Moisturising Routine
Use a fragrance-free cream or ointment every day, especially after washing. Apply prescribed products exactly as directed and ask how to space them from moisturiser.
Start here.
- Apply moisturiser after washing while skin is still slightly damp.
- Adapt the routine to the relevant areas: Elbows, knees, scalp and lower back are common plaque sites, while folds, palms, soles, nails and other areas can be affected in different forms.
- Keep this safety boundary visible: Dermatology review is particularly important for extensive disease, significant pain, nail changes, treatment failure or joint pain and stiffness.
Morning: protect without over-layering
Begin with the fewest steps the skin needs. Use a fragrance-free cream or ointment every day, especially after washing. Apply prescribed products exactly as directed and ask how to space them from moisturiser.
On exposed skin, finish with appropriate broad-spectrum sun protection. Introduce only one new product at a time when reactivity is a concern.
- Use warm rather than hot water.
- Pat instead of rubbing.
- Choose a finish you will reapply consistently.
After washing: use the moisture window
Moisturiser works best as part of washing rather than as a rescue step hours later. Leave the surface slightly damp, then smooth—not scrub—the product over it.
Stress, winter weather, skin injury, infections and some medicines may contribute to flares; triggers vary between people.
Evening: concentrate on the driest areas
Evening is a practical time for a richer texture where daytime residue would be inconvenient. Heavy creams and ointments help seal water in. Urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid may soften scale in suitable areas, but strength, body site and total area matter.
Do not use an overnight occlusive shortcut on an unexplained, infected-looking or blistered area. Do not aggressively lift scale or use high-strength keratolytics widely. Coal tar, salicylic acid and steroid products have specific directions and are not ordinary moisturisers.
How to adjust the routine
Change one variable at a time: cleanser, product texture, frequency or environmental exposure. This makes improvement and irritation easier to interpret.
Dermatology review is particularly important for extensive disease, significant pain, nail changes, treatment failure or joint pain and stiffness.
Common questions,
carefully answered.
How often should I moisturise psoriasis?+
Apply after washing and whenever the area feels dry, while following any condition-specific instructions from your clinician.
Should morning and night moisturisers be different?+
They can be. A lighter daytime finish and richer overnight layer may improve consistency, but separate products are not essential.
Should moisturiser go before prescribed treatment?+
The order can depend on the medicine. Follow its instructions or ask your prescriber or pharmacist rather than guessing.
How this guide was prepared
This educational guide uses authoritative dermatology and health information. It does not diagnose a condition or replace personalised medical advice.
Published 22 January 2025. Last updated 30 October 2025. Product recommendations describe moisturising roles, not treatment outcomes.