Self-Care Guidelines
For mild and moderate psoriasis:
- Have your child bathe daily to help remove scale and moisten the skin. Avoid harsh soaps; soap-substitutes are milder for your skin.
- Apply moisturizers to all scaly psoriasis patches after any water exposure or bathing. Heavier, oilier moisturizers help to retain water in the skin better than lighter moisturizers.
- Apply hydrocortisone cream (0.5 or 1%), available over the counter, to help reduce itch and redness.
- Use coal tar products, available over the counter as a shampoo, oil, gel, or cream. This is an old form of therapy, which can help, but it has a mild odor.
- Use products with salicylic acid (shampoos, cleansers, and ointments) to help with removal of heavy scale.
- Be sure your child follows a healthy diet and stays at the right weight. (Being overweight may make psoriasis worse.)
Small doses of natural sunlight may be helpful, such as 10–15 minutes 2 or 3 times a week. Avoid too much sun, however, and protect your child's healthy skin from sun exposure.
When to Seek Medical Care
See your child's doctor for evaluation if he or she has severe psoriasis or if self-care measures are not helpful. Also, see your child's doctor if his or her psoriasis worsened or appeared after a sore throat; psoriasis can be triggered by a strep infection.
Signs and Symptoms
