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Home Cure For Psoriasis Page 1 Psoriasis Away! The Secrets of Clear, Healthy Skin

Psoriasis Away!

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Page 1: Psoriasis Away!

Home Cure For Psoriasis

Page 1

Psoriasis Away! The Secrets of Clear, Healthy

Skin

Page 2: Psoriasis Away!

Psoriasis Away! The Secrets of Clear, Healthy Skin

Home Cure For Psoriasis

Page 2

Table of Contents How to Use This Book .................................................... 3

Part 1: Psoriasis Demystified .......................................... 5

My Story ................................................................... 5

Understanding Psoriasis............................................... 7

Discovering the Roots of the Problem .......................... 11

Trigger # 1: Stress ................................................ 13

Trigger # 2: Skin Injuries ....................................... 15

Trigger # 3: Prescription & OTC Drugs ..................... 18

Trigger # 5: Alcohol ............................................... 21

Trigger # 6: Tobacco Smoke ................................... 21

Signs of Psoriasis ...................................................... 23

Taking Charge of Psoriatic Breakouts .......................... 25

Tip # 1: Strive for a Healthier Diet & Lifestyle ........... 25

Tip # 2: Keep the Triggers in Mind ........................... 32

Tip # 3: Create a Psoriasis Journal ........................... 33

Tip # 4: Take Better Care of Your Skin ..................... 34

Tip # 5: Manage Psoriatic Plaques Intelligently .......... 35

Frequently Asked Questions ....................................... 41

Part 2: Treatment Toolbox ............................................ 47

Conventional Treatments for Psoriasis ......................... 47

Treatment Option # 1: Topical Agents ...................... 49

Treatment Option # 2: Phototherapy (UVB & PUVA) ... 61

Treatment Option # 3: Oral Medications ................... 63

Natural Remedies & Better Home Management ............ 67

References ................................................................. 75

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How to Use This Book

Psoriasis Away! The Secrets of Clear, Healthy Skin was

designed with only one thing in mind: to help people

conquer psoriasis, so that they are able to live normal and

happy lives.

The special volume that you are now reading is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the intricacies of the

disease. As they say, you can’t fight a war if you do not

know the enemy.

I have laid open the complex details of psoriasis in such a

way that anyone will be able to understand what they are up

against.

The second part of the book will reveal to you conventional

treatments, as well as natural remedies, for psoriasis. If you want to know more about how psoriasis general affects

people, read the section “Understanding Psoriasis”.

More information regarding the causes of this disease can be

found in “Discovering the Roots of the Problem”. If you need

help in identifying the symptoms of this condition, head over

to “Signs of Psoriasis”.

For expert tips on managing psoriatic flare-ups, you can reference the part titled “Taking Charge of Psoriatic

Breakouts”.

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For a comprehensive look on the various issues surrounding

psoriasis, you can read “Frequently Asked Questions” near

the end of Part 1.

Part 2: Treatment Toolbox, deals with the various ways that you can help your body recover from psoriasis. I have

dedicated specific parts for oral medications, topical agents,

etc.

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Part 1: Psoriasis Demystified

My Story

Some years ago, I developed a chronic itch near my right

elbow. The itch was so persistent that I thought I had contracted some horrible skin disease from one of my

travels abroad.

I love travelling abroad, and admittedly I did not really pay

attention to what I wore or ate (I wasn’t picky), so I thought

that my habits had finally gotten the best of me.

In a matter of weeks, I noticed that the small, rough patch

of skin near my elbow had expanded significantly. The

reddish patch, which was always itchy, was now at least four inches across. I began to panic, because I thought I was

done for – that is, until I visited my dermatologist.

My dermatologist took one good look at my skin using his

special lens and told me that I had psoriasis. I had never

heard of the skin condition before, so I asked my skin doctor

a lot of questions. I learned that psoriasis was an

autoimmune condition, and it wasn’t contracted like fungal

infections.

