Best Psoriasis Creams, Emollients & Treatments for Sensitive Skin

 Published: 6^th Aug 2025 | Updated: 22^nd Jul 2026 Eczema, Psoriasis and Dermatitis

Living with psoriasis means managing a skin barrier that is consistently under pressure. Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic autoimmune condition that causes skin cells to multiply much faster than normal. This rapid cell turnover leads to a build-up of extra cells on the skin's surface, forming thick, inflamed, red patches covered with silvery scales, known as plaques. These plaques can be intensely itchy, sore, and physically uncomfortable.

Because psoriatic skin is inflamed, it is highly reactive to environmental shifts, stress, and skincare ingredients. Finding the right combination of daily emollients, soap-free washes, and targeted treatments is essential to calm inflammation, manage scaling, and restore comfort to sensitive skin.

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis affects millions of people globally and most commonly appears on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back, though it can manifest anywhere on the body.

A common and frustrating misconception is that psoriasis is contagious. It is entirely non-contagious. The underlying cause is an overactive immune system that mistakenly attacks healthy skin tissue. While there is currently no permanent cure, a targeted approach combining daily barrier protection, natural skincare, and medical treatments can successfully suppress inflammation and minimise flare-ups.

Why Moisturising Is Important For Psoriasis

When psoriasis flares, the skin's natural moisture barrier becomes highly compromised. This breakdown allows essential water to rapidly evaporate from the skin, leaving plaques brittle, dry, and prone to painful cracking or bleeding.

Regular application of a high-quality moisturiser is a fundamental part of psoriasis management. Effective moisturisation helps to

• Soften Scaling: It infuses moisture into tough, built-up plaques, making scales softer and helping them shed naturally and gently without scratching.
• Reduces Pruritus (Itching): Dry skin is intensely itchy. Keeping the skin hydrated calms nerve endings and reduces the urge to scratch, which prevents further skin injury.
• Prevents the Koebner Phenomenon: Injured or severely cracked skin can trigger new psoriasis plaques to form in that exact spot. Deep moisturisation prevents cracking, protecting the skin from this cycle of injury-induced flaring.

What Is An Emollient?

While many people use the words interchangeably, there is a distinct clinical difference between a standard cosmetic moisturiser and a medical emollient. Standard high-street moisturisers are often light, water-based lotions designed for normal skin; they frequently contain artificial fragrances, alcohol, and preservatives that can aggravate inflamed tissue.

An emollient is a specialised medical product designed specifically to treat dry, compromised skin barriers. Emollients work by creating an occlusive oil layer over the skin surface, trapping water underneath and smoothing down rough skin cells. They are strictly fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and formulated with varying oil-to-water ratios to suit different levels of dryness:

The Best Psoriasis Creams And Moisturisers

Which creams and moisturisers are “best” depends on each individual and how their skin reacts. When choosing over-the-counter emollients and soap-free washes, consistency and ingredient purity are key. The following clinically formulated ranges are highly effective at supporting the skin barrier:

1. The QV Skincare Range

The QV range is highly recommended by dermatologists for hyper-reactive skin. Every product is completely vegan-friendly and entirely free from common irritants such as soap, fragrance, lanolin, and artificial colours.

• QV Gentle Wash: A mild, soap-free cleanser that lifts away sweat and impurities without stripping away the skin's vital protective lipids.
• QV Cream: A rich, highly concentrated moisturising cream that targets dry, flaking plaques, rebalancing skin pH and trapping moisture deep within the dermal layers.

2. The Epimax Emollient Range

Epimax Original Cream specialises in highly reliable, medical-grade barrier restoration. Known for its straightforward, low-irritant formulations, it offers practical everyday hydration.

• Epimax Cream / Epimax Ointment: Provides robust occlusive protection for moderate to severe plaques, keeping the skin pliable and preventing painful fissures from opening up over joint areas like knees and elbows.
• Epimax Paraffin-Free Ointment: Delivers the same intensive moisturising and barrier protection as a traditional ointment without paraffin, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer a paraffin-free emollient for very dry, eczema-prone or psoriasis-prone skin.
• Epimax Gentle Wash: A soap-free foaming body cleanser that helps to maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier, making it suitable for daily cleansing without drying sensitive or psoriasis-prone skin.
• Epimax Oatmeal Cream: Offers lightweight daily hydration and skin barrier support with oatmeal, helping to protect sensitive skin and maintain moisture.

Prescription Treatments For Psoriasis

For moderate to severe flare-ups where daily emollients alone cannot suppress the inflammation, targeted medicated interventions are required. These are typically used for short periods under medical supervision to rapidly calm active inflammation.

• Topical Corticosteroids: Medications like Elocon (mometasone) and Betnovate (betamethasone) are potent anti-inflammatory treatments prescribed to quickly reduce redness, swelling, and itching during an acute flare-up. They work by suppressing the localised overactive immune response in the skin.
• Combination Topicals: Treatments such as Dovobet combine a strong corticosteroid with a vitamin D analogue. Vitamin D analogues help normalise the speed at which your skin cells grow, tackling the root cause of plaque buildup while the steroid calms the active irritation.
• Antifungal Solutions: Nizoral shampoo is an antifungal treatment that may be integrated into a regimen if a secondary fungal infection develops beneath or around plaques, particularly in high-moisture environments or on the scalp.

