Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes skin cells to build up on the skin, creating scales and causing the skin to be dry, itchy, red or irritated. Having psoriasis on your breasts is not a specific condition; it is a part of a psoriasis outbreak that affects different parts of the body. Psoriasis is a chronic illness, which means that there isn't a "cure" and it won't ever go away completely. However, there are steps you can take to treat your skin when an outbreak occurs.
Step 1
Avoid scratching any dry patches on your breasts to prevent further irritation or infection. The skin on and around your breasts is often thinner than other parts of the body, so it must be handled delicately.
Step 2
Take baths daily. Add colloidal oatmeal, Epsom salt or a bath oil to the bath and soak for 15 minutes. These items will help add moisture to the skin and calm inflamed skin. Use a gentle soap to wash your skin, particularly your breasts. When washing the skin, apply light pressure to the breasts in a circular motion on scaly areas in order to remove dry skin. Avoid using soaps that contain drying chemicals or high amount of fragrance.
Step 3
Moisturize your skin and breasts with an ointment-based moisturizer (i.e. Gold Bond lotion). After bathing, blot skin dry and apply a generous amount of moisturizer. In colder months, or if you tend to have dryer skin, you may need to apply moisturizer multiple times per day.
Step 4
Seal in moisture by covering your breasts at night. Apply an ointment-based moisturizer to scaly areas on your breasts and wrap them with plastic wrap overnight. Doing so seals moisture into your skin, loosening any scales on your breasts. In the morning, remove the plastic wrap and wash off any dry skin or scales. Repeat daily or as needed.
Step 5
Apply an anti-inflammatory lotion or cream containing salicylic acid or hydrocortisone to treat itching or inflammation on the breasts.
Step 6
Take an oral medication prescribed your physician or dermatologist. Medications such as a retinoid or methotrexate can slow down the production of skin cells and suppress inflammation. Be sure to discuss taking these medications with your doctor to understand potential side effects.
Things You'll Need
- Colloidal oatmeal
- Epsom salt
- Bath oil
- Ointment-based moisturizer
- Plastic wrap
- Anti-inflammatory lotion or cream