This saddened me a bit, because the category “autoimmune”

in medicine always means that there is a genetic component

involved.

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Simply put, I had been bound to experience psoriasis at one

point or another, because it was in my genetic makeup. I came home that night with a prescription for several

creams, good wishes, and recommendations from my

dermatologist.

That night I vowed that this skin condition was not going to

get the best of me. I did not like the idea of suffering in

silence as some strange skin condition ate away at the best

days of my life.

That night, I embarked on an educational journey of my

own. I wanted to find out as much as I could about

psoriasis, and how to manage it.

After a few months, I was able to devise my own system of

managing psoriasis, and I was able to manage it quite well!

I want to share this precious knowledge with the rest of the

world so I wrote this book; I know that great ideas should

always be “out there” serving others as they have served me.

It is my sincere hope that this volume will also be of help to

you. May it aid you in your own journey in managing this

skin condition. Don’t let it conquer your life, because it

doesn’t have to be that way at all!

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Understanding Psoriasis

First of all, psoriasis is not a death sentence, nor is it

something to be ashamed of. Unless a really bad infection or

some other severe condition has afflicted you because of

your psoriasis flare-ups, it’s safe to say that you will be

functional and relatively healthy, even if you are diagnosed

with this condition.

Psoriasis is characterized by reddish, flaking skin that is almost always chronically itchy. To ordinary individuals,

psoriasis may seem like a really nasty and contagious skin

condition, because of its general appearance. In reality, it is

impossible to contract psoriasis from another person. Why?

Psoriasis is not caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It is not

contracted from other people, nor can it be passed on to

others through airborne particles, body fluids, skin contact,

etc.

In short, it is unfortunate that you have it, but your family

members and workmates are safe; they cannot contract this

condition by being close to you.

What happens when a person has a psoriasis flare-up? In

order to understand your condition, we must go deep into

the skin tissue itself, and examine how skin grows and

renews itself from time to time. Under normal

circumstances, skin grows at a regular pace, and it takes

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about a month before newly generated skin to emerge at

the very surface.

At this time, the old skin slowly sheds off, and the new skin

takes over the job of protecting the body and regulating

body temperature (among other tasks). Psoriasis radically

changes the situation, which really makes this skin condition

a formidable opponent.

When you have psoriasis, the skin underneath the old skin

regenerates too quickly. Skin tissue, like other tissues, has

definite mass, so it has to push upward from where it is produced.

Instead of taking a whole month (approximately four weeks

on the average), the new skin breaks through the surface of

the old skin after only a few days.

Psoriasis often affects specific/isolated areas of the body, so

if you have psoriasis you will notice that the skin condition is

more prominent in only one or two parts of your body.

Why is psoriatic skin often irritated and itchy? The chronic

itchiness and flaky appearance of psoriatic skin is a

consequence of skin forming irregular plaques on the surface

of the skin.

Psoriatic plaques are areas of the skin where there is more

new skin than usual. These thick, unruly patches tend to be

dry and itchy (and not to mention unattractive, in most

cases).

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The following areas of the body are commonly affected by

psoriasis:

Knees

Back (lower region)

Feet

Elbows

Hands

Scalp

Nails

Thighs

Arms

No age bracket is safe from psoriasis. Psoriasis has been

documented throughout the age spectrum, from small

toddlers to seniors. It has a genetic component, so it is

possible that you may have inherited the skin condition from

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your father, mother, or from some other member of the

family tree.

Some cases of psoriasis are also sporadic (e.g. no clear

genetic precedence). Sporadic cases of psoriasis also involve an autoimmune component, so the treatment methods and

management techniques are more or less the same.

Many people (especially young adults and teenagers) feel

that their social lives are over because of psoriasis. The

angry, reddish patches of skin can really affect a person’s

self-confidence and his ability to carry himself gracefully in

social situations.

If you feel this way as well, know that you do not have to suffer in silence, and there are many ways that you can

manage, and even potentially cure, your psoriasis. This book

will focus on both conventional and alternative methods of

managing psoriasis.

