If you are unfortunately a victim of Psoriasis, you will end up questioning how to get rid of dry skin as fast as possible since it is a very frustrating condition.
Psoriasis happens to be a common skin condition but a really painful and frustrating one. What happens is psoriasis is that the skin cells pile up over each other causing discomfort, scaling, patches and even pain.
Symptoms of psoriasis consist of inflammation, pain, itching, irritation and redness. At times, it also comes with silver white, itchy, and flaky patches which are painful.
Some of the triggers of this skin condition are sunburn, environmental conditions, certain medicines, emotional stress, dry skin, alcohol consumptions and bacterial or viral infections. They occur on scalp, palms, elbow, knees and elbows and can appear on other parts as well.
Do not try herbal remedies for psoriasis without talking to your doctor as it can interact with your medicines. It might not suit you if you are having diabetes, mood disorders or high blood pressure.
There are some lifestyle changes that can help in giving you relief from symptoms of psoriasis and help you deal with the flare-up when it comes. A cure for psoriasis is yet to be found. It is frustrating and a difficult condition to be treated.
There are some natural ways that you can utilize to alleviate the symptoms and keep infections at bay.
Home Remedies for Psoriasis
1. Epsom Salt
Epsom salt or dead sea salt is effective for alleviating symptoms of psoriasis and eczema. You will only make your condition worse by exposing yourself to hot water so make sure you use lukewarm water. Epsom salt will ward off burning sensation and itching and calm down the scaling.
- Fill your bath tub with warm water.
- Add two cups of Epsom salt or dead sea salt in it.
- Immerse your body in it for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Pat dry your skin after you are don with a bath.
- Generously apply moisturizer to the affected areas
- Repeat two to three times a week
2. Fish Oil
Omega 3 fatty acid not only strengthens your skin but also boosts your immune system. Although fish oil rich in Omega 3 is available, you can easily get it naturally by eating certain fishes like tuna, sardines, mackerel and salmon. They are generous sources of omega 3 which is why adding them to your diet will be an excellent idea if you are a victim of psoriasis. It is advised that you eat these fishes at least two to three times a week to treat psoriasis.
In case you are not a very big fan of eating fishes, you can buy fish oil supplements easily available at most drug stores.
3. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is full of healthy bacteria and raw enzymes that can work wonders on your skin. Apple cider vinegar aids in restoring the natural PH of the skin and protects your skin from infection along with minimizing skin irritation and itching associated with psoriasis. However, keep in mind that vinegar is acidic in nature and can make your condition worse if you use it in large quantity or too often.
- Combine 3 parts of lukewarm to one part of apple cider vinegar.
- Take a clean wash cloth and soak it in this solution.
- Compress it over the affected areas.
- When it flares up, repeat many times in a day.
OR
- Take a glass of water
- Add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
- Drink it two times a day.
- This also helps to detoxify your body
4. Light therapy
Did you know ultraviolet rays from the sun helps to kill T-cells in the skin which in turn slows down the turnover of skin cells responsible for giving you flaky skin? This is the reason light therapy is useful treatment for psoriasis.
Exposing yourself regularly to small amounts of natural sunlight can alleviate psoriasis symptoms. If you are lucky enough to be living in a sunny location, then you can do your light therapy with the natural light. However, remember too much sunlight can make your psoriasis worse and don’t consider tanning beds as a means of light therapy.
Always talk to your doctor before opting for light therapy on a regular basis. Your doctor can tell you how much sunlight to get exposed to according to your medical history and skin condition.
5. Oatmeal bath
Oatmeal is well known for its hydrating, calming and soothing qualities which is what the itchy, flaky, red and inflamed skin needs. Oatmeal is packed with minerals like iron and manganese along with the much needed vitamins to heal and repair the damaged skin. It helps to alleviate redness, itching, and inflammation associated with psoriasis.
- Fill a bath tub with warm water.
- Throw in a cup of finely powdered oatmeal.
- Immerse your body in the oat meal bath for 20 minutes.
