Psoriasis Skin Care Product Recommendations from Patients
In our last Community Recommendations article, we reviewed sulfur crystals, LUSH’s Dream Cream, bareMinerals, and blister guard BandAids.
Psoriasis community recommended products
When it comes to managing psoriasis, the best recommendations come from your fellow Pso soldiers. So, without further ado, here’s a fresh batch of recommended skin products and ideas from PlaquePsoriasis.com community members.
Oregano oil
I’m always on the hunt for products that will reduce the itching from my psoriasis. A few of you in the community have tried your hand at creating your own anti-itch creams and you name oregano oil as a key ingredient.
The potential uses for oregano oil are extensive, but when applied topically it’s been thought to help psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, and athlete’s foot. Do not apply oregano oil directly to the skin! Make sure that it is diluted in a carrier oil first (like coconut oil or grapeseed oil). As with other essential oils, when used in high concentrations oregano oil can cause skin rashes, so do a spot check first.
Unfortunately, like other biologics, it is frequently more than $10,000 per year and your insurance company might deny your doctor’s request for approval. If this happens, check out Cosentyx’s program “Covered Until You’re Covered.”
You may be able to get Cosentyx for free without a co-pay for up to 2 years while you appeal the decision with your insurance company. "Covered Until You’re Covered" is one example of a patient assistance program, where drug manufacturers (or even non-profits) help patients get coverage for expensive medications when they are denied by their insurance.
PSOR-VAL
This product has been floating around in our community for a while, but this is its first time in your Community Recommendations. PSOR-VAL is a spray for skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema and attributes its success to the ingredient zinc pyrithione, which is a well-known ingredient in many OTC products for psoriasis.
While many of you use this product with success, this review comes with a warning. While researching PSOR-VAL for this article I discovered that it seems to be sold by the same company as Skin-Cap, a product that found itself embroiled in controversy for illegally containing unlisted steroids (sounds like Yiganerjing, right?). PSOR-VAL is even described by the company as a “comparable” product to Skin-Cap. Please exercise caution.
Alba Botanica lotion
You may have seen the colorful packing of Alba Botanica products in your local drugstore, but did you know they have a lotion for psoriasis? Labeled “very emollient body lotion” this product describes itself as “the extra care package for miserable skin.”
Wow, that speaks to me! So what’s in it? Ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, aloe extract, turmeric, and cannabis oil (yes, you read that last one right). It’s also got shea butter, beeswax, eucalyptus oil, and coconut oil, and oh my goodness excuse me while I run to the store and buy this immediately. Oh yes, and most of the ingredients are certified organic too.
Serious about Pso
Huge shout out to Pso Serious, a campaign launched by the Canadian Association of Psoriasis Patients (CAPP) to encourage Canadians with psoriasis to share their psoriasis stories and to ask politicians to reduce the barriers that some Canadians still face in accessing treatment (like phototherapy and biologics).
The initiative was launched on World Psoriasis Day (October 29th) and the group published a report detailing the current landscape of access to care in Canada. If you’re a Canadian with psoriasis, this should interest you!
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