Esthetician's Guide to Psoriasis

This ingredient appears in the ASCP SkinPro app

What is Psoriasis?

A noncontagious autoimmune condition in which the skin cells turn over at a very accelerated pace, resulting in an inflammatory rash with red to pink to dark brown papules and plaques (large patches) of scaly dead cells.

What Should I Know About Psoriasis?

• Typically affects the elbows and knees.
• Often flares after a sunburn or skin injury.
• Elbows and knees are classic locations for psoriasis, but it can affect almost any area; psoriasis on the face is rare. It can also affect the nails and scalp.
• Often flares after a sunburn or skin injury.

Considerations for Psoriasis

• Psoriasis is not contagious but should be referred to a dermatologist for treatment.
   
• Managed medically with topical steroid creams.
   
• Psoriasis rarely affects the facial skin, and most esthetic procedures are acceptable.

An older treatment protocol is to use products containing coal tar, which is an effective treatment, is not expensive, but is often messy and smelly. Topical vitamin D, zinc pyrithione, and retinoids are all sometimes used. The use of biological drugs is reserved for severe cases. This usually involves periodic injections that suppress the overactive immune system. Similar drugs are also used for other autoimmune diseases. This therapy is effective, but also lowers the general immune system functions, increasing the possibility of unrelated diseases. Medical light therapies are also used for treatment.

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