Natural Remedies For Psoriasis Plus Pro Skincare Tips
05/15/20228 min read
About 8 million people in the U.S. have psoriasis. While not for everyone, many have experienced incredible benefits from natural remedies for psoriasis.
Going the natural route can get overwhelming, especially when dealing with skin conditions. For example, some herbs may be suitable for the average person. But, if you have psoriasis, the same herbs might aggravate your condition and cause more harm than good.
Thankfully, at Bodewell, we know all about skin conditions and how to deal with them. This means you dont have to figure out the best remedies on your own.
In this article, we share our most effective tips for treating psoriasis at home and some preventative measures you can take to avoid or lessen those annoying flare-ups.
But first, lets get a clear understanding of this skin problem.
Turmeric: The Wonder Spice
Not all treatments for psoriasis and skin conditions are topical. Turmeric powder is a bright yellow natural spice, which when ingested has proven to have anti-inflammatory healing benefits. This spice can easily be added to a variety of cooked meals, and the guidelines are to try to eat about one teaspoon a day. You can try turmeric in your favourite soup, curry and stew recipes. You can also make a cup of turmeric tea!
Foods That Contain Gluten
Research suggests that people with psoriasis tend to have higher rates of celiac disease. In people with celiac disease, gluten triggers an autoimmune response that causes the body to attack tissues in the small intestine. People with celiac disease need to avoid gluten completely, though some people without the disease have found that reducing gluten in their diet lessens psoriasis flare-ups.
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Symptoms Of Psoriasis And Flare
The various types of psoriasis, such as plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, and pustular psoriasis, each have different symptoms. The location and extent of affected skin can also influence how the symptoms appear.
Psoriasis often causes dry patches that may be thick, elevated and covered in whitish scales. The patches may also itch. If a persons skin is lighter, the affected areas may be pinkish. If a persons skin is darker, the areas may be purple, violet, or gray.
A flare-up involves symptoms worsening. As it subsides, the symptoms may become milder or disappear.
Dead Sea Salt Baths May Help Relieve Psoriasis Symptoms
Whether its from a friend, a colleague, or a psoriasis support group member, you may frequently hear about a natural or complementary psoriasis treatment and be tempted to try it. These do-it-yourself remedies, when used alongside your traditional psoriasis treatment, may offer temporary relief from some psoriasis symptoms, which can range from itchy, flaky skin associated with mild to moderate forms of psoriasis to the irritation that occurs when you have a more severe form of the disease.
The fact is, however, that there’s little scientific evidence to suggest that psoriasis home remedies work, says Stefan C. Weiss, MD, a dermatologist at the Weiss Skin Institute in Boca Raton, Florida. Still, you may find at least temporary relief by following some of these suggestions and, as Dr. Weiss points out, it won’t hurt to try. Just be sure to consult with your doctor first.
Potential home remedies may include modifications to your diet such as drinking more water and consuming fresh fruits and vegetables that are good for your general well-being, along with improving your psoriasis and relieving some of its symptoms.
Many people believe that activities such as yoga can relieve psoriasis flares and pain by reducing stress, which is known to trigger symptoms. Its impossible to avoid all stress in our lives, says Colby Evans, MD, a dermatologist in Austin, Texas, and a member of the board of trustees of the National Psoriasis Foundation
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Keep Asking Questions Until You Get The Answer You Need
The Medical Experts are all here to answer your questions online or with a phone call.
- Combine 3 tablespoons of capsaicin powder along with 1 cup of almond or olive or jojoba oil.
- Put the mixture in a double boiler over medium heat for 5-10 minutes.
- Stir the heated mixture in a 1/2 cup of grated beeswax. Continue stirring until all has melted perfectly and everything is well blended together.
- Let the mixture chill in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, then whisk together.
- Continue to chill for another 10-15 minutes, whip again and pour it into a glass jar with a tightly fitting lid and finally, refrigerate it.
This handmade cream will keep its potency for 1 ½ weeks, apply daily as needed for pain.
Aloe Vera: A Classic Cool Sensation
Aloe Vera is a very popular natural remedy for various skin conditions from sunburn to acne. It can be found as an added ingredient in food, drinks, creams, lotions and much more. It provides a cooling sensation on the skin and can alleviate the itchiness and scales that come with psoriasis. You can easily grow your own aloe vera plant at home and to get the healing gel you just break off a part of the plant and squeeze out the pure gel.
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Steroid Creams Or Ointments
Steroid creams or ointments are commonly used to treat mild to moderate psoriasis in most areas of the body. The treatment works by reducing inflammation. This slows the production of skin cells and reduces itching.
Topical corticosteroids range in strength from mild to very strong. Only use them when recommended by your doctor.
Stronger topical corticosteroids can be prescribed by your doctor and should only be used on small areas of skin or on particularly thick patches. Overusing topical corticosteroids can lead to skin thinning.
Wet Dressings And Warm Baths With Salts Or Oats
Baths and showers can be relaxing, but those that are too long or too hot can strip the skin of its oils, and this can make psoriasis worse.
