#EveryDayFitness Goal ACCOMPLISHED: How I Got Rid of Facial Psoriasis in 7 Easy Steps

Not gonna lie, my selfie game is bout to go wayyyy up! (lol)

Back when I began my #EveryDayFitness, I stated plainly that one of my goals was to make my hair and skin as healthy as possible. For me skincare-wise, that meant finding a better way to manage my psoriasis.

I've written before about managing psoriasis, especially when it comes to the scalp. You can find that information here. Utilizing a variety of tips and information I've learned over the years, I've managed to well, manage my psoriasis. I knew that my skin would always look clearer in summer months (hey there, sun), and would flare up in fall/winter as the air got colder and skies resigned to pitch blackness at 5:42pm. But here I am, at the beginning of December with a face that is about 96 - 97% psoriasis free. How did I do it? What sorcery did I employ?

Keep reading to find out the 7 steps that took my face from broken out and inflamed to smooth and radiant. Fair warning: the 7 steps go from easiest to most difficult (in my humble opinion).

7. Switch to All Natural Facial Cleansers

I use this as a shampoo, and facial cleanser. Up next: as a body wash!

On the road to clearer skin, the first thing we psoriasis sufferers must do is chuck out any cleansers that contain drying ingredients like sulfates, and other known irritants like synthetic fragrance and color. With the abundance of natural skincare items available at stores like Sprouts, Trader Joe's, and even Target or Amazon, this should be relatively easy to do. The great thing about most all-natural facial cleansers is that they double as body washes, and are often times less expensive than their commercial, synthetic counterparts. I've used several over the years, but the two that have been instrumental in clearing my facial psoriasis are TriDerma Skincare Psoriasis Control Shampoo (yes, it's great for the scalp, but works especially well as a face and body wash) and Dr. Bronner's Castille Soap in Tea Tree (orange label). Both do a wonderful job at cleansing my skin gently without drying it out, and contain healing ingredients to calm, soothe, and fight psoriasis breakouts. As an added bonus, both are great at treating acne blemishes too!

My current other facial cleanser and body wash.

Bonus Tip: To help gently lift flaking skin, use an exfoliating glove (like the one below) when washing your face. The key is to be gentle, so as to not agitate the psoriasis or cause bleeding.

Tip: make them last longer by using only 1 glove at a time. Store the second glove in a ziploc for sterile keeping.

6. Ditch Skin Masks and Toners with Synthetic Ingredients
We don't want to wash our faces with products that contain irritating ingredients, and we most certainly don't want to use those same irritants when applying masks and toners that remain on the skin for 10 minutes or more. That was a huge mistake I made with my skincare routine last summer -- I was using cheap masks packed with synthetics, and paid for it when the fall season rolled around. This time, I'm sticking to masques that are 100% natural, and contain carefully crafted ingredients to heal and restore my skin. For me, those masks are Ashley's Naturals Pumpkin Mask, and TruSelf Organics Detoxifying Mask. I'm going to review them both individually soon, but they both deliver some stellar benefits:

Ashley's Naturals Pumpkin Mask: Brightens, evens skin tone, eases inflammation, smooths skin, fights breakouts, heals blemishes, and delivers blessings beyond what you can even imagine.

Do you SEE all that pumpkin-y goodness?! +AshleysNaturals 

TruSelf Organics Detoxifying Mask: Detoxifies, lifts impurities, revitalizes, fights blemishes and breakouts while smoothing skin and minimizing pores.

A little bit goes a looooong way! This jar lasts FOREVER! +TruSelf Organics 

A Quick Note on Toners: I use Thayers Alcohol Free Witch Hazel in either Lavender or Rose Water. Both are soothing on my skin, and perfect for toning after using either of the masks above. Last summer, I made the huge mistake of trying to save a few bucks by using witch hazel that contained alcohol. This is a mistake I will never make again. Not only does it cause psoriasis lesions to sting and become red (I used to think this helped...it does NOT), it dries out the skin and leaves it more vulnerable. Witch hazel ain't supposed to hurt, which I learned after switching to Thayers. Yes, it's a little more expensive, but worth it. My advice? Catch it on sale at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, or Sprouts and stock up. A little goes a long way, so BOGO bottles of Thayers will last pretty much forever.

Bae. #LoveDontGottaHurt

5. Use TriDerma Skincare Psoriasis Control Lotion to Moisturize

MUST have. MUST. +TriDerma 

This here is a non-negotiable for my skincare routine. I've done research around the side effects of prescription corticosteroids for psoriasis relief, and as I transition to a holistically healthier lifestyle, I've decided that the numerous potential side effects (from skin damage and hypertension to glucose intolerance and aseptic necrosis) are far too risky for a non-lethal autoimmune disorder. I'm eternally grateful for TriDerma Skincare and their Psoriasis Control Lotion, because it has truly been a game-changer for me. It's all-natural, and contains a potent blend of all-natural ingredients like aloe vera, salicylic acid, oat protein, and Vitamins A, B, and E to heal, soothe, reduce swelling, fight bacteria, and repair damaged and irritated skin. It's all natural, effective, and has no harmful side effects. It's the perfect year-round moisturizer, and I apply it to my face, neck, and behind my ears daily.

