The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) has changed August from Psoriasis Awareness Month to Psoriasis Action Month, to help people with psoriasis set goals and take control. Hairdressers and beauty therapists often see first-hand the distress this condition can cause for clients, which can present on the scalp, or may even suffer themselves. We spoke to therapist and founder of skincare brand Ashmira Botanica, Tracey Smith.
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that accelerates the life cycle of skin cells, causing them to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin. This build up forms scales and red patches that can be itchy and sometimes painful. While psoriasis can affect any part of the body, its presence on the face can be particularly challenging due to both physical discomfort and its impact on self-esteem.
Psoriasis can appear on the eyebrows, the skin between the nose and upper lip, the upper forehead, and the hairline. The red patches are often covered with silvery scales and the skin may appear dry and cracked. The patches can feel itchy and sometimes painful.
The exact cause of psoriasis is not fully understood, but it’s believed to be related to an immune system problem that causes the skin to regenerate faster than normal. This could be down to your family genetics, or your immune system attacking healthy cells by mistake or triggers such as stress, skin injuries, infections or certain medications.
If you suspect you may have psoriasis you need to contact your doctor or a dermatologist. They are most likely to suggest specialist creams and lotions for you. Light therapy and the sun have also been shown to improve symptoms. Make sure you use skincare products which won’t make your condition worse. You will need to moisturise often to keep the dryness under control.
We have had very good results with our Ashmira Botanica Rice Cream. A friend of mine had been suffering badly with psoriasis on her face since her Mother passed away. She had tried everything on her skin and nothing worked – quite often the creams she was using just made her skin worse. When she started using Ashmira Botanica Rice Cream she felt it soothe her skin immediately, but it took 2-4 weeks before she saw a real visible difference. She feels over the moon because her psoriasis had made her feel less confident in herself and she couldn’t wear make-up. Now she can and she says she feels great!
It’s important to try and identify your triggers, and the solutions that work for you, or if it’s your clients suffering, to handle this kindly and with sensitivity.
To find out more about Ashmira Botanica:
Call: 01823428588
Email: contactus@ashmirabotanica.com
Website: www.ashmirabotanica.com
Instagram: @ashmira_botanica
