Establish A Routine To Treat Your Psoriasis
Amid the dizzying array of treatments available for psoriasis, moisturizing is the only therapy that can help all patients, regardless of the severity of their skin lesions. A daily moisturizing regimen is simply essential for people with psoriasis. If you suffer from psoriasis, you want to not only keep your existing patches from worsening, but help to prevent future outbreaks.
A moisturizerwhether in the form of a lotion, cream, oil, or ointmentserves double duty in the fight against psoriasis, an immune-system condition that causes skin cells to reproduce far more rapidly than normal. About 6 million Americans, or 2 percent of the population, suffer from psoriasis. It can strike at any age, and it usually produces red, itchy, inflamed skin lesions anywhere on the body. Although it is not curable, many available medications can help control symptoms, including topical creams, ultraviolet light therapy, oral medication, and injectable medicines known as biologics.
Second, keeping already inflamed psoriasis patches moist helps to loosen scales, an effect enhanced by a process called occlusion, which involves covering affected areas with thick cream or lotion, covering the area in plastic wrap or fabric, and leaving the covering on overnight. Cosmetically, moisturized psoriasis also looks better, and the scales that remain are partially hidden.
Things To Know Before Using Cocoa Butter For Your Face
Cocoa butter is considered safe, so long as youre not allergic to the cocoa plant. Cocoa butter will not have any caffeine in it, either, unlike cocoa powder.
However, cocoa butter is known to clog pores. So use caution before applying cocoa butter to your face. If youre prone to acne and breakouts, you may not want to use any products that list cocoa butter as one of the first seven ingredients in a product. If cocoa butter is listed far down the line of ingredients, or if youre not worried about acne, you dont have to be quite as concerned.
An oils chemical structure determines if and how badly it clogs pores. Cocoa butters molecules are packed very tight together, which makes it very comedogenic . Oils that are less comedogenic include olive oil, almond oil, and apricot oil. Soybean, sunflower, and safflower oil will not clog pores at all.
What Helps My Psoriasis
Posted Mon 15 Dec 2014 01.13 by Gem5949I have been affected by psoriasis since age 11 I have been at a point where almost my whole body was covered and I couldn’t bend my
1Posted Tue 12 May 2015 20.08 by janwatson12
Posted Tue 8 Sep 2015 07.09 by dougiei have it all over my body
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The Best And Worst Beauty Ingredients For Psoriasis
Common ingredients found in cleansers, shampoo, and skin care products can boost your psoriasis treatment, but others might just add to your irritation. Here’s how to be smart about your choices.
Part of your psoriasis treatment might include everyday health and beauty aids, shampoo, and skin care items you can get at your favorite drugstore. It’s important, though, to check the ingredients labels carefully and, of course, to know which ingredients will help relieve itch and loosen plaques, and which ones can irritate and even inflame your skin. Even from among all the psoriasis-friendly formulas, it might take some trial and error to find the best products for you. This guide will help.
Psoriasis An Itchy Predicament
Characterized by dry white patches or red itchy patches on the skin, psoriasis is a skin condition that is on the rise amongst adults and children alike. Psoriasis has more recently been characterized as a recurring autoimmune condition, where by the immune system starts attacking its own body cells, and as with most autoimmune diseases, there is no cure for psoriasis today.
If you have or suspect you have psoriasis, the number one action to take is to visit your doctor for a consultation. This way you can at least be certain of what you are suffering from and then you can decide a treatment plan. However, modern medicine only has chemical treatments for psoriasis, which include creams containing salicylic acid, coal-tar, retinol, calcipotriene and steroids. Most of these tablets and creams have side effects, may cost you a lot of money and you may want to try out natural remedies such as essential oils, herbs and of course, SHEA BUTTER.
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Cocoa Butter For Facial Scars
If youre worried about the appearance of scars, doctors recommend routine massage to the skin. Massage isnt shown to reduce the appearance of scars more than two years old. More recent scars may benefit if you do the following:
- Massage in a circular motion over the scar.
- Massage vertically across the scar.
- Massage horizontally across the scar.
- For best results, massage 2 or 3 times a day, for 10 minutes at a time.
Depending on your own skin care routine, you may prefer to use it after your face has been cleansed and exfoliated so that your skin can really absorb it. However, cocoa butter can clog your pores, so it may be best to use it on areas other than your face.
What Are The Benefits Of Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, which is why its often touted for its ability to hydrate and nourish the skin and improve elasticity. The fat in cocoa butter forms a protective barrier over skin to hold in moisture.
Cocoa butter is also rich in natural plant compounds called phytochemicals. These substances may improve blood flow to the skin and slow skin aging by protecting against damage from the suns harmful UV rays.
