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It is important in the treatment of psoriasis to treat the cause of the disease and
the aggravating factors in as many ways as possible. Those who modify their
lifestyles, mind their eating habits, and reduce their level of stress often experience a
much greater degree of psoriasis clearing. While you try to treat the symptoms
that are most visible and distressing with topical treatments, you should try to
treat the cause! If we find and treat the cause, then maybe all the symptoms
of psoriasis need not occur! Good health for your skin as well as your entire body
may require a permanent lifestyle change that will reward you with a longer
life and more beautiful skin to wear during those extra years. Changing your habits
is the best natural treatment for psoriasis.
The successful treatment of psoriasis must address many aspects of skin care and total heallth care. Anything
that creates changes in the body or in the skin can have an impact psoriasis and its treatment. Psoriasis is a
complex interaction involving several factors and/or conditions. Balancing those factors which in the past have
influenced your psoriasis will help to control or manage your psoriasis. In searching for a customized psoriasis
treatment plan, some may consider the concept an alternative psoriasis medicine or a natural psoriasis treatment.
An essential method to improve psoriasis can be found in basic lifestyle changes. A psoriasis sufferer can still
enjoy the same lifestyles while reducing their level of stress, reducing weight while improving muscle tone, and
still experience a much greater degree of psoriasis clearing.
A picture can be worth a thousand words. Before implementing the lifestyle changes, take a
picture of your psoriasis affected skin so you can see the cause and effect of each lifestyle
change in 2-3 months by taking an "after" picture.
You will find these recommendations very effective in the treatment of
psoriasis even if you do not order Psoriasis-Ltd III.
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- Keep the body well hydrated with alkaline water. The smallest person should consume
at least 8 glasses of water a day (eight ounce glass). The average person
should consume 10 to 12 glasses daily. And a person with an above average
exercise program or that lives in a cold climate should have 12 to 16 glasses.
Christie Brinkley, a well-known international model, weighs only 135 pounds
and averages 12 to 16 glasses per day (3 to 4 liters)! Drinking alkaline water is one
of the best ways to improve your overall health and skin condition.
- Be sure to moisturize your body with creams or lotions such as Jojoba
oil (found in most health stores), Keri lotion, 10% urea cream, or Eucerin.
Vaseline and ointments can cause the sweat glands to become blocked and make
rashes worse. Therefore, they should be avoided. Moisturizers can be applied to
the affected psoriasis areas as frequently as required to relieve itching, scaling
and dryness. Moisturizers should also be used on the unaffected skin to reduce
dryness. Moisturize therapy helps to restore one of the skin's most important
functions, which is to form a barrier to prevent bacteria and viruses getting
into the body and therefore help to prevent a rash becoming infected. Moisturizers
are safe and rarely cause an allergic reaction.Occasionally, products with lanolin
may cause a reaction. Ideally, moisturizers should be applied three to four times a
day. Apply in a gentle downward motion in the direction of hair growth to prevent
accumulation of cream around the hair follicle (this can cause infection of the follicle).
- Use soap substitutes such as Cetaphil "gentle cleansing bar for dry
sensitive skin" (not the aggressive antibacterial for acne, the oily skin,
or the Cetaphil pump liquid with two alcohols), Emulave, or Neutrogena.
Cetaphil cleansing bars can be purchased at your local drug store or pharmacy.
Bubble bath should never be used as it may cause dryness and irritation of
the eczema and/or psoriasis.
- Reduce or eliminate coffee and other stimulants as well as reducing or
eliminating alcohol. Stimulants and alcohol are acidic and work against your attempts
to cure your psoriasis!
- Avoid skin irritants such as animal dander (dogs and cats), feathers,
harsh fabrics (denim and corduroy), tight clothing, and sometimes even wool
and silk. Cotton clothing is recommended as much as possible.
- Launder clothing with mild soap or detergent (Dreft, Ivory Snow,
certain sans-additive detergents such as Tide Free). Use no additives such
as enzymes, fabric softeners. Wash new clothing prior to wearing.
- Antihistamines, such as Benadryl by Parke-Davis (25 mg.), can be taken
after 7:00 PM to control itching, which tends to be worse at night.
- Keep nails clean and short to prevent scratching, which can lead to worse
irritation or infection. If your nails are affected by psoriasis, try the following:
Trim your nails to reduce the risk of injuring them; trauma can worsen nail psoriasis.
Try soaking affected nails and follow up with moisturizer. Carefully file thickened
toenails with an emery board after soaking. Reduce toenail pressure and friction –
which can cause toenails to thicken -- by wearing well-fitted, roomy shoes. Consider
using nail hardeners or artificial nails that can help to improve the appearance of
intact nails.
- Avoid temperature and humidity extremes. Don't overdress or overheat.
When humidity is low as during the winter in heated homes, a humidifier
may be helpful.
- Avoid swimming in chlorinated pools. Lake and ocean swimming is fine.
Apply moisturizers afterwards.
- Injury to the skin can cause the formation of a psoriasis patch known as the Koebner
Phenomenon, and it can occur in other skin diseases, such as eczema and lichen planus.
It can take 2 to 6 weeks for a psoriasis lesion to develop after an injury. Types of
injuries that can trigger a flare include: Abrasion - even mild abrasion, Increased
friction from clothing or skin rubbing against skin in folds, such as armpits or under
breasts, Sunburn, Viral rashes and rashes.resulting from a reaction to medication.
- Stress plays a major role in all skin conditions. Stress can trigger a psoriasis flares,
but scientists are still unclear about exactly how this occurs. Studies do show that not only can
a sudden, stressful event trigger a rash to worsen, daily hassles of life can also trigger a flare.
- Infections caused by bacteria or viruses can cause a psoriasis flare. Streptococcal infections
that cause tonsillitis, or strep throat, tooth abscesses, cellulitis, and impetigo can cause a flare
of guttate psoriasis in children. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) does not increase the frequency
of psoriasis, but it does increase the severity of the disease.
- Low levels of calcium have been reported as a trigger for psoriasis.
Oddly enough, even though medications made from vitamin D are used to treat psoriasis,
low levels of vitamin D do not trigger a flare-up.
- Many medications can also affect psoriasis. The following drugs are known to either
worsen psoriasis or induce a flare-up:
- Chloroquine -- used to treat or prevent malaria
- ACE inhibitors -- used to treat high blood pressure. Examples include monopril, captopril, and lisinopril.
- Beta blockers - also used to treat high blood pressure. Examples include lopressor and atenolol.
- Lithium -- a medication used to treat bipolar disorder
- Indocin -- an anti-inflammatory medication used to treat a variety of conditions, including gout and arthritis
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone or solumedrol, can actually dramatically improve psoriasis. However,
abruptly stopping the drug or rapidly tapering off of it can trigger a flare-up.
So many things can affect psoriasis – but not everything may affect YOUR psoriasis. The key is to
identify what triggers your psoriasis so that you may control your situation in the best way possible.
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