While countless lotions and moisturizers claim to be the best creams for psoriasis, shoppers know that, in actuality, most of them fall short. That's why Bustlereached out to Ted Lain, a board-certified dermatologist with Sanova Dermatology, and according to Dr. Lain, a good psoriasis cream is all about what you want it to do and the ingredients: "Psoriasis is a disease orchestrated by the immune system in which the skin's cells proliferate, or grow, very quickly, resulting in red and scaling patches. Creams help through various mechanisms including exfoliation (removing the scale), moisturizing (reducing roughness and possibly itching and burning), and slowing cell growth (reducing the size of the patches)."
"Salicylic acid and coal tar are the primary ingredients that dermatologists recommend in OTC products," Dr. Lain wrote, with salicylic acid working as an exfoliant and coal tar slowing down skin cell growth. And in addition to the active ingredients a cream should contain, you should also pay attention to the things it shouldn't. Since irritating additives could worsen a psoriasis flare-up, it's important to check the bottle for anything that could prompt sensitivities. While this largely depends on the person, common skin irritants include fragrance and denatured alcohol.
Dr. Lain also pointed out that psoriasis is "not just limited to the skin," and those with psoriasis should "mention this to their primary care doctor, since the psoriasis is a risk factor for so many other important conditions."
According to both Dr. Lain's advice and reviewer feedback, these are the three most effective psoriasis creams on the market.
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