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How and When to Use Exfoliants to Treat Psoriasis

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Exfoliants are used to remove dead skin cells on the outermost surface of the skin. This removal reveals newer, healthier skin just below. This removal can unclog pores, helps reduce acne outbreaks and keeps the skin clear.

There are two types of exfoliation, mechanical or chemical. When using a mechanical exfoliation method, there is scrubbing of the skin, usually with facial scrubs or micro-fiber cloths. These scrubs and cloths contain a variety of ingredients from sugar, and salt crystals to almond shells and apricot kernels. Commonly used abrasive materials include loofahs and sponges. The coarseness of the material dictates how it will be used.

Users with dry or sensitive skin should avoid exfoliants containing pumice or crushed volcano rock. These ingredients are in products developed for use on the skin of the feet. Chemical exfoliation uses salicylic acid, citric acid or fruit enzymes. They can be purchased over the counter, or applied in higher concentrations by a dermatologist. These products contain enzymes that loosen the substance that holds skin cells together, allowing them to be removed. The mechanical products are generally recommended to improve skin texture, reduce fine lines and to treat dry skin. The chemical products are effective when treating blemishes, dandruff, dermatitis and psoriasis.

Psoriasis sufferers can reduce the visible build up of excess skin by using exfoliants. They must select products that are friendly to sensitive skin, or they risk increasing the inflammation. Scrubs that use shells, seeds or exfoliating beads are not recommended. They are too harsh and may get lodged underneath the scales. This will make the skin more vulnerable to cuts and bruising.

One of the potential results of exfoliating is that skin can grow back thicker than before. Depending on the type of psoriasis, this may cause skin cell build up to occur even faster.

Scalp psoriasis is painful, itchy and can cause hair loss. Exfoliating gels that contain salicylic acid are particularly effective when treating scalp psoriasis, eczema and seborrheic dermatitis. These exfoliants help stop the itching that accompanies dry skin. Many contain tea tree oil, eucalyptus or mint. These ingredients help the skin remain smooth and clean after the dry outer layer of skin has been sloughed off and contain antiseptic properties that help kill bacteria. The essential oils soothe the skin and reduce inflammation. “Pre-shampoo” products are designed to exfoliate the scales and remove the flakes of dead skin in the hair before shampoo is applied.

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How Does Salicylic Acid Work as a Psoriasis Treatment?

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

All of my interaction with salicylic acid has been through Neutrogena’s T-Sal psoriasis shampoo.  I have found that my scalp tends to feel a lot better when I intersperse this shampoo with my usually coal tar / standard shampoo rotation.

Salicylic acid doesn’t treat psoriasis directly so much as it cleanses skin that is affected by psoriasis.  Besides scalp shampoos, salicylic acid is used widely as an exfoliant.   The fact that it is the active ingredient for “warming” facewashes should ring a bell — it is the acidic quality of this compound that deep cleans the skin and clears off all that dead skin and dirt build up.  It also deep cleans and disinfects pores.  It can also be used as an anti-dandruff medication.

Salicylic acid acts as a helping hand for other treatments that have a more direct effect on the psoriasis itself, such as coal tar and other chemical compounds that are continually being developed (Neutrogena’s variation on coal tar, for example, is ‘Neutar’).  After it clears out dead skin build-up, then other medications can have more of a direct access to affect skin cells.

I tend to think that coal tar itself (via shampoos such as Neutrogena’s T-Gel) creates a build-up on my scalp.  This is my hypothesis / observation, partially based on the fact that coal tar is a derivative of a fossil fuel and fossil fuels are inherently dirty.   Also, when I use T-Sal, this residual build-up feeling that develops over time as I use coal tar shampoos goes away immediately — at such times it feels like my scalp can breath freely again.

I would like to verify this suspicion with a dermatologist one of these days.

In any case, I prefer to mix salicylic shampoo into my topical treatment rotation to keep the psoriasis guessing, clean off any residual dead skin on my scalp and to make sure my skin isn’t getting too accustomed to coal tar treatment (and thus immune) which seems to be possible over time judging by my own experience.

I’ll have to ask a dermatologist one of these days whether or not this coal tar build-up hypothesis is true as well.

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My New Psoriasis Product Idea: An Exfoliating Shampoo with Salicylic Acid

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

I thought of a brilliant idea for new psoriasis / flaky scalp shampoo: Something with salicylic acid (for psoriasis treatment) and also an exfoliating element to help remove dead skin / scales.

Then I googled it and found out that someone already thought of it.

Here it is, Optimum Care Dandruff Solutions Pre-Shampoo Exfoliating Treatment by Soft Sheen Carson
Optimum Care Dandruff Solutions Pre-Shampoo Exfoliating Treatment

Or, to be more specific, this is a “pre-shampoo product,” designed to clean-up / prep your scalp before applying regular shampoo.

I guess I’ll try to be faster next time creative-wise.  I’d still like to be able to sell a really big idea to a major drug company someday someday… then I’ll be set for a while.

This pre-shampoo by Soft Sheen Carson is designed for scalps suffering from itchiness or dandruff.  Some of the ingredients include salicylic acid and olive oil (new one for me).  Price: 5 bucks and change.

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