Psoriasis can be tough on anyone. Red skin patches and flare-ups can come out of nowhere and disrupt everyday life. Those who suffer from psoriasis feel they have no choice but to hide it. They wear long-sleeved tops and hope no one will point out the pink rashes and their dry, scaly skin.
What makes matters worse is that it can be itchy and painful. But learning how to manage it can reward you with a life free from the distraction and burden of psoriasis.
One way to do so is by looking for the best body wash for psoriasis. A body wash is the first step, and therefore the foundation, of a bath routine that can soothe and manage difficult psoriasis.
Need help finding what body wash is good for psoriasis? Then read on to see my recommendations for a body wash tailor-made for your sensitive skin condition.
12 Dermatologist-recommended Body Wash for Psoriasis
1. Home Health Psoriasis Body Wash
If you’re interested in a multi-benefit body wash that can double as a shampoo, this is a terrific option. Home Health carries a body wash medicated especially for psoriasis patients. What’s awesome about it is that it provides treatments to scalp psoriasis as well!
The main ingredients of this formulation are carrot and jojoba oils. These two oils are great at moisturizing the skin to leave it soft and supple. It is also infused with allantoin and aloe vera. These are both known to soothe the skin and make it calm, especially when there is inflammation.
It also contains 2% salicylic acid, a great exfoliator that can help lift scales off the skin. With this magic ingredient, you can kiss those rough and dry patches of skin goodbye.
This product claims to be great at making itchiness from psoriasis flare-ups subside right after a shower. It can also even alleviate pain, for more severe hives.
This body wash is perfect for sensitive skin because of its ultra-gentle formula. It contains no potentially harmful ingredients, like parabens and artificial preservatives. This ensures that your already irritated skin won’t react negatively to the soap.
The only complaint I have about this body wash isn’t so much about the product, but its packaging. The dispenser on my bottle was a bit difficult to use. After some time, it broke quite easily too. If you’re okay with possibly decanting your body wash into another container, then go ahead and purchase this effective soap.
Pros
- Contains carrot and jojoba oils, allantoin, and aloe vera to soothe and moisturize the skin
- Has 2% salicylic acid to help exfoliate rough, dry patches of skin
- Relieves the itching and pain caused by psoriasis
- Gentle formula with no parabens and artificial preservatives
- Multi-use product that can be used as shampoo and soap
Cons
- The product dispenser breaks easily
This is an incredible multi-use product because it can be used as a psoriasis soap and shampoo. It helps moisturize the skin and soothe flare-ups while giving you fewer products to fuss around with.
2. Sphagnum Botanicals Psoriasis Shower Cream
Peat is an exotic, unique skincare ingredient that hasn’t exactly been the most popular in the mainstream. It’s a type of soil common in Scandinavian spas to deeply nourish and strengthen the skin. But now, Sphagnum Botanicals offers a shower cream made with this exotic clay to help manage eczema and psoriasis.
Nordic peat is rich in minerals, amino acids, and oxygen. When this shower cream is massaged into the skin, peat helps build up the skin barrier and make it healthy.
Peat also contains three specific acids that can help strengthen the skin-humic, fulvic, and hymatomelanic acids. Humic acid helps promote collagen production and detoxifies the skin. Fulvic acid balances the skin’s pH level and stimulates proper blood circulation. Lastly, hymatomelanic acid heals micro-wounds to make the skin smoother and more clear.
The formula is also infused with olive oil to moisturize the skin deeply. That makes it great for extra dry and scaly skin. It also helps to calm psoriasis flare-ups in a matter of minutes or hours.
To truly cater to those with sensitive skin, the formula contains no harsh ingredients. You won’t be seeing any SLS and parabens on the ingredients list of this shower cream.
However, not that the consistency of this product is quite thin and runny. It’s hard to spread it evenly across the body without spilling too much unused product.
