How Do You Treat Psoriasis

Home Remedies For Psoriasis

There are many home remedies in the treatment of psoriasis. It is very important to keep the skin moist to avoid dryness. Petroleum jelly, vegetable shortening, or olive oil can be used as moisturizers. Take fewer showers and baths to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils. Adding salts, oil, or finely ground oatmeal to a bath can soothe the skin. Heliotherapy can be effective in controlling psoriasis. There is also evidence that increased body mass is associated with psoriasis and that heavier individuals are more difficult to treat.

Diet And Psoriasis: What’s The Connection

Can your diet help keep psoriasis under control? Maybe. An observational study published online July 25, 2018, by JAMA Dermatology found that people with psoriasis who followed a Mediterranean diet an eating pattern rich in fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, fruit, nuts, and extra-virgin olive oil experienced fewer severe flare-ups. This was only an association and more research is needed, but experts believe the Mediterranean diet contains many foods that have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body and may offer extra protection against psoriasis triggers.

How Can I Treat Psoriasis Myself

I have successfully done a regular routine that has greatly helped my psoriasis. Mine is plague psoriasis that is all over my body and it has greatly harmed self esteem and confidence. Im not selling anything. Ive just been doing natural remedies and I wanted to share which ones have worked for me well to help some of you out there who are recently diagnosed or want to try new things to attack your psoriasis! So How Can I Treat Psoriasis Myself ? You can read below

WATER WATER WATER!!! The more water you drink, the better your plaques psoriasis will look.

Lots of fruits and vegetables less meat, dairy, and gluten. I know this can seem hard, but it honestly hasnt been hard for me at all. Ive made amazing meals out of vegan and vegetarian cook books. Prior to starting this kind of diet, I always get sick and bloated, and my plagues would be really irritated, thick, and dry.

2-3 times a week EXFOLIATE your body!! I have finally found a slightly less rough exfoliate to remove the dry scales off my plagues. I do this in the shower twice a week with this new Dove body exfoliate with rice milk and macadamia . This doesnt really have strong scents like their other one which contains perfumes. I ALWAYS moisturize with my daily coconut oil routine after doing this in the shower.

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Hydrocortisone Creams And Ointments

You can buy a mild corticosteroid like hydrocortisone without a prescription. For a few small patches of psoriasis, a mild hydrocortisone works well. If you have more than a few small patches, youll likely need a prescription corticosteroid to see results.

Whether OTC or prescription, this medicine works quickly to:

• Reduce the itch

If you have cracked or bleeding skin, an ointment will likely feel better than a cream. Ointments tend to be more soothing and less irritating than creams.

MoisturizerThis may help anyone who has psoriasis because psoriasis makes the skin dry and scaly. Moisturizer helps to seal water in the skin, which can:

• Relieve dryness

• Help your skin heal

Dermatologists recommend applying moisturizer once a day, and more often when your skin is really dry. When shopping for a moisturizer, you want to select a:

• Heavy cream, ointment, or oil rather than a lotion

• Fragrance-free product

• Product that you like and will use

Oil can be especially healing, but its also messy. To reap the benefits of oil, try applying it before bedtime.

Moisturize before washing

For best results, you want to apply your moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing and after washing your hands.

Scale softenersYoull find OTC products and prescription medicines that contain salicylic acid. This active ingredient helps to:

• Remove and soften scale

• Reduce swelling

Removing the scale helps other medicine that you apply to your skin to work better.

• Lactic acid

• Urea

Scale softeners

What Is Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is an inherited systemic inflammatory disease of immune dysfunction that causes plaques of elevated, scaling, inflamed skin that is often quite itchy. The plaques are characteristically found on the scalp, elbows, and knees. Plaque psoriasis is relatively common about 2%-3% of population of the United States is affected. It is not contagious.

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Psoralen And Ultraviolet A

Psoralens plus long wave ultraviolet A radiation, , can be applied to the whole body by giving an oral psoralen in tablet form 2 hours prior to treatment.

• Treatment can be localised to the hands and/or feet by using psoralen bath soaks or topical psoralens prior to treatment.
• Localised treatment is commonly used to treat thick plaques or moderate-to-severe hand and/or foot psoriasis, including palmoplantar pustulosis.
• persists for some hours following oral psoralen treatment therefore, patients are advised to avoid sun exposure, including wearing wrap-around sunglasses on the day of treatment.
• PUVA is more likely than narrowband UVB treatment to cause skin cancer, especially squamous cell carcinoma and is usually limited to a maximum of 100 to 200-lifetime treatments.
• Psoralens and therefore PUVA is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A

For this treatment, you’ll first be given a tablet containing compounds called psoralens, or psoralen may be applied directly to the skin. This makes your skin more sensitive to light.

Your skin is then exposed to a wavelength of light called ultraviolet A . This light penetrates your skin more deeply than ultraviolet B light.

This treatment may be used if you have severe psoriasis that has not responded to other treatment.

Side effects include nausea, headaches, burning and itchiness. You may need to wear special glasses for 24 hours after taking the tablet to prevent the development of cataracts.

