Living with psoriasis can be frustrating, embarrassing, and even painful. This is a common skin condition that occurs when the life cycle of skin cells is sped up. It causes extra skin cells to form and create red patches that are itchy and dry. Unfortunately, there is no cure for psoriasis, but there are some effective ways that you can manage the symptoms and use home remedies to your advantage.
What Causes Psoriasis?
Genetics, the immune system, and environmental factors all play a role in who develops psoriasis. About one-third of all people who have psoriasis have a relative who also has the condition. People who have psoriasis actually have overactive immune systems, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Psoriasis makes the body produce more cells than normal, and those excess cells get pushed to the skin’s surface too quickly. It also creates inflammation in the body, which is why the typical symptoms occur. Contrary to popular belief, psoriasis is not contagious, so it’s not something you can catch by simply touching someone’s skin.
Psoriasis Triggers
Certain things can trigger a psoriasis outbreak and make a person’s chances of having a flare-up worse. These triggers include excess time in the sun, alcohol, certain foods and medications, cold weather, stress, and smoking cigarettes.
It is also common for psoriasis to exist alongside another condition, a phenomenon known as a comorbidity. People with psoriasis may also have psoriatic arthritis or Crohn’s disease, for example. Stiff and swollen joints are a possible symptom of psoriasis, so this isn’t strictly a skin condition. It is also more likely for a psoriasis patient to be diagnosed with type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
The Psoriasis Diet
Certain foods can also serve as a trigger for psoriasis, so it’s important to know what to eat and avoid if you are prone to psoriasis outbreaks. It is generally advised for psoriasis patients to avoid fatty foods, whole milk, gluten, and citrus fruits.
High-probiotic foods, like yogurt and cultured vegetables, are good choices for psoriasis sufferers. It’s also a good idea to eat foods high in fiber, like beans and seeds, and high in antioxidants, such as blueberries and pecans. Zinc-rich foods, like grass-fed beef and pumpkin seeds, as well as fish with omega-3 fatty acids should also be incorporated into meals for a psoriasis diet.
Natural Remedies for Psoriasis
One of the best ways to fight psoriasis is to reduce your stress level, because stress plays a large role in when psoriasis flares up. Regular exercise, drinking plenty of water, and soaking in an Epsom salt bath are other effective natural remedies.
There are natural topical remedies that psoriasis patents can try on the skin as well, including creams with avocado oil, Oregon grape extract, and vitamin B12. Essential oils that are recommended for psoriasis include tea tree oil, frankincense, lavender, and geranium oil. Meanwhile, other natural remedy practitioners recommend trying aloe vera, apple cider vinegar, capsaicin, and turmeric taken either internally or applied directly to the affected skin.
Another interesting way for soothing skin rashes and itching is by sprinkling some seaweed powder directly onto the rash during a hot shower (with the water turned off for a few minutes). Moisten the powder and rub the paste around on the rash for a few minutes,, then was off with hot water. 
Read about other seaweed skin applications that we have discovered for soothing rashes related to Grover’s Disease:
|
|
It is worth trying a few of these home remedies to see which one brings you relief and helps your skin return back to normal. But through it all, make sure to practice good stress management techniques to give your body the best chance of balancing the immune system naturally.