You can try one or both avenues to see which one works for

you the best. People who are dissatisfied with conventional

modes of treatment often explore alternative medicine. We

will be covering this as well in the later part of the book.

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Discovering the Roots of the Problem

The first question that people often ask when they are

diagnosed with psoriasis is, what is the actual cause of the

skin condition. As we have discussed before, psoriasis

cannot be contracted directly from another person, like you can the common cold or influenza.

There are many theories surrounding the actual cause of

psoriasis, but what the medical establishment believes right

now is that it is mainly transmitted through genes (your

familial bloodlines), and that the chronic patchy skin and

itchiness is caused by an overactive immune system (thus,

the autoimmune/genetic component).

These established roots of the disease have many

implications for psoriasis sufferers everywhere. Adults who

have the disease may inadvertently pass on the risk for

developing psoriasis to future offspring. Inversely, a doctor

can further confirm a diagnosis for psoriasis by creating a

detailed medical history of a patient’s family.

In any case, you have to understand that, while it is true

that you did not contract your psoriasis from anyone, it is

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possible that your skin condition has been triggered by your

diet, lifestyle, and even by your immediate environment.

You see, psoriasis is actually a condition wherein the body

thinks it is under attack and, therefore, it implements specific measures to ensure that the body is protected. In

the case of psoriasis, your immune system is actually

triggering increased skin production at specific sites in your

body.

What’s frustrating about this skin condition is that the

increased production of skin cells at specific sites on the

body often causes secondary problems (e.g. chronic itching),

which may lead to more severe problems later on.

For example, a psoriasis sufferer may scratch at his psoriatic

patches frequently, and the breaks on psoriatic skin may

become infected. Psoriasis doesn’t cause infection; breaks

on the skin do. Tiny gaps or openings in the skin can serve

as entry points for microorganisms, like viruses and

bacteria.

Another important feature of psoriasis is that it doesn’t just come out like a raging bull whenever it wants to. Many

psoriasis sufferers feel this way, but the fact of the matter is

that psoriasis only emerges when a specific trigger is

present. You may not realize that a trigger is in your midst,

but it doesn’t mean that it’s not there or it doesn’t exist.

One of the most effective ways of managing any type of

psoriasis is by avoiding this skin condition’s most common

triggers.

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Below are some of the most common triggers that you need

to be aware of if you want to start taking charge of your chronic skin condition:

Trigger # 1: Stress

Stress is more than just a mental response to taxing or

worrying situations. It is an automatic, full-blown

physiological response that manifests when a person is

exposed to common stressors. Each person experiences

varying levels of stress on a day-to-day basis.

If you have psoriasis, it is in your interest to keep your

daily stress levels to a minimum. This might sound a

little weird, as we are talking about a skin condition,

but medical science has established a strong

association between unmediated stress and psoriasis

flare-ups.

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It appears that when you are stressed, your immune

system also becomes imbalanced, and this can lead to

the activation of the psoriasis.

There are many effective ways to manage your stress levels at home or in the office. Here are some fast tips

to get you started:

o Your environment plays a crucial role in

determining your present stress level. Are you in

an environment filled with stressors? If so, it may

be time to re-evaluate why you continue to

tolerate these stressors.

Addressing these stressors may pave the way for

a healthier mind (and body) in the long term. For

example, if you are home most of the time, and

the kids are driving you nuts, why not devise new

rules that would make your home more peaceful

and harmonious?

Making adjustments on your own will definitely help you lead a more stress-free life, and this will

definitely help cut down the frequency of your

psoriasis flare-ups. Who knows? Maybe your only

actual trigger is stress. If you deal with the stress,

maybe your psoriasis will never return again!

o If you feel stressed about an unfolding situation, it

might do you a world of good if you just stepped

out for a moment to get a breath of fresh air.

