How to Manage Psoriasis at Home With Natural Treatments
Even though psoriasis flareups are more
common in dry and cold weather, summer is the best time of the year to
take care of psoriasis and make those red and itchy lesions vanish from
the skin. This article focuses on tips and natural treatments effective
at alleviating symptoms of psoriatic skin lesions, but you can also read
our previous article titled A Guide to Understanding Psoriasis for more
general information on this topic.
Psoriasis Relief - General Tips
Psoriasis is an inflammatory systemic disease that manifests itself
first through red scaly skin lesions. Any part of the body, including
the scalp, heels, and nails can be affected by psoriasis. Over time, the
disease tends to spread to the joints, causing psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriasis is also linked to certain gastrointestinal issues.
A tailored and comprehensive medical treatment is necessary to manage
and slow down the progression of the disease. In addition to your
dermatologist’s and rheumatologist’s tips and recommendations, it’s just
as important to develop your own ways of alleviating skin symptoms and
preventing lesions from appearing on the skin. Here are a few tips to
consider:
Avoid scratching, damaging, or burning the
skin.
Psoriatic skin problems are your body’s abnormal response to
trauma. Preventing sunburns, resisting scratching insect bites, and
protecting your skin from mechanical rubbing from tight or itchy
clothing all go a long way.
- Prevent dry skin.
Dry conditions can make psoriasis worse because they
deplete the skin from natural oils, causing microscopic cracks in the
skin. These tiny cracks can then develop into psoriatic lesions; this is
why psoriasis often forms on the driest parts of the skin, such as the
elbows, heels, and knuckles. Body lotions, face creams, and ointments
are the best way to prevent your skin from losing moisture.
- Avoid fragrances.
The majority of creams, bath salts, and soaps
contain perfume and dyes that can irritate the skin. This is crucial to
know for psoriasis patients, whose skin is more sensitive to these
irritants. Opt for fragrance-free, sensitive skin-friendly skincare
products.
- Alcohol, stress, and smoking make psoriasis worse.
Lifestyle changes
and a healthy diet may not cure psoriasis, but they can reduce your
symptoms quite a bit.
- Use sunscreen.
Phototherapy is a very effective psoriasis treatment,
but it’s not the same as tanning. Phototherapy is a controlled in-office
treatment that uses a very specific UV wavelength on psoriasis lesions
and eradicates them. On the other hand, Tanning can increase skin
inflammation by making your skin red or sunburnt, which can lead to a
flare-up.
Natural Treatments for Psoriasis
1. Aloe vera
Aloe vera juice, aloe vera gel, or any other moisturizer that contains
at least 0.5% aloe extract reduces the redness, scaling, itching, and
inflammation associated with psoriasis.
According to a 2010 study, aloe vera cream is a bit more effective at
mediating psoriasis symptoms compared to a steroid cream containing 0.1%
triamcinolone acetonide. A more recent study of 2,248 patients with
mild and moderate psoriasis used a topical cream with 3% aloe vera. The
patients saw a marked improvement in symptoms, including clearing skin
plaques, compared to placebo.
The Mayo Clinic suggests that you apply an aloe cream on the affected
area several times a day for a month to notice a significant
improvement. So be consistent, and also avoid aloe vera tablets. The
National Psoriasis Foundation states that there’s no evidence of oral
aloe supplements being effective at alleviating symptoms.
2. Oatmeal baths
If you’re experiencing a flare-up of psoriasis on the body, and you
experience a lot of itching and redness, a colloidal oatmeal bath can
help soothe your skin. Colloidal oatmeal, or Avena sativa, is a powder
made from finely ground and boiled oats. It’s scientifically proven to
soothe irritated and inflamed skin.
Prepare an oatmeal bath by grinding up 1 cup of oats in a spice grinder
until completely fine and smooth. Pour the powder into a warm (not hot)
bath to prevent skin irritation. Sit back and soak in the bath for at
least 10-15 minutes, submerging the affected areas in the water. For
best results, repeat this for a few days in a row.
3. Oregon grape
Oregon grape is a somewhat confusing name. Even though the fruits of
Mahonia aquifolium look like grapes, they have nothing in common with
the popular fruit. It’s actually an evergreen shrub from the barberry
family. That said, this invasive species does seem to have some use for
humans. Research shows that creams containing 10% of Oregon grape
extract have antimicrobial properties and reduce the inflammatory immune
response in psoriasis patients.
A 2018 review article found that a cream containing Mahonia aquifolium
is safe and effective for psoriasis. One particular study in 433
psoriasis patients found that symptoms either improved or disappeared
after 12 weeks of daily treatment in over 80% of the participants. Other
studies show similar results and also point out that the cream is
well-tolerated.
4. Tea tree oil
As we mentioned at the beginning of the
article, psoriasis can appear on the scalp. Unfortunately, treating
scalp psoriasis can be tricky, especially if you have long hair. One
general tip dermatologists recommend is to shampoo your hair and scalp
as frequently as you can. This helps remove any built-up scales that can
otherwise get out of control.
When it comes to natural remedies that can be used on the scalp, tea
tree oil is the top recommendation. Tea tree oil is an essential oil
made from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant, also known as
Narrow-leaved paperbark. This essential oil has potent antifungal,
anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic qualities.
Even though most studies on tea tree for the scalp were done on a
generally itchy scalp or dandruff, anecdotal evidence suggests that it
may be also beneficial and taming the scales and itch in psoriasis
patients. Many shampoos that contain tea tree oil are available on the
market, but you can also just add a few drops of tea tree oil to your
regular shampoo. When shampooing, leave the product on the scalp for 3-5
minutes to let the tea tree oil work.
Note: never use undiluted tea tree oil directly on the scalp - this can
lead to skin burns.
5. Turmeric
Not all home treatments for psoriasis are
topical. After all, psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory condition, and
to treat the cause, you ought to strive for lowering the inflammation in
your entire body. There are plenty of anti-inflammatory foods that can
help you with that, but turmeric is definitely one of the most
well-researched ingredients for psoriasis specifically.
Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has a marked therapeutic
effect in the treatment of psoriasis, according to a recent review
article. Taking turmeric regularly can reduce psoriasis flare-ups.
Turmeric supplements in capsules or tablets can help you get a steady
dose of this spice every day, but you can also add it to your meals as a
spice.
6. Bath Salts
If you don’t particularly enjoy oatmeal
baths, you can try adding Epsom salt or Dead Sea salt to your bath. Like
colloidal oatmeal, bath salts can help soothe the itch. In addition,
salt baths were found to help remove the scales from affected areas.
Soaking in this mixture for a minimum of 15 minutes is not only soothing
to itchy skin but also helps to shed the scaly skin associated with
psoriasis.
Dead Sea salt was found to be more beneficial than Epsom salt for
reducing psoriasis symptoms in one clinical trial.
Dead Sea salt is rich
in minerals, which could account for this effect. For those of you
wondering - yes, swimming in the sea can yield similar effects. When
taking a salt bath, stay in the water for at least 15-20 minutes and
repeat for a few days or even to see a real difference.
In the above-mentioned study, the participants took 20-minute baths for 3
weeks. Lastly, don’t forget to moisturize your skin right after the
bath to seal the nutrients and moisture in the skin.