PSORIASIS

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is considered to be genetically linked and is an inflammatory disease.  It is characterised by skin cells that multiply much faster than normal cells.  When these cells reach the surface and die, raised, red plaques often covered with white scales form.

It is also considered an auto-immune condition caused by an overactive immune system that launches an inflammatory response within the body.  Psoriasis is a chronic (long term) condition that comes and goes in severity.  

Hereditary predisposition is necessary before the disease can be triggered by environmental factors.

Psoriasis is definitely not contagious.

Symptoms:

• Red patches of skin covered with silvery scales
• Small scaling spots
• Dry, cracked skin
• Itchy, burning or soreness
• Itchy plaques
• Small bleeding points when scale is peeled away
• Thickened, pitted or ridged nails
• Swollen and stiff joints

Some of the triggers that cause psoriasis to flare up include:

• Sore throat (streptococci)
• Trauma to the skin including a cut, scrape, insect bite, infection or sunburn
• Certain drugs can also have an effect
• HIV
• Stress
• Obesity

Treatment

Psoriasis often requires medical treatment and there are a range of treatments available.  You can also find more about psoriasis on the medical based websites.

There are a number of things you can do to ensure the best management of your psoriasis which will hopefully help to minimise the condition.  While there may be some trial and error to determine what works best for you, some of the actions you can take include:

• Keep the skin moist at all times, avoid allowing your skin to dry out
• Manage your diet, increased body mass is associated with psoriasis, and for these individuals the treatment may be more difficult
• Tar based shampoos may be of assistance
• When bathing add oil, salts or fine ground oatmeal which may be of assistance. Ensure water is warm rather than hot, restrict baths to around 10 minutes and gently pat dry afterwards Moisturise immediately afterwards
• Avoid very cold weather; if possible however during cold weather consider moisturising several times per day
• Use a thick moisturiser 
• Use a humidifier
• Never pick at patches or scales
• Get some sun but not too much; don’t stay in the sun for too long. Use a sunscreen, check with your pharmacist which is best for psoriasis
• Manage stress levels if required through meditation, yoga or light exercise and maintain a healthy diet
• Reduce alcohol consumption and stop smoking
• Keep a psoriasis diary to track your triggers; these are often unique to the individual. Understanding your condition will help you to manage it more effectively.

Natural Remedies

Some of the natural remedies that may assist psoriasis symptoms include:

• Aloe Vera gel or cream that is rich in Aloe Vera
• Apple cider vinegar to relieve itch from scalp psoriasis
• Acupuncture or Reiki for stress reduction
• Use of gentle cleansers that do not strip the oils from the skin.

Psoriasis is a frustrating and difficult condition.  It is best managed at home through a disciplined approach in your lifestyle while accepting that medical intervention will be of assistance when required.

For some a gluten-free diet can result in a significant improvement in psoriasis.

Diet

A sensible diet is important. Foods with polyphenols have been shown to help improve general health and skin health. Polyphenols improve the gut flora and fauna which impact the skin. Foods with polyphenols can be researched on the web but some for example are:

• Blueberries
• Crab Apple
• Strawberries
• Whole grain rye breads
• Celery seed
• Capers
• Star Anise & Cloves

Reference Sites: Medicine Net,

Nutrition Advance, Mayo Clinic,

National Psoriasis Foundation.

Disclaimer: OR Natural researches reputable sites to source information on skin conditions. The material is prepared to assist our customers understanding of the condition and we encourage people to seek medical advice where a condition persists and to research for themselves information about their condition. While OR Natural strives to maintain current and relevant information to the best of our ability, this should not be construed as medical advice as the relevance and accuracy of medical information changes significantly over time as new treatments become available.

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