Long-term use of this treatment is not encouraged, as it can increase your risk of developing skin cancer.

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How To Treat Severe Plaque Psoriasis

This article was medically reviewed by . Dr. Litza is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 15,244 times.

Psoriasis is a common skin disease that consists of patches of thick, red, and scaly skin. These areas of discoloration can be painful and itchy, in addition to scaling off. The condition may affect any part of the skin surface but it is considered a severe case if it covers more than 10% of your body.XResearch source Severe plaque psoriasis can be treated with moisturizers, natural remedies, light therapy, and surface or systemic medication. However, with serious cases you may need to use a variety of treatment options to keep it under control.

How Do You Treat Psoriasis On The Inside

It has been only a FEW DAYS since I started walking the talk 100%, monday to be exact, before that I was at 80-90% strict. The BEFORE pictures are from July 6th, the AFTER pictures are from today the 24th. Actually my skin was WORSE last weekend than in the first picture. In just a few days there is a noticeable difference!!

Before pics :

After pics :

I didnt use any creams/oils for a week so the change comes purely from WITHIN. I can feel that there is less inflammation and MUCH LESS FLAKES in bed in the morning, HEALING STARTED! One of the biggest mistakes I have made before is not celebrating the small wins, Im not letting that happen anymore! Im PROUD of myself for getting to this point and Im very EXCITED to continue this path to INSPIRE as many people like us as possible!! Im proud of anyone who is working to improve their skin, all of you here! Heres most of what I do to Treat Psoriasis On the Inside :

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How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed And Treated

Psoriasis often has a typical appearance that a primary care doctor can recognize, but it can be confused with other skin diseases , so a dermatologist is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriasis usually depends on how much skin is affected, how bad the disease is , or the location . Treatments range from creams and ointments applied to the affected areas to ultraviolet light therapy to drugs . Many people who have psoriasis also have serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Some people with psoriasis also have an inflammatory condition which affects their joints, called psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis has many of the same symptoms as other types of arthritis, so a rheumatologist is often the best doctor to diagnose it. The treatment of psoriatic arthritis usually involves the use of drugs .

Psoriatic disease may be treated with drugs or a combination of drugs and creams or ointments.

Psoriasis Support Groups And Counseling

Education of psoriasis patients is one of the foundations for managing this chronic and typically relapsing disorder. Patients should be familiar with the treatment options in order to make proper informed decisions about therapy. The National Psoriasis Foundation is an excellent organization that provides support to patients with psoriasis.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Psoriasis

Symptoms of psoriasis can be different for each person, but some common ones are:

• Patches of thick, red skin with silvery-white scales that itch or burn.
• Dry, cracked skin that itches or bleeds.
• Thick, ridged, pitted nails.

The symptoms of psoriasis tend to come and go. You may find that there are times when your symptoms get worse, called flares, followed by times when you feel better .

Some patients have a related condition called psoriatic arthritis, in which you have stiff, swollen, painful joints. If you have symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, be sure to tell your doctor as soon as you can.

How To Treat Scalp Psoriasis At Home

Its important to note that home remedies can help ease symptoms but theyre not proven cures. The following home treatments are generally safe and may help you reduce the symptoms of mild to moderate scalp psoriasis. Those with more aggressive forms of the condition should consult a doctor before starting home treatment.

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Coconut Or Avocado Oil

Coconuts and avocadoes are filled with healthy fats that boost skin health. Massage a few drops of either type of oil, cool or lightly heated, onto your scalp and put on a shower cap. Wait 20 minutes, remove the cap, then wash your hair as usual. This can reduce and remove some of the scaling associated with the condition.

Shop for avocado and coconut oil.

What Is Scalp Psoriasis And What Causes It

Psoriasis can appear on any part of the skin, even the scalp. With scalp psoriasis, scalp plaques produce excess scales and can cause your scalp to itch.

Symptoms of scalp psoriasis appear as the following:

• A small bump, called a papule, with a scale on top.
• The plaque typically is covered by thick layers of horny scale. When the scale sheds, it can look like dandruff.
• Sometimes these plaques can itch.
• Scratching these plaques can worsen the condition and lead to what’s called the Koebner phenomenon, or isomorphic response, which can cause psoriasis to develop in areas where there’s inflammation and trauma.

The causes of scalp psoriasis, like all psoriasis, is related to genetic defects that affect the immune system. It is not known if stress causes or makes psoriasis worse.

In some severe cases, scalp psoriasis can cause alopecia, or a loss of hair, which is rare and may be controlled with treatment. Scalp psoriasis can be treated with topical medications, which can sometimes be difficult to apply when the scalp is covered with enough hair that can create a barrier.

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Nail Infection Needs Treatment Too

A nail infection can develop if you have nail psoriasis. Because a nail infection can look a lot like nail psoriasis, its important to find out if you have an infection. Testing, which usually consists of scraping the nail, can find an infection. If you have a nail infection, treatment can get rid of it.