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Separate yourself from the stressor for five or ten

minutes so you can reorient and de-stress

yourself, for even a few short minutes.

o Learn and apply stress management techniques, like meditation and self-hypnosis, to help ease the

negative impact of daily stress. You don’t have to

spend a ton of cash anymore to take advantage of

these stress management techniques.

There are many reliable books, CDs, DVDs, and e-

recordings in the market today that can help you

get started.

I personally do not endorse specific brands or

techniques because, at the very core, these

products make use of the same essential

principles. As long as you are getting results, you

should be fine.

Trigger # 2: Skin Injuries

Believe it or not, having breaks on your skin, for

whatever reason, can also trigger psoriasis. Skin

injuries, or breakages in general, can initiate the

autoimmune response responsible for psoriatic skin

plaques.

So, as much as possible, take care of your skin so you

do not inadvertently trigger a psoriatic flare-up. Here

are some ways to protect your skin from injury:

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o Inform your doctor that you have psoriasis prior to

getting a vaccination. It has been noted that in

some cases, a simple vaccination can cause a

flare-up.

Informing your doctor of your condition will help

your physician evaluate beforehand where the

vaccine can be injected, and if you are at risk for a

flare-up.

o If you are going out into the sun for a prolonged

period of time, wear some sunscreen. If you have

extra-sensitive skin, it is best to wear sunscreen

that has a sufficient level of SPF protection.

Sunscreen products are graded based on their

ability to block off UVB or ultraviolet rays from the

sun.

Generally speaking, any type of sunscreen product

will work fine, as long as it is applied frequently

throughout the day, especially if you are almost always out in the sun.

Take note that no sunscreen product can protect

your skin one hundred percent. There will always

be some areas of your skin that will be affected by

the sun’s natural UVB rays.

So, when you are buying sunscreen products,

there is no need to buy ultra-expensive sunscreen

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lotions because there is no proof that they offer

better protection than less expensive ones.

A sunscreen lotion with an SPF rating of 30 to 50,

that is applied every two hours, will have a higher chance of protecting your skin fully than a

sunscreen lotion with an SPF rating of 100 that is

applied only once, and never again.

Dermatologists agree that the frequent

reapplication of sunscreen is your number one

defense against sunburns. Sunburn may not look

like an open wound, but it is definitely a skin

injury and, as we have already discussed, skin

injuries can trigger psoriatic outbreaks.

Also, do not forget to take care of your skin after

you have had your day out in the sun. Shower

well after bathing in an open pool or the sea, and

apply hypoallergenic moisturizers on any tender

areas of your skin, to keep those areas hydrated.

Rehydrating your skin with fresh water and

hypoallergenic moisturizing agents can help heal

minor sunburns more quickly.

o Don’t scratch! Itchy spots on the body can be

temporarily relieved by scratching, but this

activity really doesn’t add anything beneficial to

the situation.

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o Scratching will only lead to severe skin breakages,

discoloration, inflammation, and thickening of the

skin tissue in problematic areas.

If an area of your body is really itchy, ask your dermatologist for an antipruritic (anti-itch) cream

or something similar.

Your dermatologist will help you quell these itchy

spots for good. Don’t “solve” your problem with

fingernails, as scratching has been known to

trigger psoriasis also.

Trigger # 3: Prescription & OTC Drugs

If you are getting a new prescription for any of the

following conditions, ask your doctor to give you

medication that does not carry the risk of inadvertently

triggering your psoriasis:

o Manic depression

o Clinical depression

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o Other psychiatric disturbances

o Malaria

o High blood pressure

o Coronary heart diseases

Some drugs, like Inderal (a blood pressure

maintenance medication), have been known to cause

severe flare-ups in patients with psoriasis.

In the case of Inderal, the psoriatic flare-ups occur in

up to thirty percent of patients who take the drug on a

regular basis to control their high blood pressure. The drug is excellent in doing what it is supposed to do, but

it is also triggering something else in the body.

Be wary of new medications, and work closely with

your physician to ensure that none of your medications

are contraindicative of your skin condition. Ask for

alternatives if possible, or at least as your physician

what else you can do to manage the flare-ups after

taking the medication.

