What happens to psoriasis before and after Dove DermaSeries
MANILA, Philippines — With reddening and scaling of the skin on his hands, arms and legs, computer programmer Edgardo Paulo Cunanan has seen looks of apprehension, or worse disgust, from strangers and people he’s not close or related to.
His red and scaly patches in addition to severe itching are marks of psoriasis, a chronic skin disease that Cunanan has been suffering for over 10 years. It started only as severe dandruff.
“My psoriasis started when I was in my second year of college. That was when I was about 18 or 19 years old. My mom brought me to a dermatologist to get my scalp looked at because I had a lot of dandruff. The dermatologist recommended a biopsy and found out that I had psoriasis,” Cunanan recalled.
Psoriases is caused by rapid skin cell production, which happens when the immune system is triggered by factors like stress, infection and skin trauma, among others.
In 2017, about 2 million Filipinos are suffering from psoriasis. Many of them, according to Philippine Dermatological Society president Ma. Angela Lavadia, are either unaware of their skin condition or ashamed to come out. In both cases, they are not able to get proper treatment.
Cunanan’s personal experience of discrimination and isolation has given him courage to address his psoriasis openly. Recently, he has discovered Dove DermaSeries, which is the first therapeutic line from the skincare brand.
Dove's first and breakthrough therapeutic line include skin cleanser, face cream, hand cream, body lotion and repairing balm.
Promising superior nourishment, moisture and clinical benefits to extremely dry skin, the breakthrough products include skin cleanser, face cream, hand cream, body lotion and repairing balm. All are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and dye-free, as well as feel pleasurable and good on skin.
“Dove DermaSeries is a big help for my psoriasis, which is an incurable skin disorder," said Cunanan after just one week of trying out the therapeutic range.
“The products, particularly the cleanser and lotion, provided relief from severely dry and itchy skin. I've been using them everyday after showering, before sleeping, and anytime I feel any discomfort on my skin,” he explained.
The Dry Skin Relief Skin Cleanser gently removes impurities and provides lasting nourishment. It uniquely blends natural lipids, sunflower oil and mild cleansing actives like glycerin and glycinate.
Complementing the effects of the cleanser on Cunanan is the Dry Skin Relief Body Lotion with a rich formula proven to replenish even the driest of skin without feeling sticky or greasy. It contains glycerin for extreme moisture, petrolatum for protection and 12-hydroxstearic acid that replenishes lipids and creates better quality hydration.
“Before this, I've been using a derma prescribed soap and virgin coconut oil as a moisturizer. The coconut oil has a strong smell and it feels hot after application but it's cheap and effective, especially when it comes to redness,” Cunanan admitted.
He then noted that he practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a grappling martial art that involves a lot of friction. This friction sometimes causes irritation, triggering his psoriasis and resulting in redness of skin.
What Cunanan did was use his dermatologist-prescribed topical steroid along with Dove DermaSeries to address his issue.
“After using my ointment, the redness disappeared and combined with the moisture that the Dove products provided, my quality of life has certainly improved,” Cunanan said.
