Treating Scalp Psoriasis with Moisturizers

Moisturizers are an integral part of psoriasis treatment. The use of moisturizers can be considered the first step in the treatment ladder. They are chemical mixtures that are designed to reduce the loss of the skin's moisture via evaporation, attract water from the air, and provide nutrients which keep the skin healthier.

For people with psoriasis, moisturizers can loosen the scales, reduces itching, and improves appearance significantly. Moisturizers are an important part of general skincare, but especially important for those with psoriasis.

Moisturizer Benefits:

• Reduces and loosens up scaling that is seen in psoriasis on the scalp as well as other parts of the body
• Eases itching
• Improves appearance of psoriatic scales significantly
• Benefits the skin in general by providing it the necessary moisture and other beneficial nutrients
• Available over-the-counter, that is, without the need to visit a doctor
• Generally very inexpensive, although prices can vary widely
• Very safe, and has almost no known side-effects unless the moisturizer becomes contaminated
• Can be used safely in conjunction with other treatments that are higher up in the ladder, and often is

Moisturizer Drawbacks:

• Sticky creams can be very difficult to manage as the hair covers the scalp area that needs to be treated, particularly if the hair is grown out long
• While improvement will usually be seen, moisturizers alone are often insufficient in clearing psoriasis patches, particularly during flare-ups
• If psoriasis covers a large portion of the scalp, it can be cumbersome and inconvenient to apply moisturizers on a regular basis