Control Your Psoriasis and Reduce Flare-ups with Home Remedies

by Karina Potthast

While there is no cure for psoriasis, there are several treatments available that will help to control your psoriasis. These include both doctor-prescribed treatments and at-home remedies.

The most common way to control your psoriasis is to use an ointment or topical cream. While some of these are over-the-counter, many are prescribed by your doctor. Dovonex, salicyclic acid, tar, and anthralin are all topical treatments.

Your doctor might prescribe corticosteroids to control your psoriasis. These are anti-inflammatory and help to reduce swelling. Discuss with your doctor the proper way to apply these.

If you have an extensive case of psoriasis, you and your doctor might choose to control your psoriasis with ultraviolet light therapy, also known as phototherapy. Phototherapy entails your skin being exposed to ultraviolet light B.

A healthy diet that includes plenty of fresh vegetables can help control your psoriasis. This diet should be low in dairy and meat and include supplementation of the Essential Fatty Acids found in flax seed oil or fish oil.

Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, qigong, or reflexology, are used by many people to help control psoriasis. These treatments can be useful, but should not replace your doctor's recommendations.

In addition to having healthy foods, your kitchen can also have natural topical treatments. Vegetable or olive oil can be added to your bath to relieve itching. Baking soda can be mixed with water and applied directly to plaques with a cloth. Apple cider vinegar can be rubbed on the scalp to help control your psoriasis.

Stress can aggravate the symptoms of psoriasis, so when you control your stress you are also working to control your psoriasis. Take a yoga class at the gym or learn mediation and breathing exercises to help reduce your stress level.

There may not be a cure, but there are many options available that can help lessen the symptoms and severity of your psoriasis. A combination of doctor prescriptions and a healthy lifestyle are among the most effective ways to control your psoriasis.

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