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Moisturizers
A look at over-the-counter creams, lotions, and ointments
Will it work for you?
Claims of miracle skin creams are mighty appealing to people with psoriasis. But how do you find what works for you without spending a fortune? Below are some suggestions to help you better navigate the skin care aisle. Take a look at what other people have tried, and why it may—or may not—have helped. And remember, always check with your dermatologist before trying any over-the-counter product.
No matter which product you use, the result should be the same—moisture. When your skin is moist, lubricated and flexible, it is less prone to cracking and trauma. Experts suggest that after you wash your skin, pat dry and then apply an ointment, cream or lotion immediately to seal in the moisture. The right product for your skin can help to soften, soothe, reduce redness, remove scales and relieve itching. So which ones may do just that?
Looking at labels
A good moisturizer will usually contain the right combination of emollients and water-binding agents (ingredients that attract water to the skin and help keep it there). They may also contain sunscreen, anti-irritants, and antioxidants.
Below is a rough guide of ingredients that you may see when reading moisturizer labels.
| Category |
Property | Ingredients |
| Emollients | Ingredients that are used for their lubricating properties which resemble those the skin produces for itself | Natural ingredients include plant oils, mineral oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, petrolatum, cholesterol, and animal oils (including emu, mink, and lanolin). Less recognizable emollients are palmitates, myristates, triglycerides, and stearates. |
| Natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) or water-binding agents | Substances aimed at retaining water in the skin or thought to repair intercellular structure | Lecithin, glycerin, polysaccharides, hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, sodium PCA, collagen, elastin, proteins, amino acids, cholesterol, glucose, sucrose, fructose, glycogen, phospholipids, glycosphingolipids, glycosaminoglycans, etc. |
| Anti-irritants | Have a soothing effect on the skin | Bisabolol, allantoin, burdock root, aloe, licorice root, grape extract, glycyrrhetinic acid, green tea, vitamin C, lavender extract, chamomile extract, willow bark, etc. |
| Antioxidants | Beneficial for cell turnover, healing, and reducing dehydration | Selenium, superoxide dismutase, vitamin A (retinyl palmitate and retinol), vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl palmitate), beta glucan, vitamin E (a-tocopherol, tocotrienol), curcumin, coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid, green tea, grape extract, etc. |
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Cream, ointment, or lotion?
You can find a winning combination of emollients, water-binding agents, anti-irritants, and antioxidants in any form of product, whether it be tub, tube or pump. Below are some examples that have helped others.
| | Benefits | Potential drawbacks | Some have tried |
| Creams | Thicker creams are usually the best because they trap moisture and keep it in your skin the longest | Some creams can have very few water-binding agents and few emollients; this combination can make the products' great ingredients virtually useless | Eucerin®, Neutrogena® Norwegian Formula® Hand Cream, Cetaphil® |
| Ointments | Can be jam-packed with essential therapeutic ingredients and less water | Can stain clothes or be greasy to the touch | Aquaphor®, Vaseline®, Bag Balm, pure petroleum jelly |
| Lotions | Lightweight, non-greasy feeling with fast absorption into the skin | Generally not heavy enough to therapeutically penetrate the skin; avoid lotions that contain alcohol, which is actually a drying agent | Paula's Choice® Extra Emollient Moisturizer With Antioxidants |
Take a look at some other ingredients which have had therapeutic effects for some people with psoriasis. You can find them in soaps, oils, creams, ointments and even shampoos.
- Coal tar—a thick coal by-product that is a long-established remedy for getting rid of scales.
- Salicylic acid—an easy-to-use substance which helps loosen scales. It can also make it easier for medications to penetrate the skin. It is available in creams, lotions and gels.
- Aloe vera—a traditional skin soother. A Swedish study has recently shown that topical 0.5% aloe vera cream dramatically improved psoriasis symptoms in 83% of participants.
- Oatmeal—has a soothing, anti-itch quality and light exfoliating properties.
- Dead Sea/Epsom salts—great mineral exfoliants which helps loosen and remove scales and can make moisturizing and medicating more effective.
(While many of these topical products work for some people, their ingredients are not subject to the same FDA testing procedures as prescription treatments. Please check with your dermatologist before trying any over-the-counter product.)
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The products referenced above are representative samples only and are not intended to be an endorsement by Amgen or Wyeth.
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