Are you interested in incorporating more natural, DIY skincare into your routine, but not sure where to start? If you have psoriasis, you might be wondering which ingredients are best for your skin. In this blog post, we'll explore some options for creating your own skincare products at home, specifically tailored for managing psoriasis.
First, let's talk about carrier oils. Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils and provide a base for your skincare products. They are usually derived from plants, such as nuts or seeds, and have their own set of beneficial properties for the skin. Some effective but relatively inexpensive carrier oils include:
Jojoba oil: rich in fatty acids and helps to moisturize and soothe the skin
Argan oil: high in vitamin E and has anti-inflammatory properties
Coconut oil: rich in fatty acids and has antibacterial and antifungal properties
Avocado oil: rich in fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory properties
Next, let's talk about essential oils. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that are used for their fragrance and therapeutic properties. Some essential oils can be tough on the skin, irritating more than they help. But some essential oils can be super helpful for folks with psoriasis, including:
Tea tree oil: This oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Lavender oil: This oil is calming and has antimicrobial properties.
Frankincense oil: This oil has anti-inflammatory and skin-regenerating properties.
Geranium oil: This oil has anti-inflammatory and skin-regenerating properties.
It's important to dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying them to your skin, as they can be very concentrated and may cause irritation if used undiluted. A general rule of thumb is to use 2-3 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil.
In addition to carrier oils and essential oils, you can also incorporate body butters into your DIY skincare routine. Body butters are solid, creamy products that are used to moisturize the skin. Some body butters that may be helpful for people with psoriasis include:
Shea butter: Most popular of the body butters (for good reason), shea butter is rich in fatty acids and has anti-inflammatory properties.
Mango butter: Mango butter is rich in fatty acids and has a creamy consistency.
Cocoa butter: Cocoa butter is rich in fatty acids and has a delicious chocolatey scent (at least the unrefined stuff does; refined cocoa butter is pretty mild). Please note that cocoa butter is hard to work with. Like, literally physically hard. Shea and mango are softer and creamier, while cocoa is pretty brittle.
You can also add in other ingredients to your DIY skincare products to provide additional benefits. Some options include:
Vitamin D: Vitamin D is super important for healthy skin and has been shown to help with managing psoriasis. You can find vitamin D supplements or add a few drops of a vitamin D oil to your DIY products.
Ceramides: Ceramides are lipids that help to maintain the skin's barrier function and prevent moisture loss. You can find ceramide supplements or add some ceramide powder to your skincare products.
Now that you have an idea of some ingredients to consider when creating your own skincare products for psoriasis, you can start experimenting and finding what works best for your skin. Remember to patch test any new products before using them all over your body and to consult with a healthcare provider if you have any concerns.
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