Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs Psoriasis Curable?MoisturizersUsing a HumidifierAloe VeraWarm BathsSunlightCapsaicinOregon GrapeStress ReliefAvoid Alcohol and SmokingDiet and ExerciseUnderstanding TriggersWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Is Psoriasis Curable?
Moisturizers
Using a Humidifier
Aloe Vera
Warm Baths
Sunlight
Capsaicin
Oregon Grape
Stress Relief
Avoid Alcohol and Smoking
Diet and Exercise
Understanding Triggers
When to Seek Medical Care
Psoriasiscan flare up at any time, impacting a person’s quality of life. Since there is no cure for psoriasis, treatment aims to reduce discomfort and limit flare-ups.
Home remedies can complement standard medical psoriasis treatment. Often, these methods are easy to integrate into your everyday routine. However, they may not work for everyone, and many people need additional therapies.
This article discusses at-home psoriasis treatments, flare-ups, and when to talk to a healthcare provider.
Uladzislau Salikhau / EyeEm/ Getty Images
There is no cure for psoriasis. Psoriasis is considered a chronic disease, and treatment focuses onmanaging symptomsand preventing flare-ups.
Psoriasis is anautoimmune skin conditionthat causes a buildup of skin cells that leads to itchy, scaly dry patches of skin. It can be managed, but no treatments currently exist that can make it go away completely.
Supplements for Psoriasis: Which Ones Have Benefits or Risks?
Medical Treatments for Psoriasis
Standard medicalpsoriasis treatmentsmay include the following:
How Psoriasis Is Treated
Keepingpsoriasis moisturizedis a must. When skin dries out, it is more likely to feel irritated. Applypsoriasis moisturizer or lotionimmediately after showering and then again before bed. Look for fragrance- and dye-free products, so they do not irritate your skin.
When experiencing a flare-up, moisturizing and wrapping your affected skin with a bandage can help loosen scales. Some people like to do this overnight for maximum coverage and effect.
Humidifiersare another essential tool for psoriasis because they put moisture into the air, which helps keep skin healthy.Using a humidifieris especially important in dry climates and in the winter months. It can also be important in warmer months when air-conditioning sucks the moisture out of indoor air.
10 Psoriasis Self-Care Practices You Can Do at Home
Aloe verais a naturally soothing plant that relieves many skin ailments, including psoriasis. Choose creams that contain 0.5% aloe.You can also apply the gel directly from an aloe plant (if you have one) up to three times daily.
Psoriasis Treatment
Warm baths can be a great way to hydrate and soothe skin. But be sure to avoid hot baths or soaking too long, as that can have the opposite effect. Adding bath oils to your bathwater can further help moisturize the skin and make it more receptive to moisturizers and topical medications.
The 8 Best Shampoos for Psoriasis to Calm Your Scalp
Sunlight works like medical ultraviolet (UV) light therapy to improve psoriasis. Sun exposure comes with some risks, includingsunburn, skin damage, and cancer if you don’t use protection while in the sun. Some tips for safer sunlight exposure include:
Some medications havephotosensitivity side effects, making you more susceptible to sunburn when you are on them. If that’s the case, sunlight therapy may not be best for you. Talk to a healthcare provider about how to use sun exposure safely.
Oregon grapeis an antimicrobial herb that helps with immune response. You can apply a cream with 10% Oregon grape to treat psoriasis.This herb should only be used topically under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
Stress and psoriasisare related. In one study, 31% to 88% of people reported stress as a trigger for their flare-ups.People with stressful events in the prior year saw a higher incidence of psoriasis, causing researchers to speculate that stress may even play a role in the onset of the disease in predisposed people.
Specific mind-body therapies may help reduce stress, including:
Avoiding Alcohol and Smoking
Alcohol and smoking have been associated with psoriasis risk. Those with psoriasis are at increased risk of alcohol misuse and dependency. Increased alcohol use can worsen psoriasis and lead to other conditions, including:
Smoking increases the chance of developing psoriasis, and it may make you less responsive to treatment.
Psoriasis and Alcohol: Drinking May Make Flares Worse
A study found that vigorous physical activity is related to a reduced prevalence of psoriasis.Regular physical activity was found to improve skin lesions. This is especially true for outdoor exercise done in the sun.
Learningwhat to eat when you have psoriasismay also be helpful.
Turmeric
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are beneficial for psoriasis. This herb can minimize psoriasis flares in some people.You can taketurmericin pill form or use it in food preparation.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acidsare well-known for helping decrease inflammation. Unfortunately, research on the role of omega-3 fatty acids in psoriasis is inconclusive, with some showing benefits and others not showing improvement.
However, since omega-3 fatty acids are a crucial nutrient in all diets, it doesn’t hurt to try them. You can find omega-3s in fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts. You can also take it as a supplement.
Foods to Avoid With Psoriasis and What to Eat Instead
Understanding the Triggers of Psoriasis Flares
One of the most effective management strategies for psoriasis is identifying and avoiding triggers. Identifying triggers can take detective work, but noticing a pattern can help you avoid things that cause your psoriasis to flare up.
Some commonpsoriasis triggersinclude:
10 Common Triggers of Psoriasis Flares
Talking to a Healthcare Provider About Alternative Treatments
Most of the time, complementary treatments are insufficient to treat psoriasis alone. Instead, they enhance medical care.
It’s always best to discuss at-home therapies with a healthcare provider. This way you can team up to receive the best overall care. Plus, your provider may alert you to some risks (like photosensitivity) based on your general health circumstances and medical history.
Summary
Numerous natural strategies can help manage psoriasis at home. These include keeping your skin moist, applying aloe vera, taking warm baths, exposing yourself to sunlight, reducing stress, trying herbs and nutrients, and avoiding alcohol and smoking.
Even though these strategies can help, they are not a cure for psoriasis and are usually best used alongside standard medical treatment.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance.Psoriasis and the sun.
Rousset L, Halioua B.Stress and psoriasis.Int J Dermatol. 2018;57(10):1165–72. doi:10.1111/ijd.14032
Graubard R, Perez-Sanchez A, Katta R.Stress and skin: an overview of mind body therapies as a treatment strategy in dermatology.Dermatol Pract Concept. 2021;11(4):e2021091. doi:10.5826/dpc.1104a91
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