Pros
- Exotic Nordic peat provides minerals and amino acids to the skin
- Contains three different acids to strengthen the skin and heal micro-wounds
- Olive oil provides deep moisture for extra dry and sensitive skin
- Calms psoriasis flare-ups within minutes to hours
- Vegan and contains no harsh ingredients like SLS and toxins
Cons
- Thin and runny, making it hard to distribute across the body
If you think you’ve tried everything and your psoriasis still hasn’t been better, try out this peat shower cream. With its miracle acids and deeply nourishing properties, it could very well be the best body soap for psoriasis and the answer to your skin’s prayers.
3. CeraVe Psoriasis Cleanser
CeraVe is one of if not the most recommended skincare brands by dermatologists all over the globe. Their philosophy is simple: the way to treat sensitive skin is with nourishing ceramides. This is exactly what they provide in their psoriasis cleanser.
Like all of CeraVe’s products, this cleanser contains ceramides that help build up and moisturize the skin. This particular formula is coupled with urea, another organic compound known to nourish the skin.
While the product is very gentle, it contains salicylic and lactic acids. These acids help exfoliate dead skin cells and lift scales off of rashes to reveal healthier skin underneath. This is a simple and gentle way to scrub off those stubborn psoriasis scales.
There is also niacinamide in this formula. This derivative of vitamin B3 helps to calm any rashes or inflammation. It is also known to help reduce and fade scars, which may help for any leftover spots from previous psoriasis flare-ups.
Besides the three key ingredients, it also contains glycolic acid, citric acid, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, and several more, which you can see on the packaging.
This formula is so gentle that it is doctor-recommended and even recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation for its effectiveness. It’s never harsh on the skin and doesn’t cause any burning sensations even for sensitive skin types
But like many CeraVe products, this, unfortunately, has quite the leaky bottle design. I find that the liquid will be dripping down from where the nozzle should be twisted shut now and then.
Pros
- Contains salicylic and lactic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells and scales
- Doctor-recommended and recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation
- Contains urea and ceramides to soothe and moisturize the skin
- Niacinamide calms rashes and helps make the complexion clearer
- Very gentle on the skin; never causes a burning sensation
Cons
- Has a leaky nozzle design that may waste product
Many dermatologists will tell you that CeraVe’s cleanser is the most gentle and effective body wash for psoriasis sufferers. Who are we to disagree? If you have psoriasis and ultra-sensitive skin, give this cleanser a go. Its strengthening ingredients and powerful acids may be all you need to manage your psoriasis the way you see fit.
4. Cetaphil Pro Restoraderm Soothing Wash
Yet another favorite brand among dermatologists is Cetaphil. This pharmacist-developed skincare brand from the United States has been around for over 70 years. Since its inception in the 1940s, it’s been a reliable and affordable brand for sensitive skin that needs softness and restoration.
This Restoraderm wash is most recommended for those with skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. In these sensitive conditions, the skin is dehydrated. Cetaphil’s wash soothes this type of skin to moisturize it and eliminate itching and discomfort.
The formula contains a filaggrin complex to help retain moisture in the skin. This ingredient ensures that the skin stays soft and supple, even after a bad psoriasis flare-up.
The skin-safe and psoriasis-friendly body wash cleanse the skin very gently yet thoroughly. It contains no actual soap that tends to be drying on the skin-just mild, creamy ingredients that glide on the skin. There are also no harsh chemicals, like parabens, sulfates, artificial dyes, and fragrances, etc.
Because it’s a Cetaphil product, this body wash comes with a lot of recognition from skin authorities. It is tested and recommended by many dermatologists worldwide. The National Eczema Association has also given the body wash its stamp of approval.
But if you’re one to look forward to the satisfyingly thick and creamy lather many body washes provide, you might be sorely disappointed by this. Because it contains no soap, this formula does not lather up as other body washes do.
Pros
- Soothes dry skin with sensitive skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis
- Contains filaggrin complex to retain the skin’s moisture to keep it soft
- Cleanses the skin gently, without soap or any harsh chemicals
- Recognized by the National Eczema Association
- Tested and recommended by many dermatologists
Cons
- Does not produce a creamy, satisfying lather in the bath
If you’re looking for a simple, no-fuss psoriasis body wash by a tried and tested brand, Cetaphil Restoraderm calming body wash is an awesome fit for you. Try this out if your top priority when it comes to managing psoriasis is making sure your skin stays soft and smooth.