Some people find that a warm bath containing colloidal oatmeal or Epsom salts is soothing and relieves symptoms.
According to , an oatmeal bath or a wet dressing can reduce itching, and a warm bath containing a suitable bath oil can help moisturize the skin.
Wet wraps provide a simple option for treating psoriasis and quickly.
After bathing, applying an appropriate moisturizer while the skin is still damp can help prevent moisture loss.
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Medication For Moderate To Severe Psoriasis
When psoriasis symptoms are moderate to severe, natural treatment options may not be enough. Medications are available. These treatments can be used alone or alongside natural treatment options.
Medical treatment options for psoriasis include:
- Topical corticosteroids: Creams or ointments with medications to decrease inflammation and relieve itching
- Calcineurin inhibitors:Creams or ointments with medications to calm the immune system and decrease inflammation
- Dithranol : Medication applied to the skin to slow skin cell production
- : Ultraviolet light used to slow skin cell production
- Trexall : Medication taken by mouth to decrease swelling and slow skin cell production
- Gengraf : Medication taken by mouth to calm the immune system
- Soriatane : Medication taken by mouth to slow skin cell production
- Biological treatments: Medications given by injection to calm the immune system by targeting overactive cells
> > > Best Psoriasis Cure Available
3. To help safeguard the skin, the immune system release chemicals that can cause nerves to itch and blood vessels to dilate to prepare the skin for a sudden rush of immune cells
4. When the immune cells arrive at the scene, most work to kill off the pathogens causing the distress, but a few capture some of the invaders and take them back to the heart of the immune system, where other soldier cells are produced in a way to recognize and attack the invading cells on contact
5. Inflammation is the bodys way of opening blood vessels to allow more soldier cells to rush to the battlefield.
While this entire process is completely normal, people with psoriasis tend to overproduce these soldier cells when the body feels threatened. This overabundance of killer immune cells can actually be dangerous to the skin since they begin to attack good cells along with the bad ones.
While it is great to finally understand the impact an improperly working immune system can have on your skin and cause psoriasis more research is needed to pinpoint the exact cause for the over-firing of the cell messages. Natural Ways to Reduce Psoriasis
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Make Time For Afternoon Tea
Tea tree oil isnt messing around. This strong antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory oil can treat scalp psoriasis when paired with a carrier oil .
Dont go nuts with this one. Start with just a drop or two and see how your skin reacts. Also, if youre pregnant, breastfeeding, have linear IgA disease, or are taking the antibiotic vancomycin, then this oil is not for you.
Epsom Salt Or Dead Sea Salt Bath
Soaking in an Epsom salt bath is a good way to sooth irritated and itchy skin. Just add 1-2 cups to your bath water and soak for at least 15 minutes, 2-3 times a week to reap the benefits. You can also use Dead Sea salt for this matter. When you get out of the tub apply a moisturizer to the skin. Read here more about the most extraordinary uses for Epsom salt.
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Massage Therapy Is A Great Way To Relieve Stress
Some people find that stress triggers their psoriasis symptoms. Massage is a great way to reduce stress. In addition, clinical trials have shown massage therapy might be beneficial in treating some types of chronic pain , which can often accompany psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. If you dont want to go for a professional massage, ask your partner to rub or knead your muscles and other soft tissues to help you relax. Avoid using any massage oils that will irritate your skin, such as those with fragrance, and be careful not to lift or remove scales.
Ways To Help Reduce Your Psoriasis
Lets face it, its hard to control when your psoriasis flares up. It can cripple so much of your life, your plans, and its also just downright painful. So if youre one of the nearly 7.5 million people in the United States who lives with the itching and inflammation of psoriasis, you know all too well that what you doand don’t doto your skin can make a big difference in your symptoms.
But with everyone reacting differently to various remedies, some wanting to go more natural, how do you know what will work for you and your psoriasis? Heres 8 tips that you can try!
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Psoriasis Diet Essential Oils & Supplements For Natural Treatment
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune skin disease that causes inflammation and scaling of the skin that affects approximately 2 percent to 2.6 percent of the U.S. population. Normal, healthy skin experiences cell turnover about once a month, but when you have psoriasis, the skin cells rise way too fast and actually pile up on top of each other. Thankfully, you can help combat this condition with by following a proper psoriasis diet treatment plan.
We know that psoriasis begins in the immune system and involves a type of white blood cell called a T cell. When you have psoriasis, the T cells are put into action by mistake and become overly active, leading to unhealthy swelling and fast turnover of skin cells.
A major dermatology focus in the realm of skin diseases, psoriasis symptoms can vary according to the form of psoriasis . You might be thinking psoriasis is just an annoying skin condition, but it can also result in psoriatic arthritis, an inflammation of the joints that affects approximately 30 percent of all psoriasis patients.
Conventional psoriasis treatment might work, but it often doesnt or is only a temporary fix that doesnt get to the heart of the issue. There are many natural remedies for psoriasis, with a psoriasis diet making the very top of the list.
How Can You Measure Inflammation In The Body
While certain foods are known to cause inflammation, not everyone reacts the same way to these foods. Ive had some patients who felt that wheat was making their psoriasis worse. Another patient noticed more flare-ups when she ate nuts, says Wesdock.
