Treat Your Psoriasis at Home

No one quite knows why some people get psoriasis and why others will never see a scale in their lives. It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with nutrition, stress, or environment, though, to be honest, doctors are still out on the issue.

One thing is known, however, and that is: When you get psoriasis, you have the power to relieve symptoms and prevent an outbreak from getting worse. Here are some simple ways you can take care of your psoriasis at home before you even think about heading out to see the doc.

First, you want to make sure you keep the area clean and that you give psoriasis scales a chance to flake off. The best way to do this is to soak in a tub. This will rehydrate skin as well as loosen scales and dead skin. Stick with lukewarm water, as hot water could increase itchiness. Make sure you use a soap that won’t dry out your skin, or better yet, a soap-free cleanser.

As soon as you get out of the bath, while skin is still damp, apply a tick moisturizer like Eucerin or Aquaphor. Cooking oils or petroleum jelly will also work as an inexpensive alternative.

Dry air will only make psoriasis worse, so get a humidifier to add moisture to the air. To save money, instead of purchasing a humidifier, put a container of water underneath your radiator—this works only in the winter when your radiators are on.

The last piece of advice, on how to treat your own psoriasis or to prevent frequent flare-ups: lose weight. Psoriasis, which is considered to be a mystery skin condition, for some reason affects people who are overweight more than people who are on the slimmer side. Try and maintain a healthy lifestyle and you may start to see your scales disappear to allow clear skin to shine through in their place!