Psoriasis is a chronic immune condition that primarily affects your skin and nails. It causes skin cells to multiply too quickly, resulting in thick, scaly, red patches. Psoriasis can cause inflammation, irritation, and skin cracking. Ask your doctor to help you come up with a plan, and to prescribe medication that will best manage your symptoms. You can supplement medical treatment at home, though, by using moisturizing creams, making healthy lifestyle adjustments, and trying alternative therapies.[1]
EditSteps
EditTreating Flare-ups at Home
- Avoid anything that can trigger flare-ups. Certain things are known to cause your psoriasis to flare-up or make symptoms worse. Try to avoid anything that you know aggravates your psoriasis. Common irritants include:[2]
- Injury or abrasions to your skin, cuticles, or nails.
- High levels of anxiety and stress.
- An infection anywhere on your body.
- Alcohol and smoking.
- Protect your skin from sun and severe weather. While a little bit of sun can be good for flare-ups, excessive exposure can make psoriasis symptoms worse. Very cold, dry, and/or windy weather can also cause further irritation. Protect your skin by wearing a psoriasis-friendly SPF of at least 30 whenever you plan to spend time outside.[3]
- Wearing long sleeves and proper rain or snow gear can also help keep your skin from suffering in cold or windy weather.
- Use moisturizing creams to reduce itching and scaling. Moisturizers won’t cure psoriasis, but they can help deal with the itching, scaling, and dryness. Use a moisturizing cream or ointment on areas where you have psoriasis flare-ups. Apply them immediately after a bath or shower to lock in moisture. Reapply throughout the day as you feel your symptoms returning.[4]
- You can use any over-the-counter moisturizing treatment available at most pharmacies and drug stores. You don’t need a doctor’s prescription for most moisturizers.
- Try to stick to heavier formulas like ointments and creams whenever possible. May psoriasis patients find that thinner lotion formulas aren’t as effective.
- Apply aloe vera gel to irritated or scaly areas. In addition to moisturizers, aloe vera gel is a common topical treatment for psoriasis flare-ups. Apply a thin layer of aloe gel directly on top of any irritated areas 1-3 times a day.[5]
- Aloe gel is readily available at most drug stores and health food stores. You can also use a cream that contains up to 0.5 percent aloe.
- While there are some aloe supplements on the market, there is no known benefit to taking aloe orally. Stick to topical treatments.
EditWorking With a Doctor
- See your doctor for a diagnosis if you have psoriasis symptoms. If you have not previously been diagnosed with psoriasis, see your doctor as soon as you start noticing symptoms. Psoriasis can share some symptoms with other skin conditions like eczema. Your doctor will be able to help you determine if you have psoriasis, as well as your best treatment options. Common psoriasis symptoms include:[6]
- Red patches on the skin
- Irritated patches covered with thick, silvery scales
- Small scaling spots
- Dry, cracked skin
- Skin itching or burning
- Pitted or ridged nails
- Swollen or stiff joints
- Develop a medical treatment plan with your doctor. Your doctor may recommend a series of oral, topical, and/or injectable medications to help you manage your symptoms. Talk to your doctor about potential medications that can help you care for your psoriasis.
- Your doctor may prescribe topical creams you can apply to the affected areas. Commonly prescribed topical applications include steroids, vitamin D, vitamin A, and salicylic acid.[7]
- In addition, they may prescribe oral medications, such as methotrexate, apremilast, and cyclosporine.[8]
- For more severe or difficult to manage cases, doctor may administer injectable therapies, including Amevive, Enbrel, Humira, Raptiva, and Remicade.[9]
- Use phototherapy to manage scaling and inflammation. Your doctor may prescribe phototherapy either alone or in combination with other medications. Phototherapy uses different combinations of natural and artificial ultraviolet light. Your doctor will prescribe different forms of light therapy based on your symptoms and the severity of your psoriasis.[10]
- A simple form of phototherapy is sunlight. Your doctor may advise you to go out and get direct sun exposure for brief daily sessions to manage inflammation.
- Other forms of phototherapy use controlled doses of artificial UVA and UVB light, administered by a healthcare professional. You’ll generally go for therapy 2-3 times a week until you can see improvement. After that, you’ll have weekly maintenance sessions.
EditTrying Alternative Remedies
- Take omega-3 supplements to help manage inflammation. Some medical studies suggest that taking omega-3 fatty acids alongside topical treatments can help manage inflammation. Try taking a daily omega-3 or fish oil supplement as a complementary treatment to your medications. You can find these supplements in most pharmacies and health food stores.[11]
- Aim to take around 280 mg per day. You can also increase your omega-3 intake by adding foods like fish to your diet.
- Always talk to your doctor before you add a new supplement. Omega-3’s can interact with some medications, and your doctor can tell you if these are safe for you.
- Eat foods high in curcumin. Curcumin is thought to have anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties. Try adding food like turmeric, which is a great source of curcumin, to your daily diet. You can also take turmeric as a supplement in tablet or capsule form.[12]
- Turmeric is used widely in many Indian and southeast Asian dishes, including curries.
- You can buy fresh turmeric root from a specialty food store, or get ground turmeric as a spice from most grocery stores.[13]
- You can also try drinking a cup of turmeric tea once a day to add curcumin to your diet.
- Take an oat bath. Oats have natural soothing properties. While there isn’t any scientific evidence that supports treating psoriasis with oat baths, many patients say they feel better afterward. To make an oat bath, grind 1-2 cups raw, unflavored oats in a blender to make a powder. Then, sprinkle the powder directly in a warm bathtub.[14]
- Soak in the tub for at least 15 minutes to get the full benefits of the oats.
EditTips
- Psoriasis is not contagious and cannot be spread to other people.
- Psoriasis is a partially genetic condition, and you can pass the predisposition to your children. However, a family member does not have to have psoriasis for you to get it.
- Although the onset of psoriasis often occurs in childhood or young adulthood, it can occur at any age of life.
EditWarnings
- Do not start any new supplements or topical treatments without consulting your doctor first.
- There is no cure for psoriasis. In most patients, it is a chronic, benign condition that will recur throughout life.
EditRelated wikiHows
EditSources and Citations
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