Trigger # 4: Weather

Some skin conditions worsen when the weather

changes; psoriasis is one such condition that often

“acts up” when fine weather suddenly becomes cold an

unbearably dry.

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People who have never experienced sensitive skin

conditions before will probably say that cold weather

might be unpleasant, but it’s not exactly threatening to

one’s health.

The same cannot be said for people who suffer from

psoriasis. In temperate countries, sudden cold spells

and low humidity can cause psoriatic breakouts.

It is fairly common for skin to become dry and itchy

when the air is too dry and cool. Moisture in the air

helps keep our skin supple and healthy, so if you live in

a location where humidity or air moisture is almost

always low, you may want to invest in a humidifier to

help reduce the impact of weather in your home.

Medical studies have shown that, on the flipside, warm

and moist weather tends to help people with psoriasis.

Instead of triggering and aggravating psoriasis, hotter

weather appears to have a calming effect on psoriatic

skin.

If your psoriasis is really bad, and it is already

preventing you from functioning properly throughout the day, and your current town’s weather is triggering

flare-ups on a daily basis, moving to a place with

warmer weather may help.

It is a big decision to make, so be sure weigh the pros

and cons. Consult with your dermatologist as well to

see if a sunny clime can help ease the ravages of your

psoriasis.

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Trigger # 5: Alcohol

Alcohol is a big no-no when you have psoriasis,

especially if you are a male. Statistics show that flare-ups become more frequent in male psoriatic patients

who regularly consume alcoholic drinks.

It does not matter what type of alcoholic beverage you

like drinking on a regular basis. It is the actual alcohol

(and not the flavor or make) that can cause the flare-

ups of psoriasis.

Trigger # 6: Tobacco Smoke

There is a continuing inquiry as to how tobacco smoke

actually causes psoriatic breakouts, but one thing is for

certain: smokers with psoriasis often develop thick,

itchy plaques on their hands. This makes a lot of sense,

since you have to hold cigars/cigarettes when you are

smoking them.

Cutting out your tobacco habit will also extend your

life, and greatly reduce your risk for stroke, heart attack, and a large number of known cancers. Will

quitting your tobacco habit solve your psoriasis? No.

There is no proof that your psoriasis will resolve on its

own once the tobacco is removed from your system.

However, it is a trigger, and you will be able to manage

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your condition more effectively by lessening or

eliminating your exposure to tobacco smoke and its

hundreds of chemical byproducts.

It is important for you to know that tobacco smoke isn’t a harmless byproduct of burning tobacco leaves. This

particular smoke contains hundreds of chemical by

products, and most of them are carcinogenic, or

cancer-causing.

Tobacco smoke may disperse when you blow it out, but

the chemical byproducts remain in the air and can even

stick to the walls of your home. Beware these

nanoparticles that cannot be easily removed through

normal means, as they may also cause respiratory problems as well.

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Signs of Psoriasis

Only a dermatologist is able to give you a 100% correct

diagnosis based on specific skin tests and a close physical

examination of affected skin. However, it is still helpful for you to know the telltale signs of this skin condition. Below

are some of the most common symptoms of psoriasis:

This condition often triggers the formation of raised

psoriatic lesions (also known as psoriatic plaques) on

the affected areas of the body.

The topmost layer of these raised plaques is almost

always dry and scaly, while the second layer is shiny

and reddish in color. In many cases, the psoriatic plaques occur on the hands, scalp, fingernail area, and

on the lower region of the back.

It is estimated that over eighty percent of all psoriasis

patients develop scaly psoriatic plaques. These plaques

are very common, and you shouldn’t panic if you do

see them form anywhere on your body if you have

already been diagnosed with psoriasis – it is just your

skin condition expressing itself. Always focus on managing the lesions, because they will eventually

subside with proper care.

