How to Treat Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin disease, affecting approximately 2 to 4 percent of the U.S. population. Skin cells grow too quickly, causing lesions of red, raised patches that are covered with silvery scales. Complete recovery is rare.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hemorrhoid treatments
• Shower caps
• Epsom salts
• Plastic wrap
• Moisturizers
• Green-tinted sunglasses
• Toothbrushes

1. Reduce stress. Psoriasis is significantly aggravated by stress.

2. Apply topical ointments, twice each day, to slow down the overactive growth of skin cells. Ointments that contain tar preparations, anthralin and salicylic acid work well. Try corticosteroid creams. These are most effective when covered with a piece of saran wrap. It enhances the drug's penetration into the skin. Use it twice a day, wipe it off at bedtime, and then apply the tar preparation or anthralin at night.

3. Avoid injuring the skin. This aggravates psoriasis.

4. Avoid exposure to cold. This also aggravates psoriasis.

5. Keep your skin from drying out. Dry skin causes psoriasis to worsen.

6. Avoid washing your skin excessively. This makes skin feel sore and scaly. Use lukewarm water when washing.

7. Reduce itching by soaking for 15 minutes in water containing a tar solution or Epsom salts.

8. Remove thick scalp plaques by applying a 10 percent salicylic acid in mineral oil with a toothbrush before going to bed. Wear a shower cap when you sleep. Wash out the 10 percent acid with a tar-based shampoo the next morning.

9. Consider a more aggressive treatment if your condition is severe. Exposure to ultraviolet light or a course of drug therapy are options.

Tips & Warnings

• Anthralin can stain sheets.
• Exposure to the sun must be absolutely avoided when you are receiving treatment with ultraviolet light.
• If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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[lllllllleah]

on 9/28/2009 Tanning works absolutely, though not on hidden areas like scalp or inside ears, etc. I highly recommend a tanning membership, and good moisturizing is essential to help it along. Tanning will virtually eliminate ANY size or thickness plaque if given the time and effort. Go as often as you can to jumpstart and remove the plaques and then you can do it less often to maintain. Cortisone is good when you notice little patches developing. I've had and removed plaques approximately 5"x 4" with the tanning method. It's like a miracle. I personally believe we're too obsessed with avoiding exposure to the sun. Research vitamin d deficiency. I spent my whole life pale as a ghost hiding indoors and slathering on sunscreen and then developed psoriasis. Now I can go tanning and look like a Hawaiian Tropics model. OK not really, but ya. DO IT.

[clubber]

on 12/20/2008 this really works: tanning + hydrocortizone creams. I've spend thousands of dollars on ointments and prescriptions, saran wraps, and coal tars. none worked as well as this. need to purchase a quality tanning lotion and after tan extending lotion. The uv rays from tanning knock the psoriasis out, plus the tan attained covers the unsightly blemishes well. Add hydrocortizone often to itchy and new areas (for gods sake, do not scratch!!!) tan at least twice a week. I saw nearly 100% remission in 2 weeks! Rash started to come back on my hands and fingers so I immediately added hydrocortizone and went tanning. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, and now its completely gone in 2 days. Keep a steady tan schedule. Tanning is great because it allows you to do FULL BODY TREATMENTS in little amounts of time and is relatively cheap. Plus once the psoriasis is gone, you'll have nice bronze

on 8/8/2006 Taking 25mg or more of zinc at once will make you throw up, however they did keep my from getting sick when my whole family had the flu, but taking vitamin E really helps your skin.

on 7/13/2006 Omega3 is supposed to help with psoriasis inflammation, but I didn't find it made a big difference. I tried borage oil, flax seed oil and a number of others. I've been supplementing my diet with raw ground flax seed recently and have found a number of minor but irritating complaints to have cleared up. The first is my psoriasis. It isn't gone by any means and I still have a lot of trouble with it on my scalp, but before I started taking flax seed it was much worse. I also found my skin in general is in better condition, and my flare-ups of irritable bowel syndrome have all but vanished.

on 6/30/2006 I am 42 and have struggled with psoriasis all my life. I've been on every crackpot diet imaginable. However, I recently cut out gluten (wheat, barley) meat and coffee. The coffee and gluten have made a dramatic difference. It took about 3/4 weeks to really clean out, but now I'm clear for the first time. Coffee really bothers my scalp. Try it in the summer. Eat basically big salads, any rice product, all fruits for a month and then introduce gluten or coffee or red meat. You can isolate and find out what triggers your psoriasis. Don't get discouraged that first month. Stick with it. It really helps.