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Psoriasis Home Treatments – Steroids, Moisturizers and Botanicals

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

Psoriasis is a life-consuming concern for a significant percentage of the population.  Fortunately, there are a number of home-based treatments available for those who are willing to change their daily routine to find a cure.

Home-based psoriasis treatment options seem to be expanding rapidly, on a daily basis, with new tips and tricks being exchanged on the internet and in a variety of publications. While there is no official cure for psoriasis at the moment, there are any number of treatments that can eventually put an end to the disease and its bothersome symptoms. Some of the most common treatments are available over the counter, including creams or lotions that contain either steroids or other more natural remedies.

Steroid creams are one of the most frequently recommended psoriasis home treatment options by doctors. These are extremely effective in stopping the itching that is associated with this condition, as well as helping to slow down the growth of psoriatic skin cells, allowing healthy skin to develop unhindered. There are a number of side effects that can be associated with these steroid treatments, however, which means they should be used under controlled circumstances – limited concentrations over limited periods of time.

More natural creams are also a viable alternative when it comes to psoriasis home treatments. Remedies containing aloe vera extracts, for example, have been effective for many.  Aloe contains naturally soothing properties and keeps the skin feeling refreshed and smooth, with a cooling sensation. Green tea extract, vitamin C, and grape seed oil are all also common herbal ingredients that can be used alone as a topical treatment, added to the diet, or combined in a number of skin care formulas.

A simple, non-petroleum-based moisturizer goes a long way as a good option for psoriasis home treatment. It’s essential to keep the skin well-moisturized, so that it retains its elasticity and strength. One of the side effects associated with psoriasis is weakened skin, or skin that is easily damaged and thus prone to further break-outs. Many experts recommend moisturizing at least twice per day, once in the evening and once in the morning. Heavier lotions and creams, even oils, are better at night before bed to lock in moisture and repair damaged skin while you sleep. In the daytime, a lighter, less greasy lotion can keep the skin feeling itch-free and refreshed.

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Psoriasis – A Major Issue within the World of Dermatology

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Many turn to dermatologists to help get them through particularly troublesome psoriasis outbreaks, which can include any combination of itching and burning skin. Psoriasis treatments can include a heavy emphasis on moisturizers, which help replenish lost fluids and elasticity within the skin, leaving a person feeling refreshed and with a sense of relief.  Following up on home treatments with a proper dermatologist is extremely important for those who have chronic psoriasis in particular, to make sure that the outbreak is really taken care of and that life can go on as normal.

There are over the counter psoriasis treatments, including topical steroid creams and other more natural alternatives, that can be very beneficial and are often recommended by dermatologists to treat psoriasis. These offer wide range of potency, which in turn have varying results for the purposes of treating psoriasis. For steroid based medication, a patient just beginning treatment should most likely start off on the lighter side, though a dermatologist can certainly prescribe something stronger for more severe cases.  On the other hand, soothing botanicals and other natural remedies will oftentimes improve patients’ psoriasis symptoms as much if not more than steroid based medications. Some examples of natural supplements include vitamin C, grape seed oil and any other emollients that can rejuvenate tired and irritated skin.

If topical treatments fail to ameliorate a severe case of psoriasis, there are stronger options that are available at a prescription level. These that can be obtained as per your dermatologist’s guidance and can include oral medications as well as injections that go directly to the source underneath the skin. Because this is a genetic, immune system related disease, the most direct route seems to address the immune problem. Some of these newer, more experimental medications do just that, helping put a stop to the constant regeneration of skin cells that lead to the scaling effect we associate with this disease.

Anyone interested in curing their psoriasis would do well to avoid common outbreak triggers, which tend to include smoking to alcohol consumption. Certain foods or allergies can also lead to outbreaks, and stress is usually a big factor as well. Ultimately, all of these factors will depend on each individual. When experiencing a particularly nasty outbreak, it’s helpful to make a note of what transpired right before it. Was there a stressful incident? Or was it something unusual that you ate? Keeping a diary of sorts will go a long way in helping pinpoint these triggers, in order to avoid them in the future.

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Psoriasis Creams – Finding Topical Treatments that Really Work

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Severe cases of psoriasis will require a more holistic approach to reduce the effects of symptoms, but many people are only affected in smaller, limited areas of their body. For such cases there are a variety of psoriasis creams designed for topical application.  As with most other areas of the drug industry, there are widely varying options on the market, each with its unique pros and cons. To find out which cream may be the most effective in your case you should take time to learn about all of these different options and their corresponding properties. For our purposes, let’s break down all psoriasis creams into two groups: those containing steroids and those that do not.

Many people have found steroid creams to be effective for suppressing psoriasis. Hydrocortisone is the gentlest steroid cream available and can be used for other skin irritations such as eczema. For those with more severe cases, stronger (prescription only) options are available, but should be used in controlled circumstances, because they come with considerable side effects. Using steroid creams for prolonged periods can cause a thinning of the skin and the appearance of stretch marks, especially in areas of the body such as the groin or armpits.

For other psoriasis creams (those that do not contain steroids), active ingredients can be natural herbal supplements, vitamins or other not-so-natural chemicals/drugs.  Such topical treatments can combine a mixture of different therapeutic ingredients, thus targeting psoriasis on different levels at the same time. While these other psoriasis creams don’t carry the same side effects as those with steroids, they oftentimes require more time to bring about the desired results.

Topical psoriasis treatments also include gels, oils and foams, all of which are useful for targeting specific areas of the skin. Note: finding the right cream is more than just picking the ingredient. Because psoriasis is such an unpredictable condition, any combination of therapies or prescription strengths might prove to be most effective for your particular case.

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Treating Psoriasis with Aloe Vera – Soothing Relief

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Psoriasis affects a significant percentage of the population, so it’s not surprising that so much time and effort is being poured into finding effective treatments. There are a number of soothing, botanical treatments, for example, which medical professionals recommend. Aloe vera, which is already familiar to many can be particularly effective for soothing irritated skin.  Aloe is natural, thus posing minimal side effects, all the while offering effective relief for irritated, psoriatic skin.

Aloe vera is commonly used to soothe different kinds of skin irritations including sunburns or poison ivy. It  has also been shown to reduce the effects of insect bites or stings, making it an essential product to have at home or when going out into the woods.

At present Aloe is being used as a main ingredient for ointments and creams designed specifically to treat psoriasis. Aloe vera can be used to make therapeutic gels, for example, which can be applied directly to psoriatic outbreaks.

While the exact mechanism by which psoriasis and aloe vera interact is not entirely understood, both anecdotal and experimental evidence supports the claim that aloe is an effective treatment. A 1995 study undertaken in Belgium showed that approximately 88% of those patients who used a topical aloe vera cream on portions of their skin affected by psoriasis found relief, compared to only 6% of those who took the placebo. A variety of different studies have supported the conclusion that aloe vera is an effective balm for irritated skin – now psoriasis can be added to the list of conditions it combats.

It’s recommended that any patients using this treatment apply psoriasis aloe vera gel or moisturizer to the affected area about three times per day for a minimum of four weeks. While results can take some time, most users report a reduction in itching and burning, and improved cosmetic appearance of the skin. There are also no known side effects to this plant; medical specialists agree that Aloe is generally safe for children as well, who can be some of the most negatively impacted by psoriasis. The most effective way to apply aloe can be via the leaves directly, which can also be cost effective and refreshing. There is no need to go out shopping for special ointments if you already have aloe vera growing at your house (here in Arizona that might be more common than elsewhere).

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