Psoriasis is believed as auto-immune disease which is experienced by many people worldwide. This skin disorder commonly affects the face, although it may spread to another body parts, such as neck, arms, and back. Psoriasis causes the skin to redden and it is usually quite visible. This skin disorder might affect both children and adults, although mature adult with the age above 30 are generally more susceptible. As an auto-immune disorder, it is quite reasonable that psoriasis outbreak depends more on specific individual rather than common risk factors, and that treating it may need eligible efforts.
Facial Psoriasis: an Outline
Psoriasis may occur on your body and face. Psoriasis which occurs on your face has similar symptoms with the one occurring on your other body parts. However, the skin around your face and head is thinner and therefore, more sensitive than the other body areas. Thus, the way of treating psoriasis in this area should be differentiated from the other body parts. Facial psoriasis shows the symptoms of psoriasis in other body areas, such as:
- Red patches on skin which may or may not be covered in white scales.
- Over-dry skin which has the possibility of bleeding.
- Burning sensation which is more dominated than itching.
- Dandruff-like scales and red patches with white borders occurring on the scalp.
This type of psoriasis affects most area of the face, such as eyebrows, around the mouth, forehead, jaws, and cheeks, and of the head, such as scalp and hairline. During outbreak, facial psoriasis may spread onto the skin around the neck and ears. Psoriasis on the head is usually really possible, especially if you have got short, thin hair.
Treating facial psoriasis
Facial psoriasis is not only about health disturbance. Most people find it cosmetically disturbing, too. Hence, treating it right might be required to get the disease away. However, this is an auto-immune disease which can hardly be eliminated completely. Yet, there are various ways to minimize all its effects. Some of the treatments include:
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Good moisturizer
When psoriasis outbreaks, you will feel over-dry skin on several parts of your face. Flakes and scales are even usually produced. This may end up in cracked skin which may end up with bleeding. Topical treatment, thus, may be useful to minimize this effect. Moisturizer which is made from goat’s milk or nettle plant is a good choice for facial skin. Petroleum jelly can also be applied to smoothen the affected areas. A dermatologist’s advice may be considered if you have a history of skin problem caused by moisturizer.
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Probiotics
Probiotics has recently be developed for treating psoriasis, including facial psoriasis. As an auto-immune disease, psoriasis occurs because the immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells. Probiotics helps treating this, in that it promotes good bacteria instead of killing those bad ones. These good bacteria is needed to reduce inflammation which occurs during psoriasis outbreak. As a result, tingling and burning sensation coming with psoriasis is reduced.
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Topical ointment
Topical ointments, especially ones containing corticosteroids or retinoid are usually prescribed to treat facial psoriasis. These kinds of medicine should not be applied continuously as those are potential in making the skin thinner and too sensitive. Corticosteroids and retinoid reduce the effects of psoriasis by removing the scales and reducing the inflammation. Minimizing scales and flakes formation is important in treating facial psoriasis to prevent it from spreading. However, these medicines should not be applied exaggeratedly on the skin around the eye, such as eyelid and eyebrows, since it may cause glaucoma and cataract, eye problems which may be harmful for your vision.
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Proper diets
Diets surely cannot eliminate psoriasis. Yet, choosing proper diets will enable you minimizing the effects of psoriasis. Diets which are enriched with raw nuts, omega-3 fatty acids, and fruits are beneficial for preventing inflammation and outbreak.
Treating psoriasis on the face might be complicated due to the skin sensitivity. Be sure to apply only small amount of medicines on your facial area. Ask your doctor about applying make ups, since some substances on it may react to the medicines, causing worse allergies and prolong the psoriasis outbreak effects.