Sadly, the reality is that there is no miracle psoriasis cure.
Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the United States today.
This chronic skin condition affects roughly 7.2 million Americans and 125 million people worldwide.
The disease can negatively impacts a patient’s physical and emotional state with over 60% reporting it affects their daily lives.
Living with psoriasis can be extremely tough.
People must constantly resist the urge to scratch the itchy, flaky patches while many feel a sense of self-consciousness or embarrassment about their condition.
Signs And Symptoms Of Psoriasis
There are several types of psoriasis.
Each one has different symptoms which vary depending on the type.
The most common form of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis, with signs and symptoms that include:
- Patches or plaques of red inflamed skin covered with loose silver scales.
- Plaque’s may be itchy and painful, often cracking and bleeding due to low skin elasticity in the area. In severe cases the plaque’s will grow and merge into one another, covering larger area’s of skin.
- Discolouration and pitting of the nails on both hands and feet.
- Plaques on the scalp.
Psoriasis is also associated with psoriatic arthritis, which causes extreme pain and swelling of the joints.
According to The National Psoriasis Foundation, an estimated 10% – 30% percent of people who suffer from psoriasis also suffer from psoriatic arthritis.
What Triggers Psoriasis
The exact cause of psoriasis is still unknown.Research indicates that psoriasis is a result of overactive skin cells which mature 5 times faster than normal skin cells.
Genetics have also been linked to the disease.
Common triggers causing psoriasis flare-ups include:
- Weather can dry out the skin which makes the chances of a psoriasis flare up a lot higher.
- Psoriasis alone is stressful, adding life’s daily stresses can only worsen it.
- Prescription drugs like NSAID’s, Lithium, malaria medications and beta-blockers are known to cause psoriasis flair ups.
- Infection and disease such as HIV or tonsillitis can cause a flare up.
- Trauma to the skin such as cuts, bruises, bumps, burns and tattoos can cause psoriasis to flare up at the site of the trauma. This is also known as Koebner’s phenomenon.
- Evidence also suggests that alcohol and tobacco can worsen psoriasis due to the harmful qualities on overall health.
For information on treatments, please read Winning The Battle Against Psoriasis.
Dead Sea Is a Psoriasis Cure!
To this day, there is no known modern psoriasis cure, but many reports exist from people who have been cured from swimming in the Dead Sea.
Over the past two decades, many studies have been conducted with amazing results.
Dead Sea therapy shows a success rate of 60% to absolute recovery with 40% experiencing almost complete recovery and a significant improvement in the severity of the condition.
If you are unable to get to the Dead Sea, natural home remedies may help to get any psoriasis under control.
Moisturise
Dry skin causes extreme itching.
Often it’s just a vicious cycle.
The most effective way for keeping the skin moist is to apply thick ointments like Vaseline, Emulsifying ointment or other skin moisturising creams.
In summer, reduce the amount applied as sweat mixed with creams can often make psoriasis worse.
Bath With Care
Bathing too often can dry out the skin.
Here are the best bathing tips for someone suffering from psoriasis:
- Avoid hot water and use lukewarm water instead.
- Don’t dry off by rubbing. Rather dab the skin dry and apply moisturising cream straight after.
- Add salt, oil or oatmeal to bath water after soaking for 2 – 5 minutes.
- Bathing or showering too often can strip your skin of its natural oils. Try bathing every 3 days, especially during the dry winter months.
Adding Dead Sea salts or Epsom salts to a warm bath and soaking in it for around 15 – 20 minutes helps remove scales and ease the intense itching associated with psoriasis.
Get Into The Sun
Ultraviolet light from the sun is a proven treatment for psoriasis, but sunburn can make it worse.
Use a SPF 30 to cover healthy skin.
Don’t spend longer than 20 minutes a day in the sun for more than 3 days a week.
Certain medication is not safe when combined with too much sunlight however.
Quit Smoking
Smoking, like with any serious condition, only makes things worse.
Experts agree that quitting cigarettes is one of the best things you can do as a psoriasis cure.
This also lowers your risk of heart and lung disease.
Lower Alcohol Intake
Psoriasis is much more common in people who are heavy drinkers.
Stopping will most likely not cure your psoriasis, but it will vastly improve your overall health.
Dietary Changes
There is no evidence which supports a change in diet will improve psoriasis, but in many cases cutting out these foods will greatly improve a psoriasis condition.
- Sugar
- White flour
- Gluten
- Caffeine
Look After Your Mental Health
This is often overlooked when treating a variety of diseases, but especially in cases of psoriasis.
You may have changed your daily routine out of sheer embarrassment of your condition, but this can cause deep emotional pain and stress which further counters your treatment and healing process.
Other
There are various herbs you can use to treat psoriasis naturally.
- Aloe Vera gel from the aloe plant can be applied to the skin up to 3 times a day.
- Apple cider vinegar also helps relieve scalp itch from psoriasis.
- Skip this remedy if your scalp skin is cracked or bleeding.
- Capsaicin (the active ingredient in chilli peppers) added to creams and ointments block nerve endings which transmit pain.
Please read Custom Compounding For Chronic Pain Finally Uncovered for more information on alternative psoriasis treatments.
