5 Skin Care Ingredients to Pay Attention to When You Have Psoriasis

When you have psoriasis, a basic understanding of the skin care ingredients to look for — and the ingredients to avoid — can help guide you shop for makeup, lotions, hair care, and more.

Ingredients on the back of skin care products are often confusing. There are often many of them, and with complicated names, they may be easy to skim over.

I definitely used to do this, choosing whichever product smelled the best or looked the nicest on my shelf. But that was before I received a psoriasis diagnosis.

As psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition caused by a quick overproduction of skin cells that create thick, scaly patches, aggravating your skin by using certain chemicals can be really hard to avoid.

You may find that some products labeled as psoriasis- or sensitive skin-friendly can cause a flare-up for your skin.

Here are some ingredients, good and bad, to look out for if you’re managing psoriasis.

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1. Shea butter

Shea butter is often associated with thick moisturizers. When treating psoriasis, a thick moisturizer can be great. As psoriasis can make skin extremely dry, shea butter offers a thick layer that allows you to lock in moisture and prevent your skin from drying out for longer.

This can be especially helpful in winter.

2. Aloe vera

Aloe vera is another example of a moisturizing ingredient that can help keep your skin hydrated and reduce the number of flare-ups caused by psoriasis.

If you’re not a fan of thick creams made with shea butter, you may prefer the gel consistency of products that contain aloe vera.

3. Alcohol

Alcohol can cause drier skin and prevent skin from retaining moisture. It’s often added to products to make them last longer or feel lighter.

But alcohol doesn’t always show up listed as such in skin care ingredients. Alcohol ingredients you may want to avoid include methanol, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol.

4. Salicylic acid

Acid may sound intimidating, but salicylic acid is one of the ingredients you won’t want to cross off your list. This ingredient is often used as a treatment for psoriasis.

It can sometimes come as an ingredient in ointments made specifically for psoriasis but also appears in general skin care products and shampoos.

It specifically helps by softening the psoriasis scales so they are easily lifted off the skin when showering or washing the face. However, excess use can increase irritation, so use per instructions or by doctors’ recommendations.

5. Fragrance

Fragrance is often the first thing people with psoriasis learn to cut out of their skin care products. Many people with sensitive skin, including psoriasis and eczema, notice that scented products irritate their skin.

However, you may want to experiment with this, as not all scented products may cause your psoriasis to flare. If you’re dedicated to using a fragranced product, perhaps because you like a particular smell, it’s best to make sure you’re regularly applying moisturizing creams and lotions to reduce any effects.

Remember that irritation from fragrances may not stop at just skin care for the face or body. Shampoos and conditioners that contain fragrance can also be irritating.

The takeaway

Ultimately, psoriasis can be flared up by a variety of causes — from stress to cold weather — and it may not necessarily be your skin care or hair care products that cause your psoriasis to flare.

However, keeping an eye on the ingredients you put on your skin can still ease issues and help you feel your best.