5. DermaSolve Psoriasis Medicated Body Wash
DermaSolve provides a body wash specially curated for psoriasis sufferers made with unique, patented technology. This body wash doubles as a shampoo to help relieve psoriasis on the scalp. This makes it a great multi-use product to have in the shower at all times if you suffer from the condition.
This body wash gives immediate relief to the itching and irritation of rashes and plaques of thick skin. It also helps to prevent the recurrence of severe flare-ups.
It contains 3% salicylic acid to exfoliate any scales and flakes left by flare-ups. The acid lifts off these dry skin remnants to allow new, healthy, more vibrant skin to peek through.
DermaSolve products use a patented technology called Ovasome Technology on all their products. Long story short, this technology incorporates egg protein into skincare products. Egg can be nourishing, and its protein can help strengthen the skin barrier. This technology throws this more obscure body wash right into the big leagues-it soothes flare-ups while improving the skin too.
This body wash is exciting to use because of its pleasant and fresh peppermint scent. I also love that you get excellent value for money when buying this set. That’s because you get two 240ml bottles in a single purchase. It’s great if you want to stock up on a good body wash for psoriasis.
The only con of this product is that it doesn’t have that many nourishing ingredients. Therefore, it doesn’t leave the skin as soft. I recommend to follow up with lotion after showering.
Pros
- Relieves itching and irritation while preventing recurrence of flare-ups even on the scalp
- Exfoliates dry, flaky skin using salicylic acid
- Created with Ovasome Technology to nourish the skin with egg protein
- Excellent value for money because you get two giant bottles in one set
- Has a pleasant peppermint scent
Cons
- Doesn’t leave the skin as soft as other body washes
This body wash is one of the best products for psoriasis because not only does it relieve pain and itching, but it prevents future outbreaks too!
6. Natralia Eczema and Psoriasis Wash
If you love incorporating natural botanicals and plant extracts into your skincare, you’ll enjoy this 2-in-1 wash and shampoo by Natralia.
This is a terrific, refreshing body wash and shampoo that gives immediate relief of itching and irritation from rashes and flare-ups. It also alleviates dryness to a degree, because of its soft, nourishing consistency. Because it works as a shampoo too, it’s great for sensitive scalps that sometimes carry the burden of psoriasis flare-ups.
This body wash is loaded with anti-inflammatory botanicals, plant extracts, and essential oils to treat eczema and psoriasis. Some of these natural ingredients include calendula, bergamot oil, and aloe vera. These are great for soothing the skin and helping retain hydration and moisture in its layers.
Another cool thing about this body wash is that it has silk amino acids and keratin. These strengthen and protect the hair, making your locks less prone to breakage.
Even though this body wash lathers up nicely and cleanses deeply, it has a very skin-friendly formulation. It doesn’t contain any sulfates, which are the harsh cleaning agents you see in regular soaps. Because it’s sulfate-free, this body wash won’t dry out the skin like other soaps tend to.
One thing I must say I’m not so keen on about this product is that it contains ethanol. Ethanol is an alcohol that can be drying to those who have ultra-sensitive skin.
Pros
- Relieves dryness, itching and irritation brought on by psoriasis
- A gentle body wash that doubles as a shampoo for scalp sensitivity
- Has a unique blend of botanicals and natural extracts to treat psoriasis flare-ups
- Sulfate-free, so it won’t dry out your skin as soap does
- Contains keratin and silk amino acids to strengthen and protect hair
Cons
- Contains ethanol, an alcohol that may be irritating or drying for some skin types
Many body washes on this list claim to be good psoriasis scalp shampoos too. But Natralia’s 2-in-1 product makes for a more excellent wash than most others, just because it contains special ingredients to help strengthen the hair.
Best Body Washes for Acne Prone Skin
7. Majestic Pure Cosmeceuticals Tea Tree Wash
One of the best natural ingredients to soothe psoriasis is tea tree oil. It helps manage itchiness and discomfort brought about by rashes, and has an irresistibly fresh scent. Majestic Pure body wash contains only pure, top-quality tea tree oil for those who have to face psoriasis every day.
