A Guide to Psoriasis Skin Care
Diagnoses of inflammatory skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema and rosacea, are on the rise in the United States. Looking at psoriasis specifically, an estimated 7.5 million individuals in this country deal with the daily frustrations caused by this disease. While those with psoriasis can often, over time, determine the factors most likely to cause flares, finding over-the-counter products that help to bring relief and ease symptoms can be a far trickier proposition.
Many Lexli customers who have been diagnosed with psoriasis have shared with us testimonials about the positive results they have achieved with select Lexli products; customers like Margaret, who was recently featured on our site. Why? We believe Lexli’s ability to ease the discomfort of psoriasis symptoms lies in our use of organic, pharmaceutical-grade aloe vera as the base ingredient in all Lexli products. Aloe vera has been clinically shown to be beneficial in reducing psoriasis symptoms . In fact, in one study, topical aloe vera was more effective than a common prescription used to treat psoriasis.
Below we’ve outlined the Lexli products that have shown the most benefit to customers with psoriasis. Our hope is that we can help you find relief from psoriatic symptoms and achieve healthier skin, too.
Gentle Cleansing
Regardless of your skin type or concerns, facial cleansing is a definite must in any skin care routine. Those prone to psoriasis on their face simply need to take care to find a gentle cleanser that will not strip the skin’s acid mantle and that is moisturizing to the skin. For that reason, Lexli Cleansing Lotion fits the bill. This product is gentle enough to be used on all skin types twice-daily. What's more, it can be used as a body wash.
Those with persistent psoriasis patches on the face may also consider use of Lexli Acne Cleanser. This product features salicylic acid, which is beneficial in reducing the keratin build-up on psoriasis plaques, as well as sulfur, witch hazel and eucalyptus oil, all of which have been found to improve psoriasis conditions. This product is also rich in antioxidants, which protect the skin from free radicals. It has been suggested that oxidative stress may play a role in the development of psoriasis.
Be sure to properly wash your face with lukewarm water to avoid drying the skin.
Improvement Through Exfoliation
At first thought, exfoliation may not make a lot of sense for those with psoriasis, given that skin can often be inflamed and sensitive. But consider that chemical exfoliation actually reduces the build-up of keratin that characterizes psoriasis patches. In fact, according to a study, use of glycolic acid – the alpha-hydroxy acid found in Lexli AloeGlyC® aloe vera exfoliator, not only regulated the skin’s keratin thickness but also decreased rates of trans-epidermal water loss and decreased skin redness.
It will likely be necessary to ease your skin into a regular exfoliation practice with AloeGlyC. Begin by combining a nickel-size amount of AloeGlyC with moisturizer and applying only at night. Dilution may be decreased as the skin adjusts, with the goal of applying AloeGlyC full-strength up to twice-daily, if your skin allows.
Adequate Hydration
To help stave off psoriasis flare-ups and reduce their severity, it is essential that the skin is properly hydrated. The most beneficial moisturizer formulations include humectants, which attract water to the skin; occlusives, which act as a barrier to minimize trans-epidermal water loss ; and emollients, which lubricate the skin and improve skin comfort. Lexli Hand & Body Lotion optimizes skin moisture levels while soothing the discomfort of psoriasis. For the face, Night Moisturizer is a rich, nurturing cream that, despite the name, can be used morning and evening by those with normal or dry skin.
Soothe Discomfort
Active psoriasis patches can be itchy and cause discomfort. To bring relief to your skin, we suggest spritzing Lexli Tone & Balance aloe vera toner onto areas of discomfort throughout the day. Tone & Balance’s rich concentration of aloe vera soothes the skin and can help reduce itching. For added comfort, keep your bottle of Tone & Balance in the fridge. The cold helps to further reduce inflammation, redness and itching.
If you’ve tried these or other Lexli products for inflammatory skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema and rosacea, please tell us about it by sending us an email or messaging us on Facebook.