4. Drink Plenty of Water

Click here to read about my undying love for Hydro Flask! #FreedomFromLukewarm +Hydro Flask 

I know it doesn't sound sexy, but there are a whole host of benefits to drinking water. When it comes to psoriasis specifically, keeping the skin hydrated is important, and that's exactly what water does. Infuse it with your favorite fruits, steep it with your favorite tea (plain), drink it ice cold or room temperature -- it doesn't matter how you do it, just do it! Click here if you need just a liiiiiittle more convincing.

3. Sweat!

Working out +Coast Fitness - South Bay 

Coming from someone who used to like, never work out, trust me when I say that breaking a sweat helps. Not only is exercise a huge stress reliever, but sweating on the regular boosts your immune system (colds can make psoriasis worse), and detoxifies your skin. Reap the collateral benefits of exercise by finding an activity you enjoy, and diving in. I'm a huge fan of weight lifting (don't judge me), so I've been looking forward to that the most on this #EveryDayFitness journey. Turns out, breaking a sweat benefits your hair, too!

2. Take Your Vitamins

My current vitamin lineup. Details coming soon! +The Vitamin Shoppe is my favorite!

Most people I know at least moderately detest taking vitamins. While it can sometimes be a chore, I can honestly say that taking my vitamins regularly (at least 4 times per week) has helped tremendously in my skincare routine. By supplementing my diet with Omegas, I give my body a healthy dose of anti-inflammatory properties (because psoriasis manifests itself as inflammation on the skin). In those months where the California sunshine ain't so plentiful, I supplement with Vitamin D3, which helps regulate auto-immune responses within the body, which is key in slowing down psoriasis. I have a few other vitamins in my arsenal, which I'll share in a future post. Remember to consult with your doctor before adding vitamins and herbal supplements to your diet. Some herbs, extracts, and even vitamins can have potentially harmful interactions with prescription medication.

Sprouts brand ACV is about $2 cheaper and just as good as Bragg's.

Bonus Tip: Drink Apple Cider Vinegar. I don't do it daily (although I should), but AVC (in all it's pickle-tasting weirdness) has some serious benefits for health overall. I'll delve into it more in another post, but for psoriasis sufferers specifically, it helps to:

• lower blood sugar (sugar triggers psoriasis inflammation)
• balances acidity and inflammation in the body
• assist in weight loss (nothing major, but weight loss is good for psoriasis)

How necessary are vitamins and supplements? Read more here.

1. Decrease Stress
I know, I know. Reducing stress is by far the most difficult thing to do, yet it is the single most beneficial step in improving not only psoriasis, but overall health. Our bodies stress responses are triggered by so many things -- the self-consciousness that comes along with psoriasis, terrible traffic, work deadlines, screaming children, family conflicts, financial challenges, and more. When our bodies are stressed, cortisol production raises, and alters our immune system. It's no coincidence that stress causes our bodies to retain/gain weight while causing all sorts of inflammation. No matter the source of the stress, we psoriasis suffers must learn to get a handle on it before it manifests itself as more inflammation and outbreaks.

Three of my favorite ways to reduce stress are prayer/praise, working out, and washing my hair (don't judge me). During this #EveryDayFitness journey, I've learned how to do one thing really well -- call on God when things (or people) are getting on my nerves and stressing me out. I'll go into prayer mode, or start singing a praise and worship song until I calm down. Trust me, it works! Exercise has multiple benefits, and there's no feeling like pushing weights when you're frustrated. It's an amazing, yet often untapped source of power. And ever since I tapped into having the easiest wash day ever, it's been a source of therapy for me.

Now that I've shared my 7 tips, here's the moment you've all been waiting for: the proof in the pudding! Check out where i started in July 2015 (before #EveryDayFitness)

Peep the transition!

...all the way to November and December (now):

Pardon my ashy fo'head this month... I snapped this picture pre-moisturizing.

As you can see, the inflamed scaly patches of flaky skin are virtually removed from my face. I used my forehead as my measuring stick, because that's where it was most prevalent (and what made me the most self-conscious). Those areas where the psoriasis once was are now smooth, healthy (albeit discolored) areas of skin. My forehead feels smooth, and there are no raised areas of inflammation. There is some discoloration from the skin healing, but it is correcting itself gradually. After all, those psoriasis plaques had been there for a loooooong time.

I look in the mirror every morning, and I'm so thankful that I've experienced the remarkable healing that I have. Please share this article with friends and family that may be struggling with treating psoriasis naturally. There is hope, and I am proof.

Up next: clearing the psoriasis on my body (which I'm happy to report is in progress)!

Questions? Leave them below in the comment section, right under the "You Might Also Like" area! Thanks for hanging with me on this #EveryDayFitness Journey! XOXO

from The Mane Objective http://ift.tt/1LPMV0f