Tea tree oil is the hero ingredient of this formula. It helps to soothe and calm irritated skin, making it perfect for psoriasis patients. Moreover, it’s also very nourishing.
The formula is infused with beautiful oils, like coconut oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil, among many others. Not only that, but it has shea butter for extra softness and plumpness of the skin. These oils and butter work together to hydrate and moisturize the skin. A deeply nourishing wash like this may be exactly what your dry, flaky skin needs to feel renewed.
The body wash is very skin-safe. It doesn’t contain any parabens or artificial coloring that could irritate sensitive skin.
It also works great to fight other skin conditions, like athlete’s foot. This is because of the refreshing, herbal scent of pure tea tree oil. The magnificent scent helps to deodorize the body and feet, making it yet another multi-use body wash on this list.
However, the scent might be a little too strong for you if you have a sensitive nose. Tea tree is known for its aroma that you can’t ignore, but it may be overbearing for those who aren’t used to it.
Pros
- Made with pure tea tree oil to soothe inflamed skin patches and rashes
- Contains many beautiful, nourishing oils and butter to moisturize the skin
- Skin-safe, as it contains no parabens or artificial coloring
- Works great to fight against other skin conditions, like athlete’s foot
- Has a refreshing, herbal scent of tea tree
Cons
- The scent can be quite overbearing for those who have a sensitive sense of smell
Majestic Pure tea tree body wash for psoriasis is terrific because its scent makes for a relaxing, refreshing bath while the formula moisturizes dry skin and soothes flare-ups.
9. Vanicream Gentle Body Wash
Vanicream is another world-renowned brand that is famous for its advocacy for the proper treatment of sensitive skin. This brand’s basic gentle body wash may be simple, but it has garnered lots of recognition and admiration among doctors and psoriasis sufferers. It even has a badge of being approved by the National Eczema Association stamped on its bottle.
This body wash gained popularity because of how incredibly skin-safe it is. It doesn’t contain ingredients that can be harsh to sensitive skin types, like sulfates, parabens, dyes, lanolin, etc.
It doesn’t contain any added fragrance as well, be it artificial or natural. The fewer ingredients, the better a product is for sensitive skin. Fragrances can irritate the skin, so Vanicream decided to do without it. Nonetheless, the body wash has a faint, clean smell.
Even if it doesn’t contain sulfates, this body wash produces a rich, creamy lather in the bath. Its texture and consistency are silky smooth. This makes it easy for the product to glide on the skin and give a luxurious feel to your simple, no-frills body wash.
Vanicream has been around for decades and has always specialized in caring for sensitive skin. So it’s no surprise that this gentle body wash is dermatologist-tested and recommended. That makes it an excellent option for people with psoriasis.
But because this is a basic and fuss-free body wash that wants to get the job of cleansing done, it focuses on just that. It doesn’t have any strong moisturizing properties.
Pros
- Doesn’t contain any potentially harsh ingredients, like sulfates or parabens
- Unscented, so there is no added fragrance that can irritate the skin
- Gives a rich, creamy lather even if it’s soap-free
- Has a silky smooth texture that smoothly glides onto the skin
- Tested and recommended by dermatologists
Cons
- Leaves the skin a bit dry; would be better with more moisturizing ingredients
This is a no-brainer product for someone looking for a no-frills, mild, and gentle body wash. With how Vanicream designed all their products to be, it’s excellent for daily use on sensitive skin.
Body Washes and Soaps for Folliculitis
9. SheaMoisture Soothing Body Wash
While SheaMoisture is a brand more popular for its nourishing hair products, they also carry body washes that are great for sensitive skin. People with psoriasis can find this African black soap body wash in particular helpful for their condition.
African black soap is a generations-old beauty formula. A blend of African herbs and organic butter helps to detoxify and clarify the skin, and even brighten troubled skin with dark spots. Ace and rashes are no match for it. This body wash is pretty much a liquid version of that classic, cult-favorite soap.
This contains aloe vera, which helps hydrate the skin and make it supple and bouncy. It is also infused with oat and tea tree oil. Both of these soothe the skin, which is very useful for those who frequently get psoriasis flare-ups.
