Managing Beard Psoriasis: A Comprehensive Guide
Understanding Beard Psoriasis
Beard psoriasis, also known as facial psoriasis, affects the skin under your beard, leading to itchy, flaky, and inflamed skin. This skin condition can cause patches on your cheeks, including under your beard, making it challenging to get rid of flaky skin. Shaving and beard products can further irritate skin psoriasis, but changing your facial hair products and sticking to a psoriasis-friendly skin care routine can help manage beard psoriasis.
6 Essential Tips to Manage Beard Psoriasis
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Gentle Cleansing: Avoid harsh soaps and use a gentle facial cleanser suitable for your skin type. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends using a fragrance-free cleanser to avoid further drying and irritation.
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Moisturize: Apply a moisturizer to clean, damp skin to help your skin soak in moisture and hydrate dry, flaky patches. Use a non-comedogenic beard conditioner or a fragrance-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer.
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Exfoliate: Exfoliate your beard area with a chemical exfoliant 1-2 times a week to prevent ingrown hairs and gently buff away flakes and dead skin cells.
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Shave with Care: Shaving can further irritate your skin and prompt a psoriasis flare. Follow the American Academy of Dermatology Association’s shaving tips to avoid further irritation.
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Avoid Triggers: Environmental triggers like physical trauma, drug use, infection, obesity, stress, smoking, and excess alcohol may cause psoriasis flares. Identify and avoid these triggers to manage beard psoriasis.
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Choose the Right Products: Look for products with ingredients like calamine, camphor, hydrocortisone, or menthol to soothe itchy skin and redness. Avoid products with alcohol and fragrance, which can dry out the skin and aggravate sensitive skin.
What Causes Beard Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune-mediated disease that causes inflammation throughout your body. Your immune system produces skin cells rapidly, leading to buildup before they have time to slough off, resulting in pink or red patches with silvery scales on lighter skin tones and purple or dark patches with gray scales on darker skin tones.
When to See a Doctor
If you experience symptoms like hair loss, bleeding or pus from the skin, noticeable pain, or rashes spreading, consult a board-certified dermatologist for help. They can recommend prescription-strength treatments and provide guidance on managing psoriasis under your beard.
The Bottom Line
Beard psoriasis can be managed with simple adjustments to your skin care routine and avoiding triggers. By following these tips and seeking professional help when needed, you can reduce the severity of beard psoriasis and enjoy a healthier, more confident you.
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