Natural Remedies For Dry & Itchy Skin

By Author: Dr. Victor Marchione
Total Articles: 90
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Millions of Americans suffer from the symptoms of “psoriasis.”
Psoriasis is a disease of the skin, but also of the immune system.
Your skin regenerates itself once every 28 days.
If you have psoriasis, however, your skin can regenerate as quickly as every three days.
This causes inflammation that is often characterized by red, dry and thickened patches of skin.
It tends to strike the elbows, knees, lower back and scalp, but can be found just about anywhere on the body.
All About Psoriasis
There are many kinds of psoriasis, with names such as plaque, “guttate,” “inverse,” “pustular” and “erythrodermic.” The most common form is plaque psoriasis.
Plaque psoriasis begins with small red bumps and gradually develops into larger red “arrears” (or raised flakes of skin) covered in white scales. Each person reacts differently, and the disease appears in various forms depending on the individual. Sometimes, the disease develops into psoriatic arthritis. This affects anywhere from 10% to 30% of individuals living with psoriasis.
The severity of psoriasis ...
... changes from person to person. It can be a mild, barely noticeable condition for some; for others, it is severe, covering large portions of the body.
Some psoriasis sufferers also experience joint pain. This is all because everyone’s immune system acts in different ways. Psoriasis can be difficult to cope with, to say the least! Those red patches of skin can be extremely itchy and are certainly not attractive. This makes people feel isolated and excluded, causing emotional stress. This stress then makes psoriasis worse, unleashing a nasty cycle.
Hidden Causes of Psoriasis
Researchers have found that the disease may be genetic, but environmental factors seem to trigger it as well. Stress, as mentioned above, is often a large trigger for a number of people. By controlling their stress levels, these individuals can control their psoriasis. Other factors, such as a faulty immune system (producing too many T cells), acidic or citrus foods, prescription medications, sunburn, infections — strep throat is a big player when it comes to triggering psoriasis — obesity, alcohol and even hormonal changes can all cause an attack of the skin condition.
If you find that stress is your trigger, try a few relaxation techniques to reduce the amount of stress in your life. Even 10 minutes of quiet can do wonders for treating your psoriasis. Don’t let stress from the negative stigma cause outbreaks. People who have psoriasis often develop a “thicker skin” and learn to ignore insensitive comments by people. Don’t let others affect your own self-confidence. It may be important to explain to people that psoriasis is not contagious.
For psoriasis sufferers, certain times of the year are worse. For example, winter months can wreak havoc on psoriatic skin. Follow your skin regimen, keeping your body moisturized to help reduce the effects of the cold, dry air. To limit the impact of psoriasis on your life, here are some things that you can do to help yourself:
• Eat a balanced diet that gives you proper nutrition as well as controlling your weight, stress and infections; this could help stave off your chances of getting psoriasis.
• Keeping the skin moisturized is vital. After taking a bath, you should immediately apply lotion. There are many lotions that you can try, such as “Vaseline,” “Eucerin” and “Cetaphil,” all of which are good for extra moisture.
• Limit stress. When it comes to treating psoriasis, stress reduction is very important. It is absolutely essential in reducing the severity of your psoriasis. Try a few relaxation methods to determine which ones work best for you and your situation. They include yoga and many different kinds of meditation.
Your Best Natural Remedies
The following solutions and treatments could help you deal with your psoriasis:
Dead Sea Salts
A bath filled with Dead Sea salts has been shown to help improve the severity of psoriasis outbreaks. Try soaking once every three days in a tablespoon or two of Dead Sea salts. They are available in most health-food stores. This could also get your circulation going while boosting your immune system.
Sunlight
While sunlight can help improve symptoms of psoriasis, use this treatment carefully. Always apply sunblock containing an SPF of at least 15, and don’t go in direct sun for more than 30 minutes. A burn will worsen your psoriasis and increase your risk of skin cancer.
Oregon Grape Root
This plant is found abundantly in North American forests and is known also as “Mahonia.” It is widely available as a supplement and offers possibilities on battling internal causes that trigger psoriasis. Research has shown promising results in using Oregon grape root in clearing up skin conditions and reducing the symptoms of psoriasis.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The Inuit, whose diet is high in omega-3s, have never been known to suffer from psoriasis. Eat fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed. Omega-3s promote wound healing. For psoriasis, some research has shown that people taking supplements had reduced symptoms of psoriasis over using only traditional medications. Omega-3 is widely known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Vitamin-E Cream
Many creams out there contain vitamin E, among other helpful ingredients, which can help your psoriasis. These creams are available in most health-food stores.
Capsaicin Cream
Capsaicin cream has been looked at in treating psoriasis. Normally a pain reliever, capsaicin may be an itch reliever, too, as both symptoms follow the same nerve pathway. Capsaicin cream could reduce itching, scaling, thickness and redness as well as conventional creams could, but it has the added advantage of being free of synthesized chemicals that may cause secondary side effects.
Aloe Vera
This herb, which is used in so many conditions that affect the skin (most notably, burns), might also be effective in relieving psoriasis symptoms. A review of the herb in clinical trials determined that it may be useful for patients with the skin disorder, when used topically on the skin.
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