Psoriasis is a lifelong skin condition where you experience an overproduction of skin cells in certain areas of the body. This process causes thick red patches of white or silver scales to develop on your elbows, knees, feet, neck, hands, scalp, and face. Some patches may become so irritated that they crack apart and begin to bleed. However, you are not alone if you are affected by psoriasis. It is estimated that seven and a half million people in America are affected by this skin condition. Whether you have guttate psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, or plaque psoriasis, there are five simple natural remedies for psoriasis that may provide you with relief.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin is a constituent of your everyday red cayenne pepper and is the element that provides the ‘heat’ in such peppers. This compound is made into topical capsaicin creams that have proven in several studies to help alleviate some individuals moderate or severe psoriasis symptoms. Since the compound is derived from red cayenne peppers, the initial few applications can cause sensations of burning and itching. However, as the cream is used regularly, these sensations will subside, and you will see improvements in your psoriasis patches. You would benefit from capsaicin cream the most if you frequently experience moderate to severe itchiness, swelling, and inflammation with your psoriasis patches or lesions. You can find capsaicin creams at any natural health food store and online.
Aloe Vera
You may have heard of Aloe Vera gel or ointment to help ease the pain of sunburns. However, Aloe Vera also has great potential for alleviating the symptoms of numerous other skin conditions. Aloe Vera contains specific enzymes, vitamin C, vitamin A, and numerous antioxidants. Ointments containing Aloe Vera provide your psoriasis patches with a protective layer that helps to seal moisture in. This increased ability to retain moisture stops the itchiness and redness that comes along with the dry and flaky characteristic of psoriatic lesions. Ointments containing aloe have also proven beneficial to individuals with open psoriatic lesions that may be painful and slow healing. The extra protection that aloe ointment provides your skin will help any open lesions heal quicker than they would otherwise. It is best to use an ointment that contains a minimum of 0.5 percent Aloe.
Mare’s Milk
Mare’s milk is the milk from the female horse that has been a significant part of natural medicine in certain cultures and eastern regions. Mare’s milk contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can improve your skin’s production of its natural oil barrier. Psoriatic patches and lesions are known for being dry, flaky, and itchy. Mare’s milk provides your body with an extra boost of hydration and helps your skin retain it. This mechanism reduces the dry appearance of psoriasis affected skin and helps relieve the itching that it causes. Mare’s milk is also a rich source of potassium. Potassium is helpful for individuals with psoriasis because it decreases the tension inside of small blood vessels, allowing a better flow of oxygen and other nutrients to affected regions of the skin. Mare’s milk also provides your body with a good amount of magnesium. A deficiency of magnesium can activate certain components of the immune system that exacerbate its abnormal attacks on your skin cells. Ensuring that you have proper amounts of magnesium can help decrease the severity and development of psoriatic patches. Supplements are available to provide mare’s milk, such as Equilac capsules.
Sunlight Exposure
Brief periods of natural sunlight exposure to your skin that is affected by psoriasis patches can enhance its general appearance. It is important to note that the UVB rays that are emitted from the sun are what provides benefit to psoriatic skin. Any type of tanning bed would not be beneficial for this purpose because they mostly give off UVA rays. Only the affected areas of your skin need to be exposed, so your non-psoriatic healthy skin needs to be covered by sunscreen and or clothing. You should begin with between five and 10 minutes of exposure to the natural midday sun rays at the frequency of once per day. If you notice improvements in symptoms and do not sustain sunburn, then you can gradually extend the sun exposure time by half a minute each day. This procedure should be done carefully, as sunburns are known to exacerbate the symptoms of psoriasis. Consult your physician before using this method if you take any medications, as some drugs can cause the skin to have a higher sensitivity to the rays of the sun.
Fish Oil
Omega-3 fatty acids that are present in fish oil have autoimmune mediating characteristics that are known to decrease inflammation in those who live with an autoimmune condition. If you have psoriasis, your immune system inappropriately attacks certain cells of your outer skin layer, causing the rapid production of more epidermal cells to repair and replace the damaged epidermal tissues. Omega-3 fatty acids increase the activity of an immune system component that is responsible for shutting down your body’s inflammatory response when it is no longer needed. This process suppresses the white blood cells that inappropriately attack your skin cells and cause psoriatic lesions to develop. Supplements are available as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, but it is more beneficial for those who have psoriasis to consume fish containing a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids.