Covering flaky skin (psoriasis)

[hotfuzzball]

Since having covid a few weeks ago I'm covered in psoriasis and it is all over my face! My entire forehead, down my nose and eyelids. I need to go into the office next week and am aware I look very red, dry and awful.

I use a nice scrub, epiderm and serum and without makeup my skin is smooth and feels nice, even though it looks terrible.

I've not worn much makeup beyond tinted moisturiser since lockdown. I've been experimenting with primer, foundation, bb and cc creams but nothing stops them all going claggy, making me look horribly flakey and even worse than bare faced.

Could anyone recommend anything that might just help tone down all the blotchiness a bit without making me flaky? I'm looking at Rimmel and L'Oreal's green cc creams and maybe Trinny's BFF at a push. But I've just spent £30 today on stuff that didn't help at all so wonder if anything is worth the expense.

Sorry if this is a silly question, have you been to the doctor?

My DH has severe psoriasis and he has to use steroid cream to bring it down. I think I'd leave the scrub at the moment too. His derm said the only moisturiser that won't aggravate it is E45.

My DS has psoriasis and his doctor has prescribed him stuff, not sure what it is but his skin is no longer flaking

I was hoping to avoid the GP but you're probably not wrong about needing steroid cream. Was just looking for a quicker fix in the meantime. It's odd that it is so severe after covid but I'm fairly sure there's a link.

Maybe call in at a pharmacy tomorrow and see if they can suggest anything. Hope you're able to calm it down, I know how upset DH gets with it.

I get what looks like psoriasis across one eyelid and eyebrow. I use Vaseline on it which is really helpful.

Meant to say - this started after my second round of covid.

You can get quite gentle hydrocortisone cream (1%) over the counter, I think. But you should probably go to the GP for advice. There are different strengths and formulations of those corticosteroids, and you don't want to experiment if it's your face ...

Are you sure it is psoriasis - have you had it before? Agree with pp, don’t bother with OTC and see your GP. Hydrocortisone should only be used on your face under medical supervision and if you are absolutely sure of the diagnosis.

I get eczema and there's no way I can use a scrub - maybe try not using the scrub and see if that helps ?

Thanks all, yes I've always had psoriasis dotted around especially on my scalp, but it's never flared up on my face so severely. It's been years since I bothered the docs about it as nothing really seemed to make much difference, but I look like a human dot to dot at the moment so it's probably worth a try.

They might be able to refer you to a hospital to get light therapy, if it's possible ... I've forgotten the official name, but you stand in a kind of upright tanning machine that blasts you with some specific frequency of light rays and it clears up the psoriasis, after a course of treatments. In my experience it has a more lasting effect than steroid creams.

Ah thank you Sqiblet a whole-body treatment could be a better approach given how covered I am at the moment.

I got psoriasis post Covid too. I think it’s that Covid can trigger inflammation.

I went to the chemist and they gave me Hc45 and Dermalex for psoriasis. It helps, but of course it is a superficial fix. I found that Olive Oil helped too, a tbsp am and pm. Alongside a big glass of water.

in terms of anti inflammatories, Moringa is good and comes in an oil you can use on your face, as well as a supplement to use systemically.

taking probiotics is a helper too.

for me, I cut out wheat and dairy and that helped too.

I had a really awful bout with a virus. My face was a terrible state, people were put off sitting next to me on a train.
My dermatologist prescribed an immunosuppressant called protopic. Came with lots of warnings but worked after about three months and I stopped it.

Interesting, says here that drinking oolong tea can help! 2 cups a day.Here

I get Psoriasis on my hands & feet. A hospital dermatologist prescribed me a product that seems to have 2 phases. It has an acid breaks down the scaly outer layers, allowing the anti inflammatory to work on the skin underneath.

I really think its worth seeing your GP. It could be that you need a referral.

I believe that stress can be a factor in flare-ups; maybe Covid was the stress on your system that caused it this time.

It can also be an external indicator of other autoimmune issues that are going on internally so I’d echo what others have said and say get thee to a doctor. Might be you need a prescription, not a product.

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions, I've been diagnosed specifically with guttate psoriasis which is the result of immune system going haywire.

1% hydrocortisone on the face and betnovate on the scalp, plus a calcipotriol/ betamethasone ointment have been helping straight away. I haven't sought prescription help since I was a teen as it never really seemed to do anything, so I've been pleasantly surprised.

On the makeup side of things for what it's worth, good old Nivea tinted moisturiser and Garnier BB cream did help some of the time (applied with brush and not fingers) but could be claggy on a bad day. Primer never made much difference, but L'Oreal's C'est Magic was pretty good.

It feels a bit strange to have my face back 😂

Try Elizabeth Arden eight hour cream .. brilliant stuff for psoriasis

I have psoriasis on my feet and palms. Hydromol, OTC or on prescription, is my saviour. It can be used as a moisturiser or with water like soap (in which case leave a thin film on your skin). It’s gloopy like Vaseline, doesn’t stain fabrics (unlike other medications I’ve been prescribed) and was endorsed by the skin clinic at the hospital where I went for PUVA.
It’s an awful condition, isn’t it? I find stress exacerbates it. Sunlight is supposed to help.