Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition, affecting 7.5 million people in the U.S., in which the skin cells turn over too quickly. What happens next is that skin cells build up because the natural shedding process isn't taking place in its proper way.
The piling-up of cells creates the psoriatic condition of scales and flaky skin, with the resultant burning, itching, and pain. The most common type is plaque psoriasis, in which patches of skin are red, raised, and have silvery-white flakes called scales.
About half of psoriasis sufferers have scalp psoriasis which is powdery silver or white. Sometimes the skin on the scalp is just a little bit crusty or flaky. It can cover the whole head and can also appear on the forehead, back of the neck, and around the ears.
There are many remedies for psoriasis which will greatly reduce the probability of flare-ups. The goal of these techniques is to reduce inflammation, so as to stop the skin cells from growing too quickly. Approach your psoriasis treatments holistically: the mind controls the body, and the body impacts the mind.
Eat Healthily
Diet plays a role in managing any chronic condition. Reducing the amount of red meat and fatty snacks may help reduce flare-ups. Cold water fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines, and foods like seeds and nuts are known for their ability to reduce inflammation.
When planning your weekly diet, try to pick a handful of fruits and veggies from each color group. By eating healthily you will discover how to lose belly fat fast which levels out your hormones, strengthening your immune system, and helping you to reduce psoriasis flare-ups.
Reduce or Eliminate Alcohol
Alcohol is a trigger for many people who have psoriasis. A study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School found women who drank at least five nonlight beers per week were nearly twice as likely to develop psoriasis when compared to women who didn’t drink.
Reduce or Eliminate Sugar
Work on greatly reducing the amount of sugar you eat. This may be difficult to do, but it’s up to you to decide between sugar and your skin. People who are overweight tend to be more susceptible to psoriasis.
Reduce Stress
Having psoriasis is a source of stress, and stress will inflame your psoriasis. To break this vicious cycle, reduce your stress in different ways. Massage is a wonderful way to relax your body and mind.
If you choose to have a Swedish/deep tissue massage, ask your massage therapist to use healing oil with no scent such as almond oil. You can also elect to get a Shiatsu massage which is done with clothes on, or with clothes off through a sheet. Many companies offer a 15-minute chair massage during the work day; even fifteen minutes of healing massage can go a long way toward reducing your stress.
`Meditation is also an excellent way to relax and only requires you closing your eyes and listening to a meditation tape. Yoga is another great stress reducer. Restorative yoga is a practice that requires minimal physical exertion. There are DVDs that are useful for an at-home practice.
Raise Your Spirit
Laughter really is the best medicine. Laugh every day. It can give your immune system a boost and reduce pain. Try a laughter yoga club near you, or invite friends over and chant continuously “Ha Ha Ha, Ho Ho Ho, Hee Hee Hee,” and watch yourself and your friends spontaneously break out in belly laughs.
Walk in the woods, and hug a tree. Spend time in a forest to improve your mood, increase your energy, and strengthen your immune function.
Use Your Breath
Dr. Andrew Weil uses the 4-7-8 relaxation breathing to reduce anxiety. Hold your tongue in the “yoga position” pressed against the palate right behind your upper teeth. Breathe in through your nose for a slow count of 4. Then hold your breath for a count of 7.
Exhale through your mouth to a count of 8, removing your tongue from the yoga position. Repeat for 4 cycles. You always have your breath with you, so you can use this breathing technique throughout the day to reduce your psoriasis symptoms.
Humidify
Another way to reduce flare-ups is to prevent your skin from becoming too dry by keeping the air in your home moist by using a humidifier.
Get a Little Sun
The sun’s ultraviolet B-rays offer an easy way to get some relief, but only expose yourself five to ten minutes a day, and make sure to use sunscreen on spots without psoriasis.
Walk for Health
An easy psoriasis treatment is to walk while using a backpack so your arms can swing freely. The natural cross-crawl motion of arms and legs when walking balances the right and left brain, and in so doing, sets your body up for optimum functioning.