Natural Skincare For Psoriasis

Many individuals choose to support their medical treatments with natural, botanical-based skincare that offers soothing, therapeutic properties without the use of synthetic chemicals.

The MooGoo range is an industry leader in natural, skin-kind care, focusing on ingredients that mimic the skin’s natural oils to promote gentle healing:

• MooGoo Natural Milk Wash: Utilises glucose and coconut-based cleansers instead of harsh sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) to refresh the skin safely.
• MooGoo Eczema Cream with Ceramide: Features plant-derived ceramides that actively help rebuild a broken skin barrier, helping to seal moisture back in naturally.
• MooGoo Natural Sensitive Skin Balm: Packed with soothing ingredients like aloe vera, olive oil, and allantoin to calm intense itching and quiet red, angry flare-ups.

Building A Daily Psoriasis Skincare Routine

Managing sensitive, plaque-prone skin requires a systematic daily routine that prioritises protection over correction.

Step 1: Gentle Cleansing (Morning & Evening)

Wash using lukewarm water; hot water strips away natural oils and intensifies itching. Use a generous amount of a soap-free wash like QV Gentle Wash or MooGoo Milk Wash. Gently massage over the skin and rinse thoroughly. Avoid using rough washcloths or loofahs, which can damage the skin and induce the Koebner phenomenon. Pat the skin dry with a soft towel; do not rub.

Step 2: Immediate Emollient Application

Apply your chosen emollient (such as QV Cream or Epimax) within three minutes of exiting the shower or bath. This captures the residual surface moisture and locks it into the skin. Always apply emollients gently in the direction of hair growth rather than rubbing them vigorously back and forth, which can irritate hair follicles.

Step 3: Targeted Treatment (As Directed)

If you are using a prescription steroid cream like Elocon or Betnovate, apply it directly to the active plaques as instructed by your healthcare provider. Ensure you leave a gap of at least 30 minutes between applying your daily emollient and your medicated cream so the treatment doesn't become diluted or spread to unaffected skin.

Step 4: Scalp & Environment Care

If your symptoms extend above the hairline, incorporate specialised scalp hygiene using our targeted Scalp Psoriasis: Treatments, Shampoos & How to Manage Symptoms guide.

If you are navigating changing weather conditions, protect your skin using the practical strategies found in our seasonal Psoriasis in Summer: How Heat, Sun and Swimming Can Affect Your Skin guide.

When Should You Speak To A Pharmacist Or GP?

You do not always have to wait for a specialist medical appointment to find relief. Your community pharmacist is an excellent, readily available resource who can help you optimise your skincare routine, ensure you are using topical steroids safely, and help you select appropriate over-the-counter emollients based on your specific symptoms.

However, you should schedule a consultation with your GP or a dermatologist if:

• Your skin plaques are rapidly spreading, covering a large percentage of your body.
• Your skin looks intensely red, feels hot, is swelling, or is weeping fluid; these are clear indicators of a secondary bacterial infection.
• Your current prescription creams no longer provide relief, or your symptoms are severely disrupting your sleep and mental health.

Best Psoriasis Treatments for Sensitive Skin - FAQs

What is the best cream for psoriasis?

There is no single "best" cream, as individual skin needs vary. Generally, the best cream is a highly occlusive (barrier-creating), fragrance-free medical emollient like QV Cream or Epimax applied consistently multiple times a day, paired with short-term prescription topicals for acute flare-ups.

What is the best emollient for psoriasis?

For thick, stubborn plaques, heavy ointments are usually the most effective emollient type because they provide the strongest moisture barrier. For daytime use or larger areas of the body, a rich cream (such as QV or Epimax) is often preferred as it absorbs more cleanly into the skin.

Can psoriasis go away?

Psoriasis is a chronic, lifelong condition, meaning it does not permanently go away. However, it is highly treatable. Most people experience cycles where their skin goes into long periods of complete remission with minimal or no visible symptoms before experiencing occasional flares.

What triggers a psoriasis flare-up?

Common systemic triggers include psychological stress, skin injuries (burns, vaccinations, cuts), viral or bacterial infections (like strep throat), cold or dry weather, smoking, and certain medications like beta-blockers.

When should I see a doctor about my psoriasis?

You should see a doctor if your psoriasis is causing severe pain, spreading rapidly, showing signs of infection (pus, intense swelling, heat), or if over-the-counter treatments fail to keep your symptoms under control.

Dedicated Care & Resources

For further scientific insights, treatment paths, and community advocacy, visit the clinical frameworks hosted by NHS Psoriasis and the Psoriasis Association. To safely order your daily emollients, soap-free washes, or natural skincare solutions with direct pharmacy support, explore our fully stocked range of products for Psoriasis.