If you've silently suffered from psoriasis for years—using clothes and hair placement to strategically hide the itchy, scaly patches of skin—you could be discouraged after years of trying seemingly every old wives tale under the sun in an attempt to improve your skin. On the other hand, you may still be concerned about the listed side effects of some of the most popular drugs designed to fight psoriasis, most of which have immunosuppressant properties that could make you more susceptible to serious illnesses. Fortunately, there are some natural methods that could provide you with relief from your most major symptoms while helping you avoid high-powered pharmaceuticals. Read on to learn more about some effective and quick-acting natural treatments for psoriasis.
What causes psoriasis?
Unlike some skin rashes or conditions that are caused by an outside irritant—like poison ivy, a bug bite, or dry winter air—psoriasis is caused by your body's own immune system. In healthy individuals, the immune system serves as the last line of defense, protecting the body from illness by isolating and killing germs and viruses with the potential to do harm. For those with lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or other autoimmune disorders, the immune system turns these attack mechanisms on the body's own healthy cells, causing inflammation, pain, and disruption in red and white blood cell counts.
Psoriasis sufferers may notice flare-ups during times of stress, when the immune system is under extra pressure. Many of the drugs used to treat these autoimmune conditions rely on suppressing the immune system and minimizing the amount of damage it can do to itself (and to your body).
What natural treatments can provide the most relief?
If you're reluctant to go the medication route without trying a few more natural ways to relieve symptoms, there are several over-the-counter herbal remedies that can provide nearly instant reduction in pain and inflammation.
Capsaicin (the active ingredient in hot peppers) has been proven to have numbing qualities on surface nerves and can reduce pain. While the thought of rubbing spicy peppers on your raw, sensitive patches of psoriatic skin could seem crazy, when combined with soothing aloe this compound can relieve your symptoms for hours. This lotion is no more harmful or subject to overuse than regular hand lotion, so can be reapplied liberally as needed.
Another viable option may be the consumption or application of apple cider vinegar. For those dealing with pesky dandruff caused by a flaking scalp, apple cider vinegar can help dissolve this excess skin painlessly; those seeking an inside-out solution may opt to drink this vinegar in an attempt to improve the balance of good and bad gut bacteria. Because this vinegar is inexpensive and available at any grocery store, determining if this treatment works for you can be quick and easy.
For more information, contact physicians like Henry D. McKinney M.D.
Share7 December 2015
My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.