This body wash is also helpful for those who have trouble getting scaly skin off once flare-ups dissipate. It contains tamarind extract, which is a natural astringent that exfoliates dead skin cells. This may help lift dry, flaky scales from the skin to reveal a smoother, healthier complexion.
The formula has quite a unique fragrance to it, but it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s woodsy and musky, like a man’s strong cologne. It’s an intense, masculine scent that many women might not want to go for. If you’d rather go for a body wash with a lighter, more muted scent, this might not be for you.
Pros
- Clarifies troubled skin and keeps acne at bay
- Aloe vera helps hydrate the skin to make it bouncier
- Oat and tea tree oil soothe troubled, scaly skin from psoriasis flare-ups
- Gently exfoliates dead skin cells using tamarind extract
Cons
- Has a unique musky and masculine scent that might be too strong for some
African black soap has always been a miracle product for those with troubled skin. Whether it’s an intense psoriasis breakout or the more common fungal acne, you can benefit from this body wash from SheaMoisture. It hydrates, nourishes, and leaves your skin trouble-free.
10. Dove Dry Skin Relief Body Wash
Dove positions itself as a skincare brand that cares for you. It certainly does, which is why the DermaSeries line came out. This body wash, in particular, might be compelling for psoriasis sufferers with extremely dry skin.
This gentle cleansing wash by Dove soothes dry skin and can give immediate relief to itchy skin. This includes irritation and scaly skin patches brought about by psoriasis.
The formula contains skin-mimicking lipids and sunflower oil to moisturize the skin and give it that signature Dove softness. This body wash is up to ten times more nourishing than other body washes out there! It’s the perfect way to soothe psoriasis while reversing skin dryness.
With a skin-safe ingredients list containing no harsh ingredients, this body wash is very mild and gentle. It doesn’t contain fragrance, soap, and other potentially harmful chemicals. The formula is hypoallergenic, so even those with delicate skin need not worry about bad reactions to the product.
But being too gentle does have some drawbacks, no matter how trivial. Because it has a creamy formula and no strong cleaning agents, this body wash hardly lathers. It feels more like a lotion than a soap that foams up. Don’t get me wrong-it cleanses beautifully. But that rich lather many people love about body washes is lacking in this one.
Pros
- Soothes and gives dry, itchy skin immediate relief
- Contains lipids and sunflower oil to moisturize the skin
- Ten times more nourishing than other body wash options available
- Mild and gentle, but effective at washing away bacteria and germs
- Hypoallergenic and contains no fragrance or soap
Cons
- Hardly lathers; feels more like a lotion that you can rinse off
This gentle body wash transforms dry, scaly patches into soft and bouncy skin. But is Dove soap good for psoriasis? In true Dove fashion, it has a creamy formula that moisturizes the skin to leave it silky smooth. So yes-it’s a great way to combat scales after a bad psoriasis flare-up.
11. Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash
Who says sweet-smelling body washes can’t be gentle on the skin? Aveeno begs to differ. The popular brand’s Skin Relief body wash is gentle and soothing on the most sensitive skin types, but with a hard-to-resist tropical coconut scent.
Like many Aveeno products, this formula contains oat. Oat helps to soothe the skin and nourish it too. With oatmeal proteins, this body wash soothes itchy skin by hydrating and moisturizing it. This helps calm and get rid of dry patches to make the skin touchable and soft again.
The body wash is very mild and gentle. It’s highly recommended for those with dry, sensitive skin, and even delicate conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Despite being gentle, it does its job of cleaning well. It works hard to wash off the slightest sliver of dirt and impurities on the skin.
For those whose skin reacts badly to fragrance, don’t worry. While this body wash has a coconut scent, it’s clinically proven to be as gentle as the formulations that don’t contain fragrance.
While I love this body wash’s coconut scent, other people aren’t so happy about the fragrance. There seems to be a debate about this body wash’s scent among Aveeno lovers. Some fans feel like the coconut scent is too chemical-like or artificial, instead of a natural coconut smell.
