How to Handle Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease that manifests as patches of dry, scaly, red skin. Believed to be a genetic disease triggered by environmental factors, there are about 150,000 new cases of psoriasis reported each year. That's about two percent of the population.

There is new cure for psoriasis, but here are a few tips and home remedies that can make your life a little easier if you suffer from it:

Capsaicin, that ingredient that makes hot chili peppers hot, can actually reduce inflammation, pain and redness for psoriasis sufferers. Look for this ingredient in over-the-counter skin creams.

Add some tumeric to your diet. That yellow herb which is used to flavor curry dishes can also reduce your psoriasis flare-ups. It's available at your grocery store as a spice, and in some of the better pharmacies in capsule form.

Season your bath with Dead Sea or Epsom salts. Soak for about fifteen minutes, then use a moisturizer to seal in the water. Another bath-based form of relief is to soak in oats. Put some ground-up oats in your bath, sit back, and relax.

Use apple cider vinegar on your scalp. Put some on your head a few times a week. It's a recipe for relief when your scalp is itchy, just rinse it out after it dries so that it does not irritate. And be sure not to apply it if your scalp is bleeding or cracked.

Use aloe vera everywhere.  Many studies have shown that this plant can improve psoriasis. It serves as an anti-inflammatory and helps decrease redness when applied to your skin as part of a gel or cream. And here's another tip: after applying aloe vera or any kind of relief cream to your skin at bedtime, seal it in with plastic wrap and a tight layer of clothing like socks or gloves to bind the moisture in while you sleep.

Another good form of plant-based relief is Oregon grape. This is an evergreen plant (not a fruit!), and it may be on the cream's ingredient list as “Mahonia aquifolium.” You want it to be at least 10 percent of the overall ingredients.

When buying a shampoo, look for the ingredient “tea tree oil.” Some studies have shown that this plant, native to Australia, may help psoriasis on your scalp.

Finally, get some sun! The ultraviolet rays of our nearest star can help fight your psoriasis, so long as you limit exposure to ten minutes a day.