One common use of cocoa butter is to smooth scars, wrinkles, and other marks on the skin. Many women believe cocoa butter creams and lotions can be used during and after pregnancy to prevent and minimize the appearance of stretch marks. Cocoa butter has also been promoted to heal rashes from conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
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Compliance With Ethics Guidelines
The study was approved by the independent/institutional ethics committee at all the participating centers and was conducted in compliance with the International Conference on Harmonisation E6 Guideline for Good Clinical Practice , the Declaration of Helsinki and applicable country laws . Please see the supplementary material for a complete list of ethics committees. The patients received a detailed explanation of the trial and were further encouraged to raise any queries about the study. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients before enrollment in the study, which was registered on the Clinical Trials Registry of India : CTRI/2017/03/008023 registered on: 07/03/2017).
Medicated Creams For Psoriasis
Another important variety of psoriasis cream is the topical medicated treatment. These are products recommended for people with psoriasis either by a pharmacist or a doctor. You will often need a prescription to use the kinds of treatments below as they can be very potent.
The ingredients most commonly found in medicated psoriasis creams are:
- Topical corticosteroids
- Coal tar
- Dithranol
These ingredients primarily work by reducing skin cell production, however they can also have an anti-inflammatory effect, which helps to reduce soreness and itching.
Medicated psoriasis creams should be applied directly to affected areas when youre experiencing a flare-up of symptoms. They are suited to cases of mild or moderate psoriasis, and vary in potency.
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What Makes Shea Butter Good For Psoriasis
Not surprisingly, shea butter is an extremely useful and soothing natural remedy for all types of skin conditions, including psoriasis. Just take a look at the properties that make shea good for psoriasis.
Rich in Vitamins: Vitamin A, E and F are found in shea butter. All 3 of these vitamins play a part in promoting healthy skin.
- Vitamin A is found in many psoriasis creams and helps in the regeneration of healthy new skin cells, which can replace scaly psoriasis cells.
- Vitamin E, known as the Skin Protector, helps protect the skin against UV damage and reduces inflammation in the skin.
- Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin has only recently shot to fame and is prescribed by doctors for all sorts of problems including arthritis, depression and even cancer. But shea, an ancient nut butter actually contains a notable about of Vitamin D, which is a miracle to stave off psoriasis flare-ups.
- Vitamin F is also known as fatty acids, such as linoleic, stearic, oleic acids, which are natural fatty chains which play the part of moisturizing, hydrating and soothing scratchy dry psoriasis on the skin.
How Can Cocoa Butter Help Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are caused by rapid growth or weight gain that tears the middle layer of our skin, allowing the lower layers to show through. They tend to happen during pregnancy when a womans belly stretches and grows with her baby.
Cocoa butter can:
- help prevent stretch marks by keeping the skin hydrated. This gives the skin more stretch and helps it resist tearing.
- help heal stretch marks by nourishing the skin with its antioxidants and vitamins.
Dermatologists recommend massage as a treatment for stretch marks. Massage the area with oil, using your fingertips, in circular motions. This helps stretch your collagen and elastin fibers, making them more pliable and normal looking. Incorporating cocoa butter as your massage oil would be a perfect way to restore moisture and nourish your skin.
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What Types Of Foods Can Cause Psoriasis To Flare Up
You may already know which foods can irritate your psoriasis. If not, you may wish to try an elimination diet to identify the foods and beverages that potentially make your condition flare up. By eliminating certain foods from your diet and re-introducing them one at a time, you should be able to determine which aggravate your psoriasis. Foods which may potentially cause flare ups include dairy products , egg yolks, red meats, gluten, citrus fruits, condiments , gluten, nightshade vegetables , junk foods and alcoholic beverages. Flare ups can also be caused by a number of drugs so it might be a good idea to talk to your physician about this.
Cocoa butter has been used for centuries as a natural moisturizer. Have you already tried it to treat your psoriasis? Did you manage to get it into remission? Use the comments section below to share your experience. And if you know someone who may benefit from the information contained in this article, please feel free to share it. Finally, why not sign up to our mailing list to receive regular updates?
Can Coconut Cause Allergic Reaction
Allergic reactions to peanut and tree nuts are relatively common. In contrast, allergic reactions to coconut are relatively rare. Few cases of allergic reactions from eating coconut products have been reported, including one case of severe stomach upset in a baby fed infant formula containing coconut.
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Eucerin Skin Calming Itch Relief Treatment
This fragrance-free lotion contains cooling menthol and soothing oatmeal to help relieve and calm itch. Although it wasnât created for people with psoriasis, its ability to âhelp relieve night-time itching,â according to the manufacturer, might appeal to people with psoriasis who know this problem all too well.
Who Should Use Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter has ultra-moisturizing properties that are ideal for dry skin, which can sometimes give products that have it a greasy consistency. As a result, Dr. Jaliman suggests anyone prone to acne to skip it, since it could clog pores. “Although it does have antibacterial properties and one might think it could help with acne, I would avoid cocoa butter ,” she continues.