Pros
- Soothes skin itchiness by moisturizing dry skin patches
- Contains oat to nourish and calm the skin, especially after a bad flare-up
- Has a rich and sweet coconut scent you’ll love
- Gentle but washes the skin rigorously to get rid of all dirt and impurities
- Clinically proven to be as gentle on the skin as fragrance-free products
Cons
- Some people point out that the coconut scent smells chemical-like
It’s definitely a bright idea to use this Aveeno body wash for psoriasis, if not for its soothing properties than its gentle formulation. And of course, the coconut scent is the cherry on top. You can manage your psoriasis while having a relaxing bath that transports you to a vacation in a tropical paradise.
12. Wild Naturals Eczema and Psoriasis Body Wash
And last but not least, we have another outstanding all-natural body wash option from Wild Naturals. This body wash was curated for people with eczema and psoriasis.
The secret weapon of this body wash is its natural ingredients that are skin-safe and skin-soothing. Case in point: the first ingredient in the formula is aloe vera, instead of the usual water. Aloe vera is an excellent humectant, which means it draws moisture from the air to hydrate the skin properly. It also has soothing properties.
Manuka honey and coconut oil, on the other hand, are awesome moisturizers. They nourish and moisturize the skin, locking in all the hydrating goodness within its layers. They both also have antibacterial properties that cleanse the skin and rid of impurities and germs.
The formula is infused with vitamin E. This vitamin repairs the skin barrier, which is frequently irritated and disrupted when you have psoriasis. It strengthens the skin too by promoting elasticity, collagen production, and cell turnover.
This body wash balances out the skin’s pH level to a neutral state. By doing so, the skin is at its best condition to absorb all the vitamins and minerals this product provides.
The only thing that disappointed me about this product is the scent. One would assume that an aloe and honey body wash would smell like those sweet, refreshing ingredients. However, this body wash is actually unscented.
Pros
- Aloe vera hydrates the skin and soothes it too
- Manuka honey and coconut oil heal and moisturize the skin to lock in water and hydration
- Vitamin E strengthens the skin, promoting elasticity and collagen production
- Balances the skin’s pH level to make sure it absorbs vitamins and minerals
Cons
- Doesn’t smell like honey and aloe, as many would expect
It’s nice to see a body wash that’s very thoughtful about the skin’s pH balance and how it absorbs nourishment. This is a terrific body wash option if you want to manage your psoriasis with natural ingredients that will give your skin the moisture and reparation it needs.
What to Look for When Buying a Body Wash for Psoriasis
Soothing ingredients
The hardest thing about having psoriasis is arguably how itchy and painful flare-ups can be. Pink and red plaques of raised skin are often a sign of a severe breakout coming up. When this happens, it’s important to look for soothing skin-care products.
Some soothing ingredients you can find in a good body wash are aloe vera, manuka honey, oat, and tea tree oil. These are all known to calm irritated skin and provide quick or immediate relief to itchy and painful skin.
This is the reason why coal tar body wash and coal tar soap are high in demand among psoriasis sufferers. Tar has been used for centuries to relieve symptoms of itching and soothe painful breakouts on the skin. Because of its soothing properties, it’s the perfect formula to help treat and manage psoriasis’ distracting symptoms.
Moisturizing oils and butters
Another thing you constantly have to combat when you deal with psoriasis is chronic dryness of the skin. While creams and lotions are the best way to keep moisture locked into your skin, it’s also smart to look for a body wash that leaves your skin feeling softer and more supple after use.
Some plant oils and butters you can look for in your body wash are coconut, jojoba, and olive oils. You can also try looking for shea butter if you want the same rich nourishment but with less slip. These can all work together to make the skin more touchable and plump, even after a flare-up.
Exfoliating properties
Psoriasis flare-ups often end with dry, flaky scales stuck to the skin. Many people who get these scales get self-conscious about them. Because of that, they try to get rid of the dry patches as fast as they can. This is where exfoliating ingredients come in.
Active acids can be a great way to gently exfoliate dry, scaly skin to slough off the dead skin cells. Ingredients like salicylic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid are way friendlier to the skin than exfoliating scrubs, which can end up irritating your skin even more. These acids help to lift the scales and eliminate them faster.
