Coconut oil can help counter dryness caused by psoriasis by trapping moisture in the skin, says Burns. Gently rub a small amount on psoriasis plaques, as you would any moisturizer. You can also use the oil on the scalp to help loosen psoriasis scales.
Essential oils aren't recommended as a primary or first-line treatment option for psoriasis. You should use them only as a complementary therapy to your regular regimen. You should also consult with your doctor before adding essential oils to your treatment routine.
Keeping your skin clean and moist and avoiding your specific psoriasis triggers may help reduce the number of flare-ups. Sunlight may help your symptoms go away. Be careful not to get sunburned. Relaxation and anti-stress techniques -- The link between stress and flares of psoriasis is not well understood.
There's no cure for psoriasis, but a range of treatments can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches. Your doctor will ask you about how much the condition is affecting your everyday life.
The cause of psoriasis isn't fully understood. It's thought to be an immune system problem where infection-fighting cells attack healthy skin cells by mistake. Researchers believe that both genetics and environmental factors play a role. The condition is not contagious.
Psoriasis tends to worsen with weight gain. Flare-ups also can be triggered by certain common medications, like beta blockers used to control high blood pressure or heart rate, or lithium used to treat bipolar disorder. Other triggers include strep throat, injury to the skin, and respiratory infection.
Psoriasis patients are increasingly turning to the use of alternative and complementary medicine to manage their psoriasis. Patients often inquire about what dietary supplements may be beneficial, including the use of oral vitamin D, vitamin B12, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils.
While it may be a good add-on to your psoriasis treatment plan, coconut oil isn't a stand-alone solution. For psoriasis medications like steroids to work well, it's best to soften the hard scales so the meds can get to the skin below. Coconut oil can help soften and loosen the scales first.
After bathing or showering, seal in moisture by applying a generous amount of moisturizing cream or ointment to your skin. Vaseline, Cetaphil cream, and Eucerin cream are a few commonly available moisturizers reported to provide good results. Avoid lightweight lotions, which don't contain enough emollients.
Shea's anti-inflammatory properties help soothe skin and relieve itching. This may prove especially helpful for inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. Shea also absorbs rapidly, which could mean quick relief for flare-ups.
Is Vaseline good for psoriasis? Thick and oily emollients like Vaseline are good for skin with psoriasis. In fact, research from 2021 shows they can help protect the skin's barrier function.
Psoriasis is a skin disease that results from a faulty immune system. Instead of only targeting viruses and bacteria, your immune system turns on healthy tissue. It attacks your skin, which speeds up how quickly your skin cells multiply. Skin usually takes a month to grow and fall off.
Psoriasis itself doesn't weaken the immune system, but it's a sign that the immune system isn't working the way it should. Anything that triggers the immune system can cause psoriasis to flare up. Common ailments like ear or respiratory infections can cause psoriasis to flare.
Psoriasis triggers
Knowing your triggers may help you avoid a flare-up. Common psoriasis triggers include: an injury to your skin, such as a cut, scrape, insect bite or sunburn – this is called the Koebner response. drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
Vitamin D treatment is effective when applied topically to the skin for plaque-type psoriasis. Oral vitamin D supplementation might be effective as an adjuvant treatment option in psoriasis.
Showering or bathing too often can increase the amount of moisture you lose through your skin, making it dry and irritated. “It can make already inflamed skin feel even worse,” says Dr. Unwala. She suggests bathing once a day and limiting baths to no more than 15 minutes and showers to 5 minutes.
Myth #3: Itching your skin will cause psoriasis to spread. Psoriasis isn't a skin infection and can't be spread through touching or itching. However, a person can develop the Koebner phenomenon. This is the appearance of new skin lesions on areas of trauma, such as scratches or cuts.
Symptoms get worse when your skin is dry, so keep it moist with creams and ointments. Thick and oily ones, like petroleum jelly, are usually best. They're better at trapping moisture beneath the skin.
Conclusions. Antihistamines of the first and second generations seem to be effective in reducing itch in patients with psoriasis, albeit the antipruritic effect is rather moderate.