Dr. Nazarian agrees. Thanks to a high comedogenic rating , cocoa butter may not be the perfect hydrating solution for every skin type. “It is safe in most sensitive skin types , but I would recommend against applying it to areas of the body that are at risk for acne like the face,” Dr. Nazarian tells us.
Even so, the benefits alone have us reconsidering this old-school ingredient. We asked experts to share their favorite beauty buys that are full of cocoa butter. Say hello to the moisturizing products you’ll be kicking your coconut oil for.
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The Constituents Of Plant Oils
Plant oils can be classified into essential oils and fixed oils. This article focuses only on fixed oils, which are not volatile at room temperature. Although there are different ways to obtain plant oils, cold-pressed plant oils have better nutritive properties than those that have undergone the refining process. This is because cold-pressing procedure does not involve heat or chemical treatments, which may alter their composition and therapeutic effects. Fixed plant oil components include triglycerides, FFAs, tocopherols, sterols, stanols, phospholipids, waxes, squalene, phenolic compounds , etc. These different compounds, when topically applied, influence skin physiology differently.
Unsaponifiables are also essential in the biological function of plant oils . They have a high potential for antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity is derived from tocopherols, carotenoids, triterpenes, flavonoids, and phenolic acids that protect from ROS .
How To Prepare Cocoa Powder
To turn cocoa beans into cocoa powder:
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Using Vaseline For Psoriasis The Right Way
1. Wet your skin with water. This is essential to the process so make sure to do it! I normally slather it on straight after a shower, but if Im at work and my hands are flaky, I just go wash my hands in the bathroom, without drying them off!
Youre doing it wrong!
2. Before your skin is dry, rub a tiny drop of Vaseline into it. Make sure to rub it in thoroughly so that every little bit is absorbed. If you are doing it individually on large plaques, you might notice that one pea-sized drop is not enough, so add one more. The key really is moderation were not going for the gooey swamp monster look here!
3. Remember, Vaseline is safe . As such, you can use it wherever psoriasis is rearing its ugly head, be it in between your bum or your face. It is endlessly versatile just dont use it on scalp psoriasis because its not water soluble and youll probably have to shave it off!
4. Do it at least twice a day, and increase that number if you can. Once in the morning and once at night is the bare minimum! Just remember, if you think youve tried using Vaseline, have you tried it the Right Way?
5. Ive been on forums and talked to people who say its healed their psoriasis by up to 80%! I wouldnt go that far, but I would say that it has minimised the scaling by a really great deal.
Demographics And Patient Characteristics
A total of 400 patients were enrolled from 9 study centers, of whom 16 were discontinued since they were lost to follow-up. Among the 384 patients completing the study, 179 completed the week-2 follow-up, and 384 patients completed the week-4 follow-up. Demographic details for all the enrolled patients are presented in Table . The frequency of cream application was decided by the treating physician based on patient characteristics. The details concerning the concomitant medication use by the patients are presented in the supplementary material . A total of 151 patients were on moisturizing cream alone without any concomitant therapy .
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Buying Psoriasis Creams Over The Counter
You can readily buy emollients in a pharmacy, but medicated creams will typically require a conversation with the pharmacist or a prescription from your doctor.
Coal tar shampoos, including polytar shampoo, which are a treatment for scalp psoriasis, are usually available to buy without speaking to a pharmacist.
polytar-shampoo-150ml,dermalex-psoriasis-60g,grahams-natural-psoriasis-cream-75gm,stiefel-oilatum-cream-150g,e45-cream-125g,e45-dermatological-moisturising-lotion-200ml,doublebase-diomed-flare-relief-emollient
What Are The Common Treatments For Psoriasis
Although there is no cure, psoriasis can be treated orally with immune-system suppressants or locally . Cocoa butter is not commonly used to relieve the symptoms of psoriasis but it does boast a number of properties which make it ideal for this condition.
Firstly its polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants, promote skin elasticity, skin tone and skin moisture. In addition, cocoa butters high content of saturated fats makes it ideal to relieve and treat dry as well as cracked skin. With regular applications of cocoa butter, you should soon notice the giveaways that your psoriasis is healing.
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Dermatology Life Quality Index Score
Based on the DLQI scores at baseline , psoriasis significantly affected patients’ life with 12% and 29% of patients reporting an extremely large and very large effect on their life. After starting the intensive plant-based butter moisturizing cream at 4 weeks only 0.5% and 15.9% of patients had an extremely large effect and very large effect on life. Significant improvement was observed at both week-2 and week-4 follow-ups. All individual items of the DLQI questionnaire also showed a significant reduction from baseline over a period of 4 weeks . A 66.6% and 54.4% reduction was observed in the mean DLQI score for patients with moderate and severe psoriasis, respectively, compared with baseline, at the 4th week of the study .