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.
For most skin conditions, including psoriasis, there are probably multiple genes involved in producing the sequence of events that result in the condition. Complicating the picture still further is the probability that genes found to be associated with psoriasis may or may not cause psoriasis in an individual person, depending on the activity of the genes in relation to one another. The activity of genes in relation to one another is often determined by the pattern in which they were inherited from parents.
Both dermatologic and systemic infections have been known to trigger the onset of psoriasis or a worsening of psoriasis symptoms. The incidence of infectious triggering has varied from study to study, but the triggering effect of infections is well documented. Systemic infections that have been associated with triggering include viral upper respiratory disease, streptococcal pharyngitis ("strep throat"), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Staphylococcal skin infections (boils) have been a trigger. Infections can affect the outcome of psoriasis treatment.
The successful treatment of psoriasis must address many aspects of skin care and total health 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 medication or a natural psoriasis treatment. An essential method to improve psoriasis can be found in basic lifestyle treatment 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.
- Keep the body well hydrated with alkaline water. For those with psoriasis, simply increasing your water intake can help to reduce the irritation and itching associated with psoriasis! Drink at least 8 eight ounce glasses (2 liters) of water per day if you are a smaller person! Considerably more is needed if one is larger, working outside, playing a sport, or doing something else physically taxing. Those with psoriasis should consume between 10 and 12 glasses (3 liters) of icy water per day to cool the face and body and to assist the body in proper excretion of oil, waste, and toxins. Water moistens the skin, greatly reducing the dry itchy patches of skin. Most importantly, water helps relieve stress during the day and relaxes the body for sleep. The hypothalamus is the body's thermostat which regulates temperature, but it cannot achieve this objective without adequate water. The body is approximately 70% water while the eye is approximately 96% water. Water is needed for skin tissue repair, efficient digestion, absorption, circulation and secretion.Drinking water with an alkaline pH is one of the best ways to improve your overall health and skin condition. Proper hydration of the body should be a part of any psoriasis treatment plan.
- Stress—physical, emotional and psychological—can be a trigger for psoriasis. Stress can be an initiating symptom, or for worsening of existing lesions. Just the fact of having psoriasis is, in itself, psychologically and emotionally stressful. Lack of understanding by spouse, parents, children, other family members, friends, and co-workers can add another level of stress. Controlling stress is a powerful treatment in controlling psoriasis.
- 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.
