Approximately 2 percent of the people in the United States suffer from psoriasis, according to the Bastyr Center for Natural Health. This condition causes skin cells to grow to quickly, resulting in areas of silvery scales. Lesions may also become inflamed and painful. The most common places for psoriasis to appear include the scalp, knees, elbows, back, palms, buttocks and soles of the feet. There appears to be a hereditary connection to psoriasis. While many people can afford medical treatment for psoriasis, others look for natural remedies to reduce their symptoms.
Light Therapy
Exposing psoriasis lesions to a controlled amount of sunlight may reduce their size and improve their appearance, advises the Mayo Clinic. However, too much sunlight can make outbreaks worse and may lead to skin cancer. When using the sun to treat your psoriasis, you should expose your lesions to the sun for 10 to 20 minutes, three or four times a week, advises Dr. Michael Hall a general practitioner in St. Marys, Pa. To avoid overexposure to the sun, keep track of when and how long you sunbathe. Be sure to protect all healthy skin using a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15.
Bathing
Taking a daily bath with lukewarm water and mild soaps will help to loosen scales and calm inflammation, advises the Mayo Clinic. Soaking in a bath containing oil, oilated oatmeal, Dead Sea salts or Epsom salts for 15 minutes will increase the removal of psoriasis scales and soothe itching, advises the National Psoriasis Foundation. Be sure to apply a moisturizer or oil to the skin as soon as you get out of the bath, while your skin remains damp, to enhance the effects of the moisturizer.
Nutrition
Certain dietary factors may have an effect on the severity of psoriasis. Limit or eliminate the use of alcohol, simple sugars, and inflammatory fats found in certain meats and dairy products, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. Foods that trigger an allergic reaction in a person, like citrus, milk, nuts, corn or eggs, may also lead to worsening of psoriasis outbreaks. Some people suffer from hidden food allergies, making it essential to avoid any foods that seem to worsen psoriasis outbreaks.
Herbs
Herbs provide a generally safe method for strengthening the body's systems. Taking 150 mg of milk thistle (Silybum marianum), two times a day, will help regulate the immune system, which may help to control psoriasis outbreaks, according to The University of Maryland Medical Center. Mixing equal parts of yellowdock (Rumex crispus), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and burdock (Arctium lappa) in one cup of tea each day may help improve psoriasis outbreaks. For years, people have used 50 to 100 mg of coleus forskohlii twice a day as a natural remedy for psoriasis. Finally, applying evening prime rose to psoriasis lesions or taking between 500 mg and 2.5 g of evening prime rose each day may help heal lesions.
References
- Dr. Michael Hall, M.D.; Elk County Medical Associates; St. Marys, Pa
- Bastyr Center for Natural Health: Honey Mixture Improves Skin Conditions
- Mayo Clinic: Psoriasis Lifestyle And Home Remedies
- University Of Maryland Medical Center: Psoriasis
- National Psoriasis Foundation: Mild Psoriasis
