FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL BASED CREAM FOR PSORIASIS MANAGEMENT

Excessive keratinocyte growth and scaling are hallmarks of psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition. The purpose of this project is to develop and assess a topical activated charcoal cream intended to treat psoriasis symptoms. Activated charcoal possesses absorptive, detoxifying, and anti-inflammatory properties that help remove impurities, reduce irritation, and soothe inflamed skin. The optimized formulation showed a smooth texture, appropriate pH, and non-irritant nature, making it suitable for topical use. The finding suggested that activated charcoal cream can serve as an effective and safe alternative therapy for managing psoriasis and improving skin comfort. To examine the efficacy of a charcoal-based cream in managing psoriasis symptoms and improving skin health through topical application. Activated charcoal and other excipients were used to prepare various cream formulations, which were evaluated for pH, spreadability, viscosity, washability, and antimicrobial activity using standard pharmaceutical techniques. Five trial formulations were developed and evaluated, with formulation F3 demonstrating optimal physical, chemical, and antimicrobial properties. Antimicrobial testing showed significant inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The optimized charcoal-based cream shows promise as an effective topical therapy for psoriasis management.