Try for at least a half-hour daily regimen of walking for health, with music if you like, but without checking your cell phone.
Connect with a Higher Power
Not necessary to associate this activity with religion. Just find your own unique way to tune into the special force of the Universe, which can help keep you feeling hopeful and optimistic.
Avoid Fragrances
Most soaps, shampoos, lotions, and perfumes have dyes and other chemicals in them that are almost certain to exacerbate psoriasis symptoms. Choose products with “sensitive skin” labels.
Use Medicated Shampoo
For thin plaques, try selenium sulfide (1%) or a tar-based shampoo (can be smelly). For thicker scales, salicylic acid can work well. Try one for a few weeks to see how it works.
Not all work for each person. Use your medicated shampoo first, and then it’s okay to use your regular “skin sensitive” shampoo and conditioner. Make sure you gently rub the medicated shampoo on your scalp.
Resist the Urge to Scratch
As hard as it is, scratching your psoriasis can break the skin causing bleeding and the possibility of infection. Antihistamine pills may help reduce the itching.
Moisturize Naturally
Of the best home remedies for psoriasis, moisturizing your skin routinely is essential. Moisturizing locks water into your skin to help it heal. The right moisturizer can help manage flare-ups, but the wrong moisturizer can trigger them.
According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, the regular use of moisturizers can reduce the irritation and the scaly condition of psoriasis. You may want to have two moisturizers, a light moisturizer with sun protection for daytime use, and a heavier cream at night.
Look for these ingredients in products:
- Exfoliating Acid. Salicylic acid and Glycolic acid (one of the alpha-hydroxy acids) help thin down psoriasis plaques because they are exfoliating agents. Essentially, these ingredients act like a light chemical peel, but also provide rich moisturizing, so your skin looks and feels better.
- Sun Protection. For daytime, choose a moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30.
- Non-comedogenic Formulas. The formula shouldn’t clog pores to cause comedones, a fancy word for blackheads.
If you think an over-the-counter moisturizer isn’t effective, talk with your Dermatologist about a prescription -strength product with a higher concentration of alpha-hydroxy or other acids. Your dermatologist may want to prescribe corticosteroid creams and ointments.
Think carefully before deciding on these psoriasis treatments. In the short-term, they could be effective, but there are many risks and side-effects associated with high dosages and long-term use. Another option for moisturizing your skin is applying extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil. You can even add either one to your bath water for double benefits.
Apply the extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil liberally, to seal in moisture and deliver healing nutrients. On your scalp before you shower, you can massage a tablespoon or two of oil to soften and remove plaques. Bragg’s 100% Pure Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a quality product.
Nutiva Coconut Oil is pure as well. From the National Psoriasis Foundation, the top three recommended creams are:
- Demarest Psoriasis Medicated Moisturizer. One of the few lotions out there created specifically for people with psoriasis, it contains salicylic acid, antioxidants, and zinc to help remove scales and tackle redness and itching while restoring moisture to the skin.
- Aveeno Anti-Itch Concentrated Lotion. Packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds called avenanthramides, the oat is a Farmer’s Almanac special treatment for soothing minor skin irritations. Aveeno’s Triple Oat complex provides temporary relief for itching while enhancing the moisture barrier.
- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. Our skin naturally contains lipid molecules called ceramides, which are found in the membranes of our cells. Scientists believe they play a role in restoring the skin’s protective function, and that depleted ceramide levels can be linked to dry skin.
Bathe for Soothing Relief
Another of the home remedies for psoriasis is to use Dead Sea or Epsom Salt in a tub with warm water for a 15-minute soak, which will calm and rejuvenate you and give you relief.
Taking a warm bath will help loosen scales and reduce itching and inflammation. In addition to salts, experiment with oatmeal and a bath gel containing coal tar.
