WHAT IS PSORIASIS? OVERVIEW
Psoriasis is a non contagious skin disease / condition that effects a small but significant number of people world wide.
The most common places for it to appear are the scalp (head), elbows and knees. It can also be found on other areas including the back, arms, legs, neck, chest, torso, hands and feet.
There are numerous treatments and so-called remedies for Psoriasis but because the disorder effects different people in different ways, the effectiveness of different treatment varies.
Psoriasis sufferers often feel dejected and ashamed because of the unattractive symptoms it can manifest. It can cause itchy, inflamed and flakey skin. It is a persistent autoimmune disorder. This just means that because of some glitch, our immune system signals the skin cells to multiply its rate of division. Psoriasis is more common in the mature age group, and is related to conditions like depression, diabetes, and heart problem.
TYPES OF PSORIASIS
- Plaque
- Guttate
- Inverse
- Pustular
- Erythrodermic
What causes psoriasis is still a mystery to science. What sets off psoriasis in one person may not do the same in another. In the past, the following have frequently triggered psoriasis:
- Stress
- Distressed skin. This happens when the skin suffers major damage during an accident, burns, or vaccination and is left in shock. This can be treated if detected at an early stage.
- Certain medicines and drugs consumed to treat other diseases.
- Allergies, in some cases.
PSORIASIS – SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of psoriasis typically include bumpy patches of crimson skin and scaly peeling skin. However, the symptoms of psoriasis will differ based on the type of psoriasis as well as its extent.
Symptoms common to all types of psoriasis are:
- Bleeding skin in areas due to excess scratching
- Nail Conditions: This could include pitting, nail discoloration, and loosening of toenails or fingernails.
- Plaques of red itchy skin in places with scaly skin surrounding it. As the severity of the psoriasis grows, these plaques might join other plaques around them to form big portions of plaque-covered skin. This can be extremely painful and itchy. They usually form on the elbow, scalp, feet, hands, back, or knees. Sometimes, the plaques can grow into thick rough build-ups, especially on the scalp.
- Intense itchiness. It will itch a LOT! When stimulated by an allergen, for example, itching worsens. Also, when plaques form in hidden and isolated areas, like the pubic region or under the armpits, itchiness is ten folds more.
Plaque psoriasis, the most common type of psoriasis, causes almost all of the symptoms above. People with psoriasis may also suffer from psoriatic arthritis which leads to pain and inflammation in the joints.
Herbal Treatment for Psoriasis
Psoriasis can be treated at home in an all-natural manner, using things like herbal supplements and herbal recipes.
Herbal Supplements
These are basically products consumed orally that contain minerals, vitamins, herbs or other elements that help enrich your diet and health. Herbal products that have succeeded in treating psoriasis in the past include evening primrose oil, milk thistle, and oregano oil. However, certain herbal products can have side effects that contradict with the style in which medicines work. For example, one herbal pill could increase your skin’s absorption of sunlight. This might adversely affect your UV light treatment with the doc. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you consult with your doctor before taking any herbal supplements.
Homemade Remedies
These remedies can be tested in the privacy of your home. They have proven to be effective in the treatment of psoriasis many times before. However, you must keep in mind that not all cures work for everyone. If one doesn’t work, consider trying an alternative remedy. Some of these ancient remedies include:
- Bathing with Epsom salt in warm water. Rub olive oil over your body after the bath.
- Mix a cup of fresh juice of bitter gourd with a teaspoon of lemon juice. Drink on an empty stomach regularly for 5-6 months.
- Use the Marigold treat! Take 4 heads of Marigold. Boil in a liter of water for 3 minutes. Cool the mixture and apply it to area affected with psoriasis.
Food and PSORIASIS
Up comes the topic of food and diet again. “Those greasy fries definitely won’t help your psoriasis!” Whenever we discuss health, food and diet is always related. After all, what we put into our body on a daily basis is more than likely to have a pretty huge impact on what goes on inside that body of ours.
Now, let’s look at psoriasis alone. Is there any magic diet, as many claim, that’ll cure your psoriasis? The answer is: NO. On the other hand, a healthy well-balanced diet has proven to improve symptoms drastically.
PSORIASIS DIET TIPS
- Drink up to 2 liters of water daily. Do not consume all of it at once.
- Eat lots of green leafy vegetables.
- Avoid Coke, red wine, oily foods, red meat, and other junk foods.
- Consume multi-vitamin and zinc tablets
- Don’t make any drastic changes in your diet.
Alternate Treatments for Psoriasis
- Most will try to cure psoriasis at home when in its initial stages. However, it may progress to a stage where homemade remedies show no improvement and medical guidance is required. Physicians will assess treatments to use based on the part of the body affected, severity of condition, and span of skin involved.
- If the disease involves a relatively small part of your body, topical lotions, creams, and sprays will probably be used. The doctor might also prescribe a steroid injection into resisting psoriasis plaques too.
- If the spread of the condition is average in size, pills, photo treatment, and stronger injections may be recommended. Usually, the stronger a medicine is, the greater the risks related to it.
- One common method used by doctors is “rotational therapy”. They basically try to diminish risks of side effects from any one medicine by changing the product every 6-12 months.
You must use the medicine as per instructions from the doctor. Don’t try to follow “medical” advice given by people outside the profession. Nevertheless, every medicine has some risk attached with it. You can’t find a medicine that will definitely guarantee recovery or safety.
In addition to the above, you should adapt good skin habits, like keeping the rash clean, away from chemicals, and wearing cotton clothing. Your psoriasis should disappear in no time!