Skin-safe formulas
The last thing you want to do is further irritate your skin if you’re dealing with psoriasis. When looking for a body wash, it’s important that you go for formulas that are suitable for ultra-sensitive skin. This means opting for formulas without potentially harmful ingredients, like parabens, sulfates, lanolin, and artificial dyes and fragrances.
Recommended by doctors
Let’s never forget that psoriasis is a medical condition. Dermatologists will always know best how to manage your unique case of psoriasis. That’s why it’s always best to seek medical advice from a trusted dermatologist about what body wash you can use for your psoriasis.
If you want to pick out your own body wash without a prescription from your doctor, then go for brands that are clinically tested and have a seal of approval from dermatologists. These include brands like Vanicream and CeraVe, to name a few.
Other Important Factors to Consider
What is a body wash for psoriasis?
When you have psoriasis, even your choice of body wash matters. A good body wash to help treat psoriasis is one that can help soothe the skin and relieve it of itchiness and any burning sensation from flare-ups. These are often medicated, but can also be all-natural.
These body washes can either be specially formulated for people with psoriasis (it should say so on the packaging) or just doctor-approved mild and gentle soaps. Either can be very effective, as long as you choose the right one.
How does a body wash for psoriasis work?
These body washes should have soothing ingredients that calm the skin during or after psoriasis flare-ups. Like with any other body wash, you spread them across the skin, then lather up if possible, to cleanse the body. The big difference is that the ingredients should work to curb irritation.
For body washes with active acids that can gently exfoliate, it works a bit differently. There’s a noticeable physical change when these exfoliating body washes come into play because these help scaly skin to disappear after flare-ups. A body wash like this will slowly slough off the dead, thick skin cells that make up the scales. In a few uses, the scales should be shed gently and without pain.
Who is this type of body wash for?
These body washes are mainly for people with psoriasis. Because of the similarities between psoriasis and eczema, these can work for sufferers of the latter as well.
However, because of how gentle the formulations are, they would also be a great fit for very dry or sensitive skin. Body washes created for psoriasis target dryness and itching with soothing, calming ingredients, and dry, sensitive skin can benefit from those just the same.
What are the types of body washes for psoriasis?
There are many kinds of body washes suitable for psoriasis patients, and there isn’t a single way to classify them. But based on personal observation, I can classify these body washes into two: those that are mild and gentle, and those that actively combat psoriasis.
The first type is the very gentle type of body wash. Usually, these body washes aren’t created specifically for people with psoriasis-they’re just mild and gentle enough to be used by them.
These are body washes without any irritating ingredients, like fragrance, sulfates, and parabens. While they don’t manage psoriasis directly, you can trust they won’t make matters worse for your skin.
The second type is the body wash that has ingredients to combat symptoms of psoriasis. These are usually the body washes that contain soothing botanicals like aloe vera and tea tree oil. These body washes can also have exfoliating acids like AHAs to help you get rid of psoriasis plaques.
Both work great for skin with psoriasis, but they shine for different occasions and reasons. The mild and gentle body washes are great for everyday tenderness for your skin. Meanwhile, the type that can combat psoriasis symptoms is the one you reach for when you’re having psoriasis breakouts.
Why do you need a special body wash for psoriasis?
Normal body washes that you can buy in convenience stores or supermarkets tend to be overly drying. When you have psoriasis, your skin is already constantly dry. You can’t use just any soap because that might dry it out more, therefore irritating it.
Because of your delicate skin condition, you need to find an appropriate body wash-something gentle and mild, but can still thoroughly wash off any dirt and impurities on your body. Soothing and exfoliating ingredients are a bonus to help manage itchiness and scales, respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is psoriasis, and what are its symptoms?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that drives your immune system to attack healthy cells in your body mistakenly. It is considered a skin condition because the manifestation of the disease is almost always on the skin.
When you have psoriasis, the skin multiplies many times faster than it’s supposed to. Because of this, scaly rashes and thick, raised skin appear.
Common psoriasis symptoms include itchy plaques of thick and raised skin, pink or red hives with scales, chronic dry skin, and thickened nails. Some people with psoriasis also often complain of stiff joints that are hard to flex and extend.
Is there a permanent cure for psoriasis?
