As some of you may know, I reluctantly posted a bare-faced photo on my Instagram page earlier this week. I have endured a long struggle with plaque psoriasis, and decided to share the picture to demonstrate how it is possible to go without much make-up but still minimise the redness and irritation which goes hand-in-hand with psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions. I have often professed a hatred of "selfies", and whilst I still hold very little interest in them, I am glad to say that I felt comfortable enough to share a photo which up until recently, I would not even have had the confidence to take in the first place. Whilst I still have having psoriasis, I have come to accept it as a part of me; a part which I would rather was not there, but remains nevertheless. I reached the conclusion some time ago that I can merely do my best to manage it, and I cannot afford to let it rule my life.
This is a brief post where I will share the top three tips that worked best for me. As always, I am not declaring myself a professional in this area, but I find that these recommendations have really helped me to manage my psoriasis. I hope that you might be willing to give them a try if you suffer from dry, red or inflamed skin, and that they will work for you too.
1. Drink more water
Yes. It's that basic. It makes sense to use a good moisturiser when skin is dry and flaky, in order to replenish hydration levels in the skin. What often goes unmentioned is the importance of hydrating it from the inside. I have had enough experience with psoriasis to understand the importance of drinking plenty of water and very little caffeine (as a diuretic it can reduce hydration levels). Not only will it help to keep skin more supple, but plenty of water will also flush out toxins from the body which, when they accumulate, can enhance inflammation in the body.
2. Reduce gluten consumption
Before you close this post and vow never to return to this blog again, I promise that I have not become an advocate of extreme or 'exclude x, y, and z' eating. Following a protracted period of extreme vomiting, it was suggested to me that I give up gluten for a period to identify whether it was an irritant for me. I duly did so, out of desperation. What I did not expect was the transformative impact that doing so would have on my psoriasis. I cannot attribute the dramatic improvement I have seen to anything else, as I have not been on any medication for a number of months. I still cannot believe the difference it has made, and have discovered studies that reveal a link between gluten intolerance and psoriasis. This will obviously depend from person to person, but the amazing difference that this dietary change has made to my skin, and thus to my confidence, meant that I couldn't but share this tip.
3. If all else fails - Conceal!
As I mentioned above, It is possible to hide any redness that you may be self-conscious of without caking your face in make-up. I recently discovered that I could conceal any lesions on my forehead or neck with only two little products - a creamy concealer and a colour-correcting concealer designed to reduce redness. Whilst ordinarily the latter would be layered under foundation, I realised that mixing the concealer and corrector together gave the best result. I recommend taking a clean, unused pot (such as one you might get a foundation sample or eye shadow in), and combining a few drops of each product together. Using a lip brush, gently dot a small amount over any areas you wish to conceal. Wipe the brush clean, and use the tip to carefully blend in the product. I love the Mac mineralise concealer and the La Roche Posay Concealer Pen Brush (the green one).
In my next post, I hope to continue on this theme by discussing my favourite hydrating skincare products and my ideas on how to a achieve a natural, dewy-skin look.
Thank you once again for reading! X
This is a brief post where I will share the top three tips that worked best for me. As always, I am not declaring myself a professional in this area, but I find that these recommendations have really helped me to manage my psoriasis. I hope that you might be willing to give them a try if you suffer from dry, red or inflamed skin, and that they will work for you too.
1. Drink more water
Yes. It's that basic. It makes sense to use a good moisturiser when skin is dry and flaky, in order to replenish hydration levels in the skin. What often goes unmentioned is the importance of hydrating it from the inside. I have had enough experience with psoriasis to understand the importance of drinking plenty of water and very little caffeine (as a diuretic it can reduce hydration levels). Not only will it help to keep skin more supple, but plenty of water will also flush out toxins from the body which, when they accumulate, can enhance inflammation in the body.
2. Reduce gluten consumption
Before you close this post and vow never to return to this blog again, I promise that I have not become an advocate of extreme or 'exclude x, y, and z' eating. Following a protracted period of extreme vomiting, it was suggested to me that I give up gluten for a period to identify whether it was an irritant for me. I duly did so, out of desperation. What I did not expect was the transformative impact that doing so would have on my psoriasis. I cannot attribute the dramatic improvement I have seen to anything else, as I have not been on any medication for a number of months. I still cannot believe the difference it has made, and have discovered studies that reveal a link between gluten intolerance and psoriasis. This will obviously depend from person to person, but the amazing difference that this dietary change has made to my skin, and thus to my confidence, meant that I couldn't but share this tip.
3. If all else fails - Conceal!
As I mentioned above, It is possible to hide any redness that you may be self-conscious of without caking your face in make-up. I recently discovered that I could conceal any lesions on my forehead or neck with only two little products - a creamy concealer and a colour-correcting concealer designed to reduce redness. Whilst ordinarily the latter would be layered under foundation, I realised that mixing the concealer and corrector together gave the best result. I recommend taking a clean, unused pot (such as one you might get a foundation sample or eye shadow in), and combining a few drops of each product together. Using a lip brush, gently dot a small amount over any areas you wish to conceal. Wipe the brush clean, and use the tip to carefully blend in the product. I love the Mac mineralise concealer and the La Roche Posay Concealer Pen Brush (the green one).
In my next post, I hope to continue on this theme by discussing my favourite hydrating skincare products and my ideas on how to a achieve a natural, dewy-skin look.
Thank you once again for reading! X
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