Psoriasis can be tricky to navigate during this time of year. Dry air combined with wintry weather can wreak havoc on and already inflamed, scaly, and itchy skin. Of all the areas on the body that psoriasis affects, it’s common to see it on the hands and palms, which is why dermatologists recommend having a hand cream on deck. Thankfully, Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Schweiger Dermatology Group, is here to share more information on the best hand creams for psoriasis.
“Having a hand cream with appropriate ingredients can be helpful for treating psoriasis—both by improving the symptoms (for many people, the plaques of psoriasis are uncomfortable and itchy), and by improving the appearance,” says Dr. Nazarian. When looking for hand creams, she recommends looking for ones with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or ceramides, which are humectants that bind water to the skin and quench parched skin. Even natural oils like coconut or olive oil can calm skin down when a psoriasis flare strikes.
With so many hand creams on the market, it can be difficult to double down on the best ones, so we did some of the leg work and chatted with a derm for their recommendations. Below, you’ll find the best hand creams for psoriasis that will keep flaky and itchy skin at arm’s length.
The best hand creams for psoriasis
Infused with salicylic acid, this cream “is useful for minimizing the thick white scales of psoriasis, while the ceramides improve and lactic acid hydrates,” says Dr. Nazarian. What’s handy, it comes with a pump for easy application and is suitable for face and hand use. Scaly patches be gone!
Pros
- Suitable for scales
- Hydrating formula
- Comes with a pump
Cons
- Pricey
La Roche-Posay comes recommended by Dr. Nazarian for one key reason: It’s a mega hydrator. It’s formulated with shea butter, glycerin, and niacinamide—a form of vitamin B—to restore and calm scaly, red skin.
Pros
- Comes with a pump
- Hydrating formula
Cons
- Pricey
A tried-and-true brand, Vaseline offers hydrating products, and this Intensive Care lotion is a favorite of Dr. Nazarian’s. In addition to the super hydrating formula (thanks, glycerin and dimethicone), “it absorbs quickly, making it a good option for hand lesions,” she says.
Pros
- Affordable
- Absorbs quickly
- Works on lesions
Cons
- Large bottle (not convenient for tight storage)
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Dove’s Body Love hand cream is formulated with glycerin, an effective emollient, as well as skin-strengthening hydrators like dimethicone. Both of these ingredients work in tandem to keep your skin moisturized (bye, dehydrated skin). Bonus: It’s fragrance-free, and is likely not to cause skin irritation.
Pros
- Affordable
- Portable
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Small size
Feeling itchy? Opt for Shea Moisture’s Shea Butter lotion. “The fatty acids from the shea butter have a calming, anti-inflammatory effect, which often improves itch,” says Dr. Nazarian. More to love: This product shows harmful chemicals the door—It’s phthalate-, paraben-, and sulfate-free.
Pros
- Phthalate-, paraben-, and sulfate-free
- Hydrating formula
- Black-owned and founded
Cons
- Not portable
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