There has been no permanent cure found for psoriasis today. However, there are many ways to help manage it so that the sufferer doesn’t feel burdened or distracted.
One of the ways is to have a skin-care and bath regimen apt for their sensitive skin. To do this, a psoriasis patient must look for personal care products made specifically for their condition. There are various soaps and body washes, exfoliators, lotions, moisturizing creams, creams for psoriasis, and other topical creams out there made just for people with psoriasis.
Other people opt for more alternative ways of managing their psoriasis. One of these methods is light therapy, which can be quite pricey and isn’t always guaranteed to work. Some people also try to get into fitness or go on a healthier diet to see if they get fewer psoriasis flare-ups.
A few of these adjustments can make life a lot more bearable for someone with psoriasis. All they have to do is commit to the lifestyle changes and product switches.
What are the most trusted body wash brands to treat psoriasis?
The most trusted body washes are those from brands that have been around for decades. These brands are likely to also be the top dogs in formulating for sensitive skin. These include brands like Vanicream, CeraVe, and Cetaphil.
Dove and Aveeno are also very trustworthy because they are backed by dermatologists and are known to create very gentle formulations for all skin types.
How do you use these body washes?
You use them like any other body wash in the market. You can either rub your hands together to do a quick, creamy lather and glide the product against your skin to cleanse.
You can also use a sponge to help foam up the body wash. However, always remember to find a sponge or towel that isn’t coarse and scratchy. Use one that is gentle on the skin and won’t aggravate your flare-ups and rashes.
Is it okay to switch body washes from time to time if you have psoriasis?
Yes, it’s perfectly okay to switch to a different body wash if you think it’s what your skin needs. As a general rule of thumb, try to go for gentle, milder formulas with no potentially harmful ingredients for your everyday body wash.
If you have flare-ups or feel a bit of itching, you should switch to a body wash that can soothe and combat the symptoms of skin irritation (maybe something with tea tree oil or aloe vera).
Aside from a good body wash, what other personal care products can help manage psoriasis?
Body wash is just the first step of an entire personal care regimen you can follow to manage your psoriasis. Try experimenting with gentle body oils and lotions, or medicated psoriasis creams after your showers to see which ones your skin loves. These moisturizers can lock in hydration from your bath, to keep your skin soft, supple, and bouncy.
What other lifestyle changes can I adapt to reduce psoriasis flare-ups?
One thing you can do to help reduce flare-ups is to take upon small lifestyle changes. Remember that psoriasis is a condition of the immune system. If your immune system is low, it’s bound to act up again.
So try your best to live a healthier lifestyle. You can eat more greens and good fats, or get into yoga and fitness. Consuming more vitamin C can also strengthen your immune system.
Also, try to watch out for specific triggers that cause your psoriasis to flare up. Observe whether it occurs when you are under the sun for too long, or when you’re overly stressed out. Once you pinpoint situations that trigger flare-ups, try your utmost best to avoid them.
Where can I buy a body wash for psoriasis?
There are plenty of places you can buy psoriasis products, especially body washes, which are fairly common. You can get one recommended by your doctor at any pharmacy or drugstore.
If you want to choose your own body wash to help treat psoriasis, you can check options at Walmart, Target, or any other hypermarket or grocery. They usually have a wide range of brands to choose from. But if you’re heading into these places with no previous knowledge about what body wash can help psoriasis, it can get quite overwhelming.
That’s why I recommend you to buy your body wash online instead. It’s the best place to buy soaps good for psoriasis because you can do prior research on it to see if it’s gentle enough for you. You can compare products and their prices, and read what other psoriasis sufferers have to say about them. These body washes are available everywhere, from Amazon to smaller skincare websites.
Conclusion
Discomfort and distractions that come with psoriasis are tough to go through, and even tougher to manage. But the first step to prevent and reduce psoriasis is curating an awesome personal care regimen it will respond to.
By finding the best body wash for psoriasis, you help your skin feel so much better and help yourself get more out of life. I hope this list has helped you gain confidence in treating your psoriasis. I also hope you discovered new, fun body washes you’d like to try out. Good luck with your skincare journey!