Cool Down
Store your lotions, moisturizers, or even heavy ointments in the refrigerator before you use them for an extra soothing effect. Cold packs can also useful for calming itching and burning.
Wrap it Overnight
To loosen scales, put olive oil on your scalp, and use a shower cap to cover. Shampoo off in the morning. For arms or chest, put on your heavy cream or ointment, and wrap with plastic wrap.
Try Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements may help ease psoriasis flare-ups. Fish oil, vitamin D, milk thistle, Aloe Vera, Oregon grape, and evening primrose oil have been reported to help ease mild symptoms according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. It’s important to take only supplements that don’t interfere with other preexisting conditions you have, or with medications that you are taking.
Trying to decide which supplements to take can be overwhelming. Talk to a Naturopathic Doctor who is an expert on supplementation. A state licensed naturopathic physician (ND) who graduates from a four-year naturopathic medical school is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an MD, but also studies clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling.
The naturopathic doctor is a specialist in supplements and is knowledgeable in how they mix with prescription medications and food. This kind of doctor knows how to treat psoriasis from an overall wellness perspective.
Action Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a plant with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which has been known for its healing properties since antiquity. It contains proteolytic enzymes which repair dead skin cells.
You can also drink Aloe Vera juice. It hydrates, improves liver function, brings heartburn relief, improves glucose levels, gives a nutritious boost, and aids weight loss. This is how to lose belly fat fast. Make sure you get pure aloe which is yellowish in color.
For those who are adventuresome, use the Aloe Vera right from the plant; cut the stem, and apply the yellowish gel inside directly on your skin.
Connect with Capsaicin
Capsaicin is the ingredient that makes chili peppers hot. Research shows it can cut pain, inflammation, and redness.
You can find capsaicin in over-the-counter creams, but do a small skin test first because not everyone can use it; some people report it burns their skin.
Consider UVB Treatments
Ultraviolet Lamps
Present in natural sunlight, Ultraviolet B (UVB) is a treatment for psoriasis. UVB penetrates the skin and slows the growth of affected skin cells. Treatment involves exposing the skin to an artificial UVB light source for a set length of time on a regular schedule.
Researchers from the Netherlands conducted a study (2009) on ultraviolet lamp treatments at home, versus treatments in the hospital or an outpatient clinic. They concluded home treatments are just as safe and effective as treatments in a hospital. Ultraviolet B treatment involves exposing the skin to an artificial UVB light source. People in this study found it easier to use home therapy than getting treatment in a clinical setting.
Not much light therapy had been done at home because dermatologists believed that home therapy is inferior to treatments administered in a medical setting, and carries more risks. The research team in the Netherlands conducted their study with 196 people with psoriasis at 14 different hospital departments. Then they randomized patients to receive either UVB light therapy at home or as an outpatient at a hospital, according to standard practice.
After treatment, disease severity was measured using commonly used scoring scales. Both groups completed questionnaires that asked about the quality of life, burden of treatment, and satisfaction levels.
The findings showed that effectiveness of treatment was significant and similar in both groups. The authors also reported that cumulative doses of UVB, and short-term side effects, were also similar in both groups.
Excimer Laser Treatments
A more recent development in how to treat psoriasis with UVB treatment is with the laser. So far, research shows that laser treatments work well for people with mild to moderate psoriasis in more concentrated areas on their body.
It’s not effective for people who have psoriasis on large areas. Some people, getting 8 to 10 sessions, have observed some real improvements that have lasted from several months to a year.
Laser treatments are contraindicated for people with:
- Lupus or Scleroderma
- Sun sensitivity
- Xeroderma Pigmentosum (an inherited disease that causes sensitivity to sunlight)
- Risks, or history, of skin cancer
- A condition that requires you to take medications that make you sensitive to sunlight
Some side-effects of the laser treatments that have been reported are blistering, scarring, and darkening or lightening of the skin.
