People are curious when they see something different, especially on your skin. You have many choices about how to react to their curiosity. You may choose to ignore their attention, or you can explain that psoriasis is a skin disease that is not contagious. Educating people about psoriasis is very valuable because it helps them to accept people who live with skin that is different.
But when you wish to go out in public without addressing your skin condition, certain techniques can help you cope. Wearing long sleeves, pants, turtlenecks, hats or scarves, for example, can make coping in public a lot easier on days when you don't have the emotional energy to accept the stares and questions.
Cosmetic cover-up products can help for those times when clothing won't do. Masking psoriasis lesions and camouflaging redness can make it easier to feel confident in social situations. Dermablend is one brand name of a body makeup that some people use. It can be found in major department stores.
Caution: Never apply cosmetic cover-up to open skin lesions, unhealed cuts or raw or irritated skin. Avoid using cosmetics if skin allergies are present. If you're ever in doubt about applying a cover-up, seek the advice of your physician.
Note: Not all types of psoriasis can be camouflaged. Masking pustular or erythrodermic psoriasis is not a good idea, because minor irritants in cosmetics can produce stinging and redness, and this skin is already inflamed.
What can I do to make my psoriasis less noticeable?Using moisturizers regularly can help improve the redness and scaling of psoriasis lesions. Also, remove as much scale as possible if you are going to use a cosmetic cover-up. There are two ways you can get rid of psoriasis scale on your own:
Occlusion: You can coat each plaque with a thick layer of heavy, over-the-counter emollient cream and then cover it overnight with a plastic wrap. In the morning, wash away the scales in the shower. Note: never occlude a prescription drug without first consulting your doctor.
Hydration: After soaking for 10 to 15 minutes in warm water and bath oil, gently rub your skin with a towel to remove the scales
