The Cost of Treating Psoriasis: Receipts

Welcome to Show the Receipts, a new series where we ask interesting people to share exactly how much it costs to get shit done. No matter the task, we’re tracking every last dollar from start to finish. Up next: treating scalp psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a common skin disease that affects about two percent of the population in the United States, or roughly seven million people, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. One of those seven million people is Evangelia Boadu.

Boadu was diagnosed with the condition six years ago, but always had an inkling “something was off” with her scalp, she says. “I remember when I was in the fourth grade and my scalp would just be white, even though my mom would moisturize my hair every day. Some of my friends would point out how dry my scalp was — that’s how bad it was.” Before she got an official diagnosis, Boadu tried every at-home solution from oil concoctions to shea butter — to no avail.

It was only after she visited a dermatologist for treatment that she started to see real results. However, after turning 26, Boadu could no longer remain on her parents’ insurance plan, so she reduced how much she visited the doctor and turned to over-the-counter products that don’t require a prescription to continue her journey with scalp psoriasis. Keep reading for the full cost breakdown.

Task: Treating scalp psoriasis
Occupation: Content creator
Location: Hawaii
Timeline: 1 year

The Receipts:

Dermatology appointments: $20 co-pay per year
Prescription medication: $30 with insurance, or $360 per year
Specialty hair-care products: $31, or $372 per year
Skin-care products: $53, or $636 per year
Total: $1,388

How I Did It

Boadu’s approach to treating her psoriasis utilizes both natural ingredients and Western medicine. Here, she’s sharing a few of the biggest takeaways on the cost of treating the scalp condition.

PS: What was the most surprising expense of this process?
Evangelia Boadu: What’s helped the most is editing down my hair routine. When you think of trying to address a skin issue like psoriasis, you may automatically think that you should start trying as many products as possible. But over the last few years, I’ve found that less is more. So instead of spending a ton of money on unnecessary hair products, I’m buying sprigs of rosemary every two weeks to make rosemary water.

PS: What’s your at-home maintenance routine?
EB: Sometimes when I have a particularly bad flare-up, the psoriasis can come down to my forehead or my cheek, so I’ve found that keeping my morning routine on the more hydrating side and making my nighttime one more treatment-focused has helped. I use the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant ($35) in particular and the Prequel Hydrating Serum ($28). I also use their Moisturizing Milk for Face and Body ($22), which has urea in it and my skin likes that formula.

As for my scalp, I use the Mielle Rosemary Mint Oil ($7, originally $10) and the As I Am Tea Tree Shampoo ($13), both of which work wonders for making my scalp feel clean and helping with the flakes.

PS: Where did you cut costs and make financial sacrifices to accommodate your treatments?
EB: I haven’t necessarily had to cut back financially but that’s mainly because the simpler the routine, the better, which is something I’ve realized over the years. When you have a more straightforward routine, it’s easier to track what could be causing flare-ups. I definitely had more issues with my scalp when I was using more products, so that’s mainly what’s been cut.

PS: What were some of the more unexpected lifestyle expenses you faced with psoriasis?
EB: Another cut — or maybe more of an expense time-wise — was that I had to stop getting box braids. For me, this protective style is like my bread and butter. Now when I get them, I have to be extremely mindful about who I go to because so many stylists use gels and mousses to finish the style, which is a big no-no for me.

Final Thoughts

While Boadu does use some natural remedies to address her psoriasis, she still touts the importance of seeing a doctor to help treat the condition. “If I’m having a super bad flare-up where my scalp is discolored or bleeding, using my dermatologist-prescribed routine is the best,” she says. “While I don’t use it all the time, the way my scalp goes back to normal in a matter of a week or two will never stop amazing me.”

Ariel Baker is the associate editor for PS Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.