More research is needed to determine whether exposure to UVB light from a laser might increase the risk of skin cancer. Make sure you avoid tanning beds, which do not produce the same healing results as UVB treatments and may be harmful.
Be Good to Yourself
Anyone with psoriasis will tell you that this lifelong condition affects both physical and emotional health. Many feel isolated and uncomfortable in their own skin and may feel like they cannot lead a full life. Depression and frustration are common feelings.
Body image issues related to the unattractive psoriasis lesions are normal. Start your healing process with telling yourself the truth, which is you can continue to feel good about yourself with the right treatment and support. Contact the National Psoriasis Foundation, which can connect you with others, as well as keeping you up on research in the field.
Seek counseling or a support group through your medical provider, or privately. Look on message boards and find online chats to connect with others in the same situation. You have to work every day to control the flakes, itch, and pain. Even the most optimistic people can get discouraged by treatments that work for a while and then don’t.
Make sure you have empathetic health providers. Take things gently. Be gentle with your self-care; for example, wash your lesions tenderly. Be patient and don’t give up. Consistent treatment will get you where you want to go - living a quality life with minimal flare-ups.
More Information to Help You Understand Psoriasis
There are many ways to assess how severe your plaque psoriasis is, including the body surface area covered with psoriasis (BSA), and the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), which is a number calculated by your doctor to represent how much psoriasis you have, and how thick it is.
Mild severity is when three percent of the body is affected. Moderate is when three to ten percent is affected. Severe is over ten percent. Being diagnosed with plaque psoriasis is usually a straightforward process — any type of psoriasis is usually diagnosed by a history of your symptoms and a thorough physical examination from an experienced dermatologist.
Blood and other tests are generally not needed to diagnose most psoriasis. Other skin conditions can sometimes appear similar to psoriasis, such as eczema, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, lichen planus, Pityriasis Rubra pilaris, or fungal infections of the skin (“ringworm”). In these cases, when the diagnosis is uncertain, a skin biopsy can often be helpful. In this procedure, your medical provider will numb an area of the rash with a shot and then remove a small piece of skin for the laboratory to examine.
Psoriasis has a specific pattern of inflammation visible under the microscope, and the doctor who looks at it (dermatopathologist) will provide a report to your doctor. Sometimes rashes can be difficult to diagnose, even with a biopsy. If psoriasis is strongly suspected, a trial of a good treatment may be helpful.
If the rash improves, then it is likely that psoriasis is present. Special types of psoriasis like erythrodermic or pustular psoriasis may be more difficult to diagnose, and require referral to a dermatologist who specializes in psoriasis, or an academic clinic at a medical school.
Medications that are contra-indicated for people with psoriasis:
- Lithium used to treat psychiatric disorders.
- Propranolol, and possibly other beta-blockers, which are prescribed for heart conditions.
- Quinidine (Cardioquin or Quinidex), medications for heart arrhythmias.
Let your doctor know about the medications you take, including any over-the-counter products and supplements.
In Summary
You may find yourself in embarrassing situations where people are staring at you. One woman found herself almost kicked off a plane because some passengers complained that she might be contagious. Understand your condition, and stand up for your rights. The more you in control of your condition you are, the more empowered you will feel.
Psoriasis is not contagious. It is an auto-immune disease, possibly brought on by the environment – cold weather – medications, or stress. There could be a genetic component, but it’s slight. If one parent has psoriasis, their child would only have a 15 percent chance of developing the disease.
Since it is an auto-immune illness, it can affect every organ in the body so early detection and proper treatment are your best lines of defense. More and more research is being done, and “alternate” treatments are being explored, such as Ayurvedic and Homeopathic medicine.
Ayurvedic medicine originated in India more than 3,000 years ago and uses such remedies as herbal compounds and special diets. Homeopathic medicine, 300 years old, is based on the principle of “like cures like,” in which similar medicines act as a stimulus to engage the body’s natural healing response.