Some tests can measure inflammation with biomarkers, which are substances in your blood that spike when your body reacts a certain way to foods such as fats or sugar. For example, a simple test can check for increased levels of C-reactive protein in your blood. The liver makes extra CRP if theres inflammation in your body. Doctors might use this test to determine how likely you are to develop a chronic condition like heart disease.
As you adjust your diet to ease psoriasis symptoms, be sure to work with your psoriasis doctor to monitor symptoms and inflammation levels.
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Foods With Saturated Fats And Trans Fats
Fats in red meat, cheese, fried food, margarine, fast food and many processed snacks are known to trigger inflammation in the body. These fats increase the amount of low-density lipoprotein in your blood, also called bad cholesterol. Studies suggest there may be a link between excess fat in the body and development of psoriasis and worsening of psoriasis symptoms.
Baking Soda: The White Stuff
Used in a variety of household and health remedies, this kitchen condiment is best used for psoriasis treatment as a bath additive or a body paste. About 100g of baking soda added to a warm bath and soaking for about 20 minutes can help with skin redness, but may take a while for more serious patches of psoriasis. For the paste, mix baking soda with castor oil and massage into affected areas, leaving it to act for about 30 minutes. Watch out not to apply it to broken or bleeding skin.
Had any success with these psoriasis remedies? Or do you have your own remedy for psoriasis? Let us know below in the comments!
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Tumeric To Fight Inflammation
People use lots of natural herbs to treat their skin, and turmeric is one of the most popular ones. This yellow herb is particularly helpful in lessening psoriasis flare-ups because of its anti-inflammatory properties.
You can decide if you want to take it as a supplement or simply sprinkle some of it into your food and consume it in its most natural state.
Other Lifestyle And Dietary Modifications
Use a humidifier to keep the air in your home or office moist. It can prevent dry skin before it starts. Sensitive-skin moisturizers are also great at keeping your skin supple and from forming plaques.
Avoid soaps and perfumes which have dyes and fragrances in them. Sure, they can make you smell great but they also can inflame psoriasis.
Follow an anti-inflammatory diet, making sure to get plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly those rich in carotenoids such as mangoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and squash, as well as leafy greens and tomatoes.
Fiber is important in maintaining a healthy colon. The fiber binds to colon toxins, and aids in their elimination. In addition to foods rich in fiber such as raw fruits and vegetables, you can also take psyllium seeds daily.
Psoriasis also with celiac disease and the gluten protein found in the grains wheat, barley and rye. While scientific research has not yet determined that gluten causes psoriasis, many psoriasis patients have benefited from eliminating gluten from their diets.
The National Psoriasis Foundation also lists nuts, high quality chocolate and cranberries as functional foods for treatment of psoriasis.
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Fish Oils To Boost Immunity And Fight Inflammation
Fish is an excellent source of Vitamin D, may boost brain health, and is high in multiple essential nutrients.
In addition to all of the incredible benefits for your immune system, fish oils can also help fight inflammation, a common culprit of psoriasis.
You can include different types of fish as often as possible in your diet, or if youd like to take a supplement, be sure to consult with your doctor first to find out which is the best one for your needs.
Diet Modification: Eat Better Feel Better
According to a review published in 2017 in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, people with psoriasis have an increased risk of celiac disease, an autoimmune condition in which gluten a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye causes inflammation that can damage the small intestine. That connection may explain why some people with psoriasis report that eating a gluten-free diet helps them feel better. While following a gluten-free diet is essential if you have celiac disease, theres little evidence that supports removing gluten from your diet if you dont. Anecdotally, it works, Weiss says, but it has never been proven scientifically. If a gluten-free diet makes your psoriasis feel better, however, thats great. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before starting a gluten-free diet.
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Traditional Treatment Cautions Natural Ways To Reduce Psoriasis
You make an appointment to see your doctor because your psoriasis is flaring. He takes a look and then whips out his prescription pad to order one of the following:
. A prescription strength topical treatment
. phototherapy
. oral and injection therapy
. over the counter drugs
Any of these treatments may work fine to relieve your symptoms and make you feel better for now. The trouble with conventional treatment methods is that they rarely work to cure the underlying cause of this skin condition and that can leave you suffering repeat attacks. Still it is important to know what helps are available, and how they may help or hurt your chance of treatment success.
Topical Ointments Natural Ways to Reduce Psoriasis
Topical ointments are used at the first sign of psoriasis. If caught early enough they can sometimes stave off a full-blown attack. Unfortunately, most people report becoming immune to them when used often, which makes them useless for long term use. Still, using the occasional cream or gel can help relieve some of your symptoms. Steroids
Both topical and internal steroids can be prescribed to help ease psoriasis swelling inflammation and itching. Immunomodulators
An immune suppressing drug that was originally used to help transplant patients beat organ rejection, Cyclosporine helps to inhibit T lymphocyte production so that scaly plaque is unable to grow on the surface of the skin.
Oral Retinoid Natural Ways to Reduce Psoriasis
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