Psoriasis on the face is quite rare compared with psoriasis on the body or scalp. For aesthetic reasons, patients tend to seek treatment as soon as possible. There is a natural desire to hide ugly red plaques, sometimes by covering the plaques with hair. However, it is best to expose your skin to light and air to help plaques heal.

While you have administered your prescribed medication, you can use camouflage makeup to disguise plaques. However, you should restrict the use of makeup so that the skin can breathe as much as possible.

You should use non-irritating and gentle skin care products which are formulated for sensitive skin.

Get into the habit of patting, not rubbing, the skin dry.
Then use a moisturising cream. This is particularly important in winter and when the air is dry as this can dehydrate the skin.

If you find a thin layer of dead cells on your eyebrows and lashes, applying a cloth moistened in warm salt water for a few minutes three or four times a day can be enough to temporarily relieve inflammation. Don't forget to dry the skin after you have applied salt water.

We advise using an electric razor, which is less harsh on the skin than a manual razor.

Dry air and poor ventilation are bad for psoriatic skin. Exposure to smoke or chemical vapours can also aggravate inflammation. Care is also required when using cooking and industrial oils which may come into contact with the skin.

These precautions are easy to apply in your own home (remember to follow them when you are doing dirty household!). At work, you may need to explain the precautions to colleagues and your employer in order to rectify any problems arising from your working environment.

The skin on the face is delicate, and when it suffers from psoriasis, it is much more sensitive to the weather than usual and adapts to changes of temperature less easily.
Wind and rain in autumn and winter can dry it out, so you should apply a protective cream to your face before going out, and wear a hood or scarf.

Heat and sunlight in spring and summer can also exacerbate inflammation, so avoid direct exposure to sunlight in very sunny weather to avoid burning. Use a suitable protective cream, preferably total sunblock for the face, especially during a flare.
Remember, apart from during a flare, moderate amounts of exposure to the sun can help plaques to clear.

• Psoriasis does not normally affect the whole face, so if plaques extend across your face, psoriasis may not be the cause. A specialist will check the diagnosis and change your treatment if necessary.