- When you are done with the bath simply pat dry your skin.
- Then use a moisturizer generously on the affected areas .
OR
- Take a muslin cloth and wrap a handful of rolled oats in it.
- Keep it in the bath tub and run some hot water over it.
- Then add some cold water to bring down the temperature to warm water.
- When the water turns milk, immerse your body in this water for 20 minutes.
- While your soak yourself, gently rub the oat bag over the affected areas to cleanse it.
- When you are done, pat dry yourself.
- Later use a moisturizer.
- Repeat every day during flare-ups.
- Do not reuse the oatmeal bag.
6. Aloe Vera
This is not a new name when it comes to treating skin ailments. Aloe Vera isn’t a modern craze for treating skin ailment. It has been used for thousands of years to heal wounds, stings, sooth burns and nourish dry hair and skin. Its anti-inflammatory qualities help to reduce redness, minimize scaling, and protect broken skin in psoriasis.
- Cut out a fresh Aloe Vera leaf and extract the gel.
- Apply it over the brown spots.
- Let it stay till the gel is thoroughly absorbed by the skin.
- Then wash it off
- Repeat thrice a day daily and continue doing it for a month.
7. Remain Hydrated
Did you know most of the people who suffer from dehydration go through frequent headaches, irregular blood pressure, fatigue, constipation and even dry skin (associated with psoriasis) without knowing the cause?
Keeping your body well hydrated will minimize the severity of the flare-ups. It is important to be vigilant about keeping yourself hydrated.
You should be drinking 64 ounces of water in 24 hours on an average. There are some things that can influence this intake.
8. Olive oil
Olive oil is a perfect way to confront psoriasis as it tames and softens the flaky and scaling skin. Just like olive oil, coconut oil proves to be equally effective. Make sure you don’t use massage oil that contains unnatural ingredients or added perfumes as it can make your psoriasis worse.
- You can simply take ample amount of lukewarm olive oil and gently massage the affected areas with it. You can repeat many times in a day to give yourself some peace.
OR
- Combine one cup of olive oil, one drop of oregano oil and two drops of calendula oil.
- Gently massage the affected areas with it.
- Let it stay for few hours and then wash it out.
- Do many times in a day during flare-ups.
9. Cold treatment
Ice pack is definitely a good answer to all the irritation and the itching that comes with psoriasis. As an added plus, it also numbs the nerve endings and eases the pain. In case of chronic pain use a warm compress.
- Take a clean wash cloth or towel.
- Wrap few ice cubes in it.
- Keep it over the affected site.
- Let it stay for 10 minutes.
- Repeat after every few hours during flare-ups.
10. Glycerin
Glycerin is known for attracting and locking moisture in the skin that gives you youthful skin. Keeping your skin moisturized is the key to alleviating psoriasis symptoms. Glycerin owes this quality to its component called glycerol.
- Generously apply glycerin on the affected site.
- The longer you leave it on the better.
- Repeat twice or thrice a day for few weeks.
Some useful tips
- Make sure you wear soft clothes like linen and cotton.
- Make use of room humidifiers to get the moisture-filled air.
- Take a shower every day.
- Do not scratch your lesions.
- Do not use perfume based products on your skin.
- Do not scrub your skin too hard as it can cause an attack.
- Allow yourself some controlled exposure to the sun.
- Learn to relax yourself as stress is a big trigger. Getting a massage or yoga can be good ways to relax.
- Keep your skin clean and moisturized.
- Use a moisturizer right after you get out of the shower when your skin is still moist. It helps to lock moisture.
- Avoid drinking alcohol as it can act as a trigger.
There is no one way of keeping the psoriasis symptoms in check. One treatment that works for you may not work for someone else. Remember that these natural ways to get rid of dry skin (psoriasis) are helpful for mild cases. Severe cases require the prescription treatment. Always discuss with your doctor before trying out some treatment yourself.
Sources
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130806165930.htm
www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0067078
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1196/annals.1329.054/abstract
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/psoriasis
