One of the struggles of being a teenager is the embarrassing skin problems that come along with it. As I am sure anyone will tell you, acne, pimples, blackheads, and various other issues become prevalent in the height of our teenage and young adult years. Not only have I had to worry about those problems, I was diagnosed with a skin disorder called psoriasis when I was only 8 years old. Psoriasis, put simply, is an autoimmune disorder which causes numerous patches of red, irritated, scaly skin to appear all over my body. The past 9 years of my life have involved trying out and testing numerous products to try to relieve the constant irritation. Because most of these products include ingredients that can be used to soothe normal sensitive skin as well as other various skin problems, I have decided to compile a list of the various items that have helped me throughout the years.

1. Shea Butter

This is by number one favorite product to use on my skin. I have sworn by this for numerous years, as it has been the main thing that relieves the irritation. One of my favorite forms of this is the Bath And Body Works Ultra Shea Body Cream, because not only is it great for overall moisturizing, it also comes in numerous scents that smell amazing.

2. Coconut Milk

This may sound strange, and I was always hesitant of trying it, but coconut milk, as well as coconut oil, is amazing when it comes to softening my skin. My favorite thing to do is take a nice hot bath and pour in some coconut milk.

3. Aloe

Commonly used for soothing sunburn, aloe is known for it's soothing qualities. Personally, I love to use this during the winter when my psoriasis plaque is at its worst, sore and red.

4. Lush Cosmetics

This is not a specific item, but more general. I had struggled for the longest time to find ways to soothe my skin, and then I discovered Lush. Lush has been known for their bath bombs, but they are so much more. To me, Lush is a godsend. They may be expensive, but their products are most definitely worth it. When I am having a break out, I love to take a bath with their Butterball bath bomb to soothe my entire body and successfully soften my rough, sore psoriasis spots. A more recent item I have discovered at Lush are their luxury bath oils, which are my absolute favorite. Soaking in warm water and dropping one of these in to release a torrent of soothing oils and creams, is the best way to relieve that irritating dry, sore skin that seems to occur every winter.

5. Tea Tree Oil

This has been known mainly for clearly acne, but I enjoy tea tree oil because it is sometimes a relief to have that cooling sensation to relieve the burning of the plaque that I have covering my body.

There are so many more ways that I have tried to relieve the irritation of my skin, but these are just a few. While I use these because I have psoriasis, these can also be used to treat and relieve other skin conditions as well. Personally I believe that taking good care of your skin is an essential part of life.