Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition where red patches form due to a problem with the immune system; an excess of skin cells develops and appears on the skin’s surface before the cells mature. This is usually on the back, elbows, knees or scalp.
There is a family history of this condition in around a third of sufferers. More than 650.000 people in the United Kingdom suffer from this, with the most famous probably being pop star Liam Gallagher. There is no cure, but proper treatment usually helps to keep this condition under control. Here are a few ideas on how to relieve symptoms of psoriasis at home.
Prioritise Healthy Choices
A well-balanced diet is not the only key to maintaining a healthy weight, but also to avoiding cardiovascular and other types of disease and managing psoriasis. Try to drink plenty of water and eat foods with anti-inflammatory properties, including lots of fruits and vegetables. Also, consider eating a diet rich in whole grains, omega-3 fatty acids and plants as well as cold-water fish, nuts and seeds. This can be helpful for reducing inflammation and managing psoriasis symptoms.
Eliminating dairy products, red meat, saturated fats, refined sugars and processed foods might help to reduce flare-ups triggered by increased inflammation from such foods. Alcohol is also a popular trigger for many people that are subjected to psoriasis, which can increase your risks of a flare-up. Therefore, consider drinking less alcohol or quitting entirely.
Additionally, try to avoid tobacco as smoking can increase your risk of psoriasis. In case you already have psoriasis, smoking can make your symptoms more severe.
Maintain Physical Activity
Aside from sticking to a healthy diet, try to maintain regular physical activity to lose weight. This might help to reduce the condition’s severity and make treatments more effective.
It’s unclear how exactly weight influence psoriasis condition, so even if your symptoms don’t change, losing weight is still useful for your general health.
Take Dietary Supplements
Various dietary supplements can also help to ease psoriasis symptoms from the inside. For instance, vitamin D, fish oil, aloe vera, milk thistle, Oregon grape, curcumin and evening primrose oil are known to help reduce mild symptoms of psoriasis. Studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids, which is found in fish and fish oil supplements, can lower inflammation and improve autoimmune diseases. At the same time, curcumin can lessen inflammation in the body and reduce psoriatic activity.
It is critical to check with your doctor before taking any dietary supplements to make sure they do not affect your other health conditions or medications you are currently taking.
Moisturise The Skin
Flaking and itching can worsen the appearance of psoriasis, so it’s important to keep your skin moisturised. Moisturisers or emollients are standard products in psoriasis treatment alongside other therapies.
Applying a thick cream or a heavy ointment three times a day can help to control symptoms, keep your skin supple and prevent dry skin even before it appears. You can also use a humidifier in your home or office to moisture to the air and keep skin feeling comfortable.
Look for products that are free of fragrances and dyes and designed for sensitive skin. You doctor or a health care provider may also recommend various topical products and creams that contain aloe vera, coal tar, salicylic acid, and other medicinal components that can benefit you.
Manage Your Stress
Since psoriasis is a chronic condition, it can be a source of stress, which in turn can symptoms of psoriasis even worse. You can get some relief by talking to other people who have this disease. Visit an online community like TalkPsoriasis.org, read different blogs or ask your doctor if he or she knows about a local support group. Experiencing similar or even the same things helps many individuals cope with stress, reduce anxiety, improve mood and feel more comfortable with their conditions.
Also, going for a walk, having a quick jog or doing some other exercise will help to increase the level of “feel-good” chemicals in your body and get rid of stress.
In addition to decreasing stress levels, whenever possible, consider incorporating stress-relieving techniques such as yoga and meditation. Yoga is especially beneficial if you have psoriatic arthritis as it helps to diminish joint pain and increase your range of motion.
Use CBD Oil
Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active, chemical compound naturally occurring in the cannabis plant. It is non-addictive and non-psychoactive and is known to interfere with the complex, cell-signalling endocannabinoid system. This system is responsible for crucial bodily functions such as sleep, inflammation, appetite, memory, stress, pain, etc.
After intake of CBD oil, this beneficial compound is able to interact with special receptors of the endocannabinoid system to relieve stress and pain, improve mood, increase energy and concentration, promote better sleep and even treat different skin conditions. You can intake capsules or an oral tincture daily, apply topicals like CBD cream or ointment for a localised relief or receive the benefits of cannabidiol with a CBD vape.
Our skin includes the largest concentration of cannabinoid receptors, which means CBD can help to alleviate various skin issues, such as acne, psoriasis, dryness, eczema and others. A study at Duke University in North Carolina in 2007 found that cannabinoids, of which CBD is one, slowed down the growth and division of skin cells that causes psoriatic skin rashes.
Try Out Light Therapy
This type of treatment uses ultraviolet (UV) or natural light. Exposure to sunlight helps to improve the appearance of the skin by killing overactive white blood cells, which attack healthy skin cells and cause them to grow rapidly. Both UVA and UVB rays can be beneficial for reducing the symptoms in people with mild to moderate psoriasis.
Individuals that have moderate to severe psoriasis may benefit from combinations of treatments. This type of therapy uses more than one of the available treatments to relieve symptoms. While some people use the same treatment for their entire lives, others will need to change treatments from time to time if their skin stops responding to the type of therapy they are using.
However, make sure to ask your physician about the safest method to use natural light therapy for psoriasis treatment prior to beginning a sunlight regimen.
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