What Else Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider

If you have psoriasis, ask your healthcare provider:

• How can I prevent outbreaks and control symptoms?
• What medication will work best for me?
• What else should I do to improve symptoms?
• What are my options if creams dont work?
• Will psoriasis ever go away?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Psoriasis, an itchy skin condition, can come and go throughout your life. Its related to an overactive immune response and is not contagious. If you have skin changes that arent going away, talk to your healthcare provider. There is no cure for psoriasis, but psoriasis treatments can improve symptoms. Your provider may prescribe a special cream or moisturizer or medications. Other therapies are available if creams or medicines dont work. Maintaining your overall health will also help improve symptoms.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/17/2020.

References

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Coal Tar For Scalp Psoriasis

You Will Need

Coal tar shampoo OR coal tar gel

What You Have To Do

Use this product as directed by the manufacturer.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this as often as recommended on the product packaging.

Why This Works

The tar can help slow down the excessive skin cell production that is seen with psoriasis. The scaly texture of the skin will slowly return to normal. It can also give relief from itching and reduce the swelling .

Caution

Tar may not suit everybody. It is known to irritate and redden the skin. Conduct a small patch test to ensure your skin is not sensitive/allergic to it before using it for your problem. It is also advised not to step out in the Sun before 20-24 hours after using this remedy as tar makes your skin prone to sunburns.

What Should I Do If I Have Psoriasis In A Sensitive Area

Consult your doctor, who may refer you to a dermatologist. You will need expert advice on the correct treatment in sensitive areas. Psoriasis affecting the hairline and scalp is dealt with in more detail in Scalp Psoriasis.

There are organisations that specialise in camouflage make-up, including the British Association of Skin Camouflage, Changing Faces and the Skin Camouflage Network. You can find their contact details at the end of this leaflet.

However, make-up could interfere with the effectiveness of your topical psoriasis treatments and this is something that should be considered very carefully and discussed with your doctor. It is likely that make-up can be applied following treatment if enough time has reasonably elapsed.

The treatments used for facial psoriasis should be used carefully and sparingly as creams and ointments can irritate the eyes and mouth areas. They should always be used under the guidance of your doctor. If you are unsure about using over-the-counter products such as make-up and moisturisers then, again, you should consult your doctor or your pharmacist. This is because facial skin is delicate and irritation can easily occur. Using steroid medication, for instance, may cause facial skin to thin, appear shiny and be prone to spider veins.

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Why Does Psoriasis In Sensitive Areas Sometimes Require Specific Treatments

The absence of scales is most obvious in the skin flexures or folds because the continual friction between the two skin surfaces rubs them off. The enclosed area of a skin fold and the thinness of the skin in sensitive areas can affect the action of topically applied treatments . With both of these factors there is a tendency for an increase in the absorption of the treatment through the skin, thereby enhancing its effect and any adverse side effects, such as skin thinning. In addition, the potential for a cream or ointment to cause irritation is increased when it is applied in a flexure and comes into contact with two skin surfaces that are rubbing together.

For these reasons particular creams and ointments are better than others for use in sensitive areas of the skin. Some others are not recommended at all.

Can A Diet Cure Psoriasis Naturally

• Avoiding environmental factors that trigger psoriasis, such as smoking, and stress, may help prevent or minimize flare-ups of psoriasis. Sun exposure may help in many cases of psoriasis and aggravate it in others.
• Alcohol is considered a risk factor for psoriasis, even moderate amounts of beer. People should minimize alcohol use if they have psoriasis. This is especially important if they are taking medications such as methotrexate or acitretin.
• Specific dietary restrictions or supplements other than a well-balanced and adequate diet are not important in the management of plaque psoriasis.
• Recently, some data has supported that an “anti-inflammatory” diet that is high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated and trans fats may help manage psoriasis, although the value in preventing its onset is less certain.

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How Do Dermatologists Treat Psoriasis

If you have psoriasis, a dermatologist can create a treatment plan to meet your individual needs. To create this plan, your dermatologist will consider the:

• Type of psoriasis you have

• Places psoriasis appears on your body

• Severity of the psoriasis

• Impact psoriasis has on your life

• Other medical conditions you have

Your treatment plan may include medication you apply to your skin, advice to help you care for your skin, and tips to help prevent flare-ups. To control psoriasis, some people also need light treatments or medication that works throughout the body.

You can find out about the different treatments for psoriasis at: Medications and light treatments for psoriasis

Your dermatologist will want to see you for follow-up appointments. These appointments can be very helpful because your dermatologist can:

• Find out how well the treatment plan is working for you

• Modify your treatment plan if necessary

• Watch for signs of psoriatic arthritis, a disease that you want to catch early

• Assess your risk of developing other diseases that are more common in people with psoriasis

• Help you set realistic expectations for managing your psoriasis

A dermatologist can also answer questions you have about treating psoriasis. Common questions that patients ask include:

ReferencesBergstrom KG and Kimball AB. 100 questions and answers about psoriasis. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers 2005.

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology