Superstar Beyoncé has been in the news a lot lately. From her record-breaking tour and album to the accompanying tour documentary has continued to keep her in the spotlight. Now, she's using her voice to open up about her experience with psoriasis, including what she's done to treat it.
She made the reveal in a new interview with Essence while discussing the inspiration behind Cécred, her new haircare line. Her latest undertaking has technically been on her mind since she was young—but more tangibly since 2018. It branches from her family’s generational focus on hair, taking root in the idea of self-care as ritual.
In Essence’s March/April cover story, on newsstands February 27, Beyoncé, 42, explained that she has “many beautiful memories attached to [her] hair.”
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“The relationship we have with our hair is such a deeply personal journey,” she told the magazine while promoting her new haircare line, Cécred. “From spending my childhood in my mother’s salon to my father applying oil on my scalp to treat my psoriasis— these moments have been sacred to me.”
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin condition characterized by the rapid buildup of skin cells that forms thick, red, and often itchy patches or scales on the skin's surface. The exact cause remains uncertain, but it has been linked to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Psoriasis affects people of all races, including Black people, African Americans and people of color. Media representations of psoriasis often only show how it affects people with lighter skin tones. Psoriasis may cause a similar symptom of itchiness for everyone, but symptoms look different from person to person.
What Does Psoriasis Look Like on Dark Skin Tones?
Psoriasis on Black skin looks different than it does on light skin tones. Psoriasis plaques are usually described as “pink to red.” These are characteristics of psoriasis on light skin tones. On dark skin tones, a psoriasis plaque can range from light to dark brown, purple or gray. Sometimes, skin discoloration isn’t visible on dark skin tones. Each type of psoriasis can look different based on the type and where it is on your body, but if you have a non-white skin tone, it’s unlikely that you’ll see pink or red skin discoloration as a symptom of psoriasis.
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Psoriasis may also leave evidence of a flare-up on darker skin tones rather than on medium to light skin tones. While areas of thickened skin will disappear, discoloration from psoriasis plaques can remain on your skin for up to a year. Discoloration isn’t permanent, and a healthcare provider can offer treatment to speed up your body’s healing process.
Plaque psoriasis looks different on medium to dark skin tones. While the description of a psoriasis plaque is usually “red,” redness doesn’t look the same on people of color as it does on people with light skin tones. You’ll most likely have a discolored patch of skin that could be a range of light to dark:
- Gray.
- Purple.
- Brown.
- Scales and skin flakes caused by plaque psoriasis are usually silver on darker skin tones.
How Psoriasis Affects Black Hair
Around half of people living with psoriasis have the condition on their scalp as Beyonce mentioned. This form of psoriasis is common in Black people and can also show up on the hairline, forehead, back of the neck, and around the ears.
Scalp psoriasis is often hard to treat in natural hair due to texture. Many people of African descent have tightly coiled hair, which is more fragile than loose curls or straight textures. It also tends to be drier because sebum, a natural moisturizer made in your oil glands, has trouble moving down the hair shaft.
Treating Scalp Psoriasis on Natural Hair
The good news is that there are a range of prescription and over-the-counter options to treat scalp psoriasis, such as medicated ointments, creams, foams, and other formulation.
When it comes to treating scalp psoriasis in natural hair, "There's a lot of flexibility," says Morgan J. McCarty, DO, Dermatologist at ARC Round Rock, in this recent article in WebMD. "Treatment depends on the type of hairstyle you have and how often you wash your hair," Dr. McCarty explains.
Your dermatologist can help you pick the treatment that is best for your lifestyle.
Things to avoid if you have scalp psoriasis
In general, until you have scalp psoriasis under control, it's best to avoid:
- Too much heat.
- Tight hairstyles.
- Weaves.
- Hair coloring and relaxers.
- Too much brushing or combing.
- Alcohol-based products.
- Moisturizers.
The bottom line is that patience is the key when it comes to treating scalp psoriasis. It's possible you'll have to try several different treatments before you find one that works. And it can take a couple of months before you see a difference in your skin. Rule of thumb is that if your skin doesn't start to get better after four weeks, contact your dermatologist.
Beyoncé first announced in May 2023 that she would release a line of hair products. It is inspired by her experiences of growing up and working in her mom Tina Knowles's old hair salon in Texas.
Her brand, Cécred, is a play on the singer’s name and the reverence she has for her and others’ hair. Throughout centuries and across nations, hair has symbolized power for both owners and institutions. It is almost treated as separate from the body and more in line with the inner being.
In acknowledgment of hair’s distinct role in life and culture, and out of longstanding interest in its wellness, Beyoncé formulated the eight-piece collection, due out February 20 on Cécred.com. It includes a clarifying shampoo and scalp scrub, hydrating shampoo, moisturizing deep conditioner, a reconstructing treatment mask, a moisture-sealing lotion, a nourishing hair oil, a fermented rice and rose ritual treatment, and a “shaking vessel” that allows you to blend the ritual treatment. Together, they’ll strengthen and smooth the hair, and also help it recover from any damage. The entire line is made possible through the advent of a custom technology: a patent-pending bioactive keratin ferment.
