What to Know About Cosmetic Treatments and Psoriasis

Though they target your outward look, cosmetic operations have a range of consequences on your skin. When you have psoriasis, not all cosmetic operations are appropriate, and even those that cause mild discomfort may irritate your skin enough to result in new lesions or flare-ups of your symptoms.

Skin disease mediated by the immune system is psoriasis. It is brought on by immune system malfunction, which promotes inflammation and rapid skin cell development.

Patches of scaly, thicker skin are caused by excessive cell development and are frequently seen on the scalp, knees, elbows, and other body areas.

When you have psoriasis, getting cosmetic procedures done can seem intimidating. It's normal to feel self-conscious about your skin or to be cautious when introducing new routines that could make your symptoms worse.

Many psoriasis sufferers find that they can still enjoy cosmetic operations. However, it is always advised to exercise caution while selecting cosmetic operations because skin injuries, especially small ones like cuts or moderate sunburns, might potentially start psoriasis.

The Koebner phenomenon

Any kind of skin damage, regardless of severity, can cause the Koebner phenomenon in someone who has psoriasis. Within the Koebner phenomenon, harm to non-psoriasis-affected skin regions might result in the development of new psoriasis lesions.

It's unclear exactly why this event occurred, and it's impossible to accurately predict who could experience this kind of reaction or what kinds of skin trauma might trigger it.

How will I know if I can have a cosmetic procedure with psoriasis?

Everybody is affected by psoriasis differently. What sets off a trigger for you could not have any effect on anyone else.

Before committing to a cosmetic operation, speaking with your dermatologist can help you determine whether it's the best course of action given your particular symptoms, triggers, and general health.

Cosmetic injections

With cosmetic injections, materials are injected into your skin's layers using needles to achieve a variety of goals, including firming, reducing wrinkles, and enhancing certain features.

Typical cosmetic injections include Botox and dermal fillers.

Botox injections

Botox, also referred to as botulinum toxin, is a medical and cosmetic technique. In addition to being used to improve appearance, it can aid in the treatment of specific illnesses.

Botox may help alleviate the symptoms of your psoriasis if you have plaque psoriasis.

Two psoriatic plaques were injected with botulinum toxin in a 2020 trial. Throughout a 4-week treatment regimen, symptoms improved with no discernible side effects; however, the improvement may have been site-specific. Further investigation is required.

But that doesn't mean that everyone should have Botox, or that getting Botox for cosmetic surgery will make your psoriasis better. Even when using a medicinal substance, the Koebner phenomenon can still occur.

Dermal fillers

Hyaluronic acid and other compounds are used in dermal fillers to plump up your face and accentuate certain areas, like your lips.

Although they're usually thought to be safe for the majority of individuals, those who have immune-mediated diseases like psoriasis might not want to use them. T cells in the immune response can be activated by introducing foreign substances into the skin.

Particularly, T lymphocytes contribute to the pathophysiology of psoriasis. They play a major role in inflammation and produce substances that directly support the fast proliferation of skin cells.

What about needle-free fillers?

Although it might seem that fillers without needles would cause less harm to the skin, that isn't always the case. With needle-free fillers, pressure is used to apply the material to your skin instead of a needle.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), there are far more hazards associated with needle-free fillers than advantages.

Spa and facial treatments

A 2022 clinical investigation found that skin disease-focused spa therapy is regarded as a secure adjunctive therapy for psoriasis.

Psoriasis skin may respond better to cosmetic spa procedures including face masks, deep cleansing, and thermal treatments, which have a lesser chance of causing skin harm. Many of them concentrate on massaging and topically applying nutrient- or moisture-rich creams to your skin to help it relax.

Compared to more abrasive methods, they might be a safer option because they are less likely to damage your skin. However, it is possible to experience a reaction that exacerbates your psoriasis even with mild spa treatments.

Exfoliating procedures

It's difficult to exfoliate when you have psoriasis. Friction can exacerbate psoriasis symptoms, but exfoliating can help lessen their appearance.

Using a mechanical exfoliator on your skin might lead to inflammation and damage to good skin tissue. Because of this, physicians usually recommend chemical exfoliants in the form of gels or creams, including salicylic acid.

Although several have been studied as possible treatments, skin resurfacing procedures including chemical peels, microneedling, dermabrasion, or dermaplaning may be too harsh for psoriasis skin.

However, cosmetic operations offered to the general public are not the same as exploratory treatments carried out by researchers.

Hair colouring and services

It can be important to be mindful of the items you use on your hair if you have scalp psoriasis. Chemicals are used in hair colouring, perming, and relaxing procedures, which may exacerbate symptoms.

The calibre of the goods and services utilised is also taken into consideration. The likelihood of skin discomfort is reduced while getting your hair done in a professional atmosphere. Your hairdresser is an expert who has been educated to use chemicals on your hair as sparingly as possible without damaging your scalp.

In an active flare-up of your psoriasis, colouring, perming, and relaxing are not advised—even if you visit the salon regularly without any problems.

Can makeup cause a psoriasis flare-up?

Although components are crucial, having psoriasis does not mean you have to forgo makeup entirely or that you cannot apply anything to your skin. Even for those without a chronic skin disease, several dyes, perfumes, and preservatives can aggravate skin conditions.

The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) has a list of makeup items that bear their Seal of Recognition if you're unsure of what might work for you.

The NPF considers a product safe for use by those with psoriatic disease, which includes psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis if it has the seal on its label.

The takeaway

Psoriasis is a long-term inflammatory skin condition characterised by thicker, scaly skin patches. Skin injuries can induce new psoriasis lesions or cause flare-ups of existing lesions, therefore you should carefully evaluate any cosmetic operations under your dermatologist's advice.