Looking for ways to treat your psoriasis? Although it is not contagious, the itchy red spots and patches that materialize during psoriasis flare-ups can look unsightly and make you feel awful.
Many psoriasis sufferers are tempted to endure it in secret, but there’s no need to feel that way. We have found a few useful tips on home remedies that may help soothe your psoriasis symptoms.
There are many different things you can do to minimize the damage that psoriasis causes to your skin. While yes, there are many medications available to treat psoriasis, another easy thing you can do is to change certain behaviors that exacerbate the effects of psoriasis. If you follow our advice, you’ll soon leave your psoriasis behind for good.
Let Go of Bad Habits that Make Psoriasis Worse
Avoid Scratching or Picking Skin
When psoriasis breaks out, it can be incredibly itchy, so people tend to pick and remove the flaky skin. However, this makes the symptoms worse. To soothe flare-ups, try an air humidifier and lotions or moisturizers for your skin. If you need to remove the itchy patches, WebMD advises you use lactic, glycolic or salicyl acid. [1] Luckily, many cosmetic products (gels, creams, shampoos) include these ingredients. You can also try running a warm bath to soften the patches.
Get Lots of Sun
Sunlight can do wonders for your skin and mood by kicking off the production of vitamin D. If you have psoriasis, it’s recommended that you get some sun a couple of times each week. Skin cell growth and abnormal growth is slowed down through exposure to ultraviolet light (UVA & UVB)
With that said, you should protect yourself from sunburn, especially when you realize that most psoriasis patients have sensitive light skin. Also, go out for 10-15 minutes at a time and slowly increase by a few minutes each time. Of course, consult your doctor before you start doing this.
Cut Down on Alcohol and Cigarettes
According to a 1999 study by M.D. Luigi Naldi, there’s a strong link between smoking and psoriasis. [2] Still, tracking down the exact culprit among hundreds of chemicals in cigarette smoke is difficult, but smoking has been linked to break-outs, as well as heavy use of alcohol.
The trouble with drinking is that alcohol can then cause a negative interaction with medication. ScienceDaily reported that women who have two or three drinks per week have new flare-ups. [3]
Besides weakening the immune system, heavy alcohol use also goes along with bad decisions that worsen psoriasis.
Be on the Lookout For New Psoriasis Treatments, Including:
Traditional Medications
Because researches are continually coming up with new ways of treating psoriasis, you need to keep yoursefl up to date. WebMD says the latest methods of treating psoriasis include things such as steroids, oral or injectable meds, and various topical creams. [4]
Apart from that, the FDA has approved a new cutting-edge approach for psoriasis treatment called biologic medicines. In simple terms, they decrease T-cell numbers which then blocks a substance known as TNF-alpha. Furthermore, they can help reduce inflammation by binding to proteins that cause it. Just a few of the latest biologics that help treat psoriasis are Humira, Cyltezo, Taltz, Siliq, Enbrel, and Elrezi, according to reports from the National Psoriasis Foundation. [5]
Natural Remedies
If you are into natural remedies we have good news for you, apple cider vinegar could help you. This precious liquid has been used as disinfectant for a long time now, probably since skin conditions were well widespread in the late 18th century.
The apple cider vinegar can relieve the itchiness caused by psoriasis especially in those areas around the scalp. This is not only a very well know solution for our grandmas, it has been also proven from a scientific angle and it is considered as very effective as well as very powerful. Apple cider vinegar should be used in small doses and carefully, because it can burn the skin when used in big quantities.
On the other hand, if you prefer a more fancy home remedy, you can always go and buy Aloe Vera. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) aloe vera is very helpful when it comes down to reducing redness and scaling, which are the most common psoriasis symptoms. You can apply this plant’s the gel up to three times a day. And if you don’t have or don’t want to grow this herb at your place, there are some creams that contain 0.5% aloe and can be as effective as the plant itself.
You can be successful in treating psoriasis, first by following our simple tips, and ultimately by knowing the latest treatment options.
[2]https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/how-cigarettes-and-alcohol-affect-psoriasis
[3]https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100816162645.htm
[4]https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/research#1v
[5]https://www.psoriasis.org/life-with-psoriatic-arthritis
[6] https://www.healthline.com/health/psoriasis/apple-cider-vinegar#research
[7]https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/how-cigarettes-and-alcohol-affect-psoriasis