This psoriasis routine changed my life – and skin – Body and Soul

There's a lot to do (hey, no-one said it would be easy) but it works.

Today were talking about psoriasis, otherwise known as Winters Devil, or my personal favourite The Flaky Snake.

Im lucky enough to follow in Kimmy Ks footsteps and suffer this chronic skin condition in which persistent, red and dry patches arise on the face, scalp and hairline. Doesnt it sound fun?

Well, surprise, surprise, its not actually that much of a party time. My makeup gets stuck in it and it hurts (gross, but true).

There are three types of psoriasis:

Its not contagious and can arise for a multitude of reasons. I have scalp psoriasis and sebo-psoriasis thanks to my completely f-d-up auto-immune system and this is the only doctor-approved routine that has left my skin sans red patches, sans scales and sans pain. Hey, the more you know...

1. Elocon lotion

Applied topically in the areas of the scalp that are affected, this prescription, potent lotion is like magic at clearing flaky skin. The active ingredient is mometasone furoate, known for reducing inflammation of the skin. Be aware that it looks oily, so you probably dont want to use it the day before a big event or interview.

I usually use this the day before and the morning of the day that I wash my hair leaving one or two days of clean-looking hair. This seems to be often enough to keep the psoriasis at bay.

2. Nizoral 2% shampoo

This over-the-counter medical shampoo also works for my scalp psoriasis. The active ingredient is 2% of ketoconazole, a synthetic antifungal drug. While psoriasis isnt a fungal disease, antifungal medication seems to help calm it down effectively.

The shampoo does leave your hair looking clean but its really all about the anti-psoriasis effect. No yummy fragrance or amazing hair care here. But, seen as it makes your scalp look like its never been dry or patchy once in your whole life, all that unimportant stuff goes down the drain, literally.

3. Siguent Hycor eye ointment

Containing the active ingredient hydrocortisone acetate (known for reducing swelling and redness), this prescription eye ointment was the reason I went to the doctor in the first place.

Having first been told the flaky, painful skin around my eyes was likely a staph infection and then finding out that it (and every other dry patch on my face) was psoriasis was an interesting discovery. This ointment helped to moisturise my eye area (which was beginning to wrinkle and make me look years older) in a flash.

I just apply the ointment after cleansing and moisturising my skin at night and leave it to sink in as I sleep.

4. Hydrozole ointment

This ointment mixes anti-inflammatory hydrocortisone with anti-fungal clotrimazole which again helps to calm the redness and pain of psoriasis.

This ointment is used anywhere on the face (except the eyes, hence the eye ointment). I use it around the sides of my nose (nasolabial folds) and eyebrows. Literally all the redness and flakiness has vanished and I can now wear makeup on nights out without it getting stuck in the scaly skin. Yay!

5. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

When I was recommended Cetaphil by my doctor I was more than a little confused. Being a beauty writer Ive tried all sorts of fabulous (and expensive) cleansers which kept my skin looking lovely (despite the perennial dry patches).

But, it seems you cant go past good ol Cetaphil. The non-soap cleanser is pH-balanced, fragrance-free, lanolin-free, non-comedogenic (wont block pores) and dermatologist recommended.

So thats it really. Cetaphil to cleanse, Hydrozole on the nose and eyebrows, Siguent Hycor on the eye area, Elocon for the scalp and Nizoral to shampoo. Everything else stays as normal.

Of course, Im not saying this will 100% work for you. And two of the products are prescription only, so youll need to go to a GP anyway to get the regime up and running.

But, we all gotta help each other out, and if something works for me, it might just work for you. Its at least worth giving a go.

Goodbye dry and scaly skin. I wont miss you at all.

Please note: this is the recommendation of one qualified GP that happened to work for me. Please visit your doctor and heed their advice as it will be specific to your skin type and pre-existing conditions.

Melanie Grant is Australias top facialist, and her tips for getting flawless skin are surprisingly cheap and easy!

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This psoriasis routine changed my life - and skin - Body and Soul