Face and Body

It’s possible that makeup could affect the way your treatments work, so it’s always best to check with your doctor before using any.

Do leave a good period of time between putting your treatment on and putting your makeup on, and make sure the treatment has sunk in properly before applying makeup. There are some treatments that only need to be applied once a day, and preferably at night time, which mean no waiting around for it to sink in before putting your foundation on in the morning!

Everyone has different skin, and so it’s useful for anyone to do a patch test before using a certain product, to make sure it isn’t going to irritate their face. We all have our favourite products, and everyone has to find what works for them. Look out for products labelled ‘hypoallergenic’, as these are often kinder to sensitive skin.

If you’ve got nail psoriasis, it’s best to keep nails short, as if you catch them they can get inflamed. Some people with nail psoriasis paint their nails - not only to cover up any marks, but also to add the finishing touches to their look! Falsies are also usually fine, just make sure that you or the stylist is careful when applying them; too much force under the cuticle could inflame the nail bed. With both nail polish and false nails, it's always a good idea to try a 'test' nail for a day or two before doing the whole lot, just to make sure it doesn't cause any irritation.

The temptation to use sunbeds can be strong - a tan is attractive and fashionable. However, we’ve got to get a bit serious here. Sunbeds do pose a real threat to a user’s health, and the risks of developing skin cancer are increased.

Using a sunbed is not the same as your UV Light Therapy! Only the very precise part of UV light that is beneficial to psoriasis is used during light therapy, and your Dermatologist measures exactly how much you can be exposed to, on which areas of the body. When you get on a sunbed you’re getting the whole lot of the spectrum, and it’s not measured, so it’s ineffective as well as risky.

If you find that sunlight does help your psoriasis, find ways of getting outside. Go for a walk, do your revision in the garden, even go on holiday if you’re lucky enough to be able to. Just remember to stay safe and wear suncream, keep hydrated and cover up in the intense middle-of-the-day sun. Remember, your psoriasis might get better in the sunshine, but it’ll definitely get worse with sunburn.

If it’s a tan you’re after, then luckily there are other, safer ways of faking it. There are loads of different products and treatments available that give a fake tan, from build-up moisturising lotions, to gels, bronzers, creams and sprays. It may be a good idea to do a patch-test a day or so before applying the product all over, to check that it doesn’t irritate your psoriasis. Get glowing!

Everyone has their own personal preference as to where they like to remove hair, but common areas (for guys and girls!) include the face, chest, armpits, legs and bikini area.

Over time, people also develop their own preference for how they remove the hair, depending on cost, convenience, how good the results are, and how sensitive their skin is. Luckily, hair doesn’t grow through psoriatic plaques, so your psoriasis shouldn’t cause you too much of a problem when it comes to hair removal.

It’s fairly easy to shave around patches of psoriasis, although you should be careful not to snag or cut yourself. Use the ointment or emollient cleanser you use in the bath or shower instead of shaving foam - it’ll do the same job of helping the razor to glide over your skin, but won’t be as drying. The face is quite sensitive, so, guys, if you’ve got psoriasis on your face and you want to shave, it might be best to try dry shaving with an electric razor instead.

Hair removing creams are another popular and inexpensive method, with results that last a bit longer than shaving. Again, it’s usually not too difficult to apply the cream to areas around any patches of psoriasis you might have. As with other cosmetics, though, it’s always best for anyone to do a small patch test before using properly, as hair removing creams can irritate the skin.

Waxing has some of the best hair removal results, but can be more expensive, and the most painful! You can treat yourself to a professional wax at a salon, or have a go yourself with strips or hot wax at home. As with the other methods, it’s best to try to wax around your psoriasis.

Whichever method you choose, hair removal can be harsh on your skin. It’s a good idea to moisturise well afterwards, and exfoliating once or twice a week can help to prevent itchy, irritated ingrown hairs (yes, you too, boys!) Also, it’s a good idea to leave applying your topical treatments until after you’ve done your hair removal - if you put them on beforehand they’re likely to get removed with the hair.

There might be times when you feel really self-conscious about your psoriasis; you might be experiencing a particularly bad flare, have it in an obvious, difficult to cover place, or have an occasion coming up that you’d like to look your best for.

Thankfully, there are a number of camouflage ranges available for people with skin conditions. These are available on prescription at your doctor’s discretion, or can be bought online. Changing Faces have loads of information on what’s out there, and can not only help you find it, but will also teach you how to apply the product, and ensure you get a close, natural-looking match to your skin tone. It’s even waterproof, so you can go swimming or to the beach without it slipping off.