Bath + shower routine that’s made my psoriasis way easier to live with

Hello folks. I’m going to waffle a bit, but there is a bath and shower technique I’ve been using for a couple of years now that makes my psoriasis so much easier to deal with. I haven’t really seen anyone talk about doing something like this, so I wanted to share. First a little about me. I’m a long-term sufferer of psoriasis. My first flare-up was at 21, and it quickly became full body psoriasis with about 2/3 coverage. It was genuinely debilitating. I’ve been through the journey of different medications: topical steroids, light therapy, and methotrexate (where I am now). I’ve been dealing with this for 8 years, and I’m not here to peddle medical advice or tell anyone what to do medically. This is simply a technique I use to reduce the feeling of itchiness, the soreness of plaques, improve my hygiene, and ultimately put me in a better headspace to live my life as best I can day-to-day. # What you need You need a bath and a shower. I live in the UK with one of those combo bath/shower setups, so it’s very easy for me. You *can* do this without a shower with some success, but it won’t be as effective. # Phase 1: the bath (around 45 minutes) Run a hot bath. In my experience, go as hot as you can handle while still being comfortable. Lie in the bath for around 45 minutes (yes, it’s a long time). Around this time, begin to run the palm of your hand over your plaques. You’ll feel the skin on the top of the plaque start to move and roll with the friction of your hand. You can actually see it too, the skin you have rubbed off will often be stuck to your hand (grim, but satisfying in a way, because you know it’s shifting). Do this slowly and with care over each part of your body that’s affected. The arms are the easiest place to start. Rinse the body part in the water, then rub your hand over the plaques again. Rinse and repeat until you feel the friction mostly disappear. Repeat all over your body where affected. You’ll see the bath water start to fill up with flakes of skin from the plaques. # Scalp/head To do the same with your scalp and head: put your head underwater and make sure it gets properly wet. Apply a conditioner or shampoo you like and let it sit on your head. After 10–15 minutes, gently rub the tips of your fingers over the plaques on the scalp to see if you can feel that same friction of the excess skin lifting. If you don’t, rinse and repeat. Make sure your head stays wet, submerging when you can. Eventually, after around 45 minutes, you’ll start to feel the friction reduce on the scalp too, similar to the body. # Back Doing your back is difficult, especially if you don’t have flexibility/mobility. I don’t have a magic suggestion here as I’m able to reach all areas of my back, but you may have to experiment (and obviously don’t force anything). # Phase 2: drain + shower (15–20 minutes) Now for phase two: begin to drain the bath and put the shower on at a warm temperature. Under the shower, begin rubbing and massaging the areas affected by psoriasis and you should feel it become extremely smooth, without that friction. At this point you can use your soap/shower gel to wash yourself properly. The shower is especially useful for the head and scalp. The pressure helps remove skin from your head that can get stuck in your hair. Massage your fingers over the affected spots until you feel it turn smooth, constantly rinsing under the water to remove the skin. I have short hair, so people with long hair may find this harder or have different techniques. # Afterwards Now you’re clean of excess skin. When you get out, dry gently as psoriatic skin can be really sensitive. Use a moisturiser that works for you immediately after drying. For me, moisturising is essential or I’m just going to feel sore afterwards. You will notice your plaques/psoriatic skin will be shiny and smooth to touch. # Timing The whole process normally takes me about 1 hour 20 minutes, with the last 15–20 minutes spent in the shower phase. I do this at the start of my day, and it allows me to ignore my psoriasis for most of the day, sometimes even forgetting it's there. If this is already a known and widely practiced method, please accept my apologies in advance. I just know psoriasis can be lonely and grim, and I think we’ve got to support each other with this disease by sharing whatever care methods help us, no matter how mundane or seemingly obvious.