter baths will also help to reduce itching, and will have the same benefits as longer ones.

Don't rub psoriasis too vigorously

The skin becomes softer, and psoriasis scales tend to loosen during bathing, and to a lesser extent when showering. Try to resist the temptation to peel the scales off or rubbing too hard on the scales. Damage to the skin comes with the risk of koebnerization, or spreading of the psoriasis to areas that are damaged.

When showering, be gentle with your hair

Showering on a daily basis is important when treating scalp psoriasis. Cleaning your hair is important for everyone, and showering loosens the scales that occur on the scalp, which can create clumps of hair that can be unattractive and bothersome. Many medications are also in shampoo form, or other liquid forms which are most effective immediately after a shower. For most people with scalp psoriasis, showering should be a pleasant experience with flakes coming off or loosening without effort. We recommend, however that you are gentle with your hair and scalp when shampooing, cleaning, or removing scales.

Use moisturizers and topical medications immediately following bathing

Apply moisturizers immediately following a shower or bath while your skin is still damp. Lightly dry yourself first, and then apply moisturizers before completely drying off. With topical medication, use the same principle, but you may wish to dry yourself a bit more. The skin, when moisturized, is in the best position to benefit from topical medication immediately following a shower or bath.