Another symptom of psoriasis is minute bleed spots

when the scaly skin is disturbed. These bleed spots are

often seen when a patient scratches or picks at a

psoriatic plaque too hard.

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The dry, scaly skin on top is removed, and the sensitive

underside of the psoriatic plaque is injured by the

fingernails. Thus, some minor bleeding takes place.

As we have discussed before, plaques can occur in almost every part of the body, including the scalp. If

you feel some rough and scaly skin on top of your

head, that too may be a sign that something has

already triggered the manifestation of your psoriasis.

Psoriasis can also affect the fingernails. Psoriatic flare-

ups that affect the nails can result in discoloration of

the actual nail (nails will go from clear to yellow),

morphological disturbances (e.g. minor deformation of

the affected nails), and gross changes (the nail will actually separate from where it was naturally

attached).

In some very rare cases, dermatologists have observed

that it is possible for skin debris to build up underneath

the affected nails.

If the psoriasis becomes too severe, and the patient’s

quality of life is being compromised because of the symptoms, the dermatologist may recommend the

removal of the diseased nails through a surgical

procedure called ungiectomy.

Some patients develop raised patches that have a

raindrop shape. This almost always means that a

patient has developed a subtype of psoriasis called

guttate psoriasis.

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There are also some instances where psoriasis patients

also complain of pain and inflammation in the joints.

This may be a sign that a patient has yet another

subtype of the disease, called psoriatic arthritis.

Taking Charge of Psoriatic Breakouts

Breakouts or flare-ups can be extremely stressful especially

if you have just finished nursing/managing a previous

psoriatic flare-up.

What can you do to ensure that these flare-ups are kept at

bay as much as possible? Here are some guiding words from

medical experts who have been battling psoriasis from the

frontlines for many years:

Tip # 1: Strive for a Healthier Diet & Lifestyle

It is widely believed in the medical community that

psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that is greatly

influenced by a person’s genetic predisposition. This

means that you can’t just “shake off” this skin condition

and hope that it will leave you alone.

The human body has a very complex way of dealing

with its own genetic code; in many cases, it will

continue to follow its genetic blueprint, even if this

means that you will suffer from a chronic skin

condition.

It might appear that I am painting a very dark and

bleak picture for psoriasis sufferers everywhere; in

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reality, I am actually revealing a window of

opportunity.

How so? Well, if we look at the basics of how psoriasis

manifests in the first place, we can easily see that this autoimmune condition can easily be triggered by

stress.

Now, let me be clear on the topic of stress: your body

can be stressed by more than just your day-to-day

dealings with other people. Your body can experience

stress if you are not getting enough sleep.

You can be physiologically stressed if you are

dehydrated and eating junk food all the time. These are the dimensions of your diet and lifestyle that you need

to pay attention to, in order to ensure that you are not

stressing your body with how you live and eat.

Doctors agree that leading a healthy and clean life can

greatly reduce the frequency of flare-ups, because your

whole body (including your immune system) will be in

top condition at all times. Remember: you might feel

happy eating junk food and fast food all the time, but your body isn’t.

It is what is happening inside your body that truly

matters. If your body is stressed, various autoimmune

responses may suddenly manifest – including psoriasis.

Are you ready to start cleaning up your lifestyle and

diet?

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Follow these easy tips to get started on the right track:

o Start eating more fruits and vegetables to detoxify

your system. The human body can become

dependent on specific groups of food. For

example, if you are always eating out your body

may begin to crave cheeseburgers, French fries,

and other types of fast food.

The cravings exist because the body doesn’t know

any better: it’s all the body knows. You can

reverse a lifetime of bad eating habits by

introducing whole foods into your own diet

equation.

The change doesn’t have to be drastic and sudden

at all. For example, you can try to identify at least two vegetables that you’d like to sample during

lunch and dinner. If you do not like salads, you

don’t have to eat them.

There are many ways to prepare vegetables. The

resources that you will need to prepare vegetables

in a sumptuous manner are all available online,

and in countless print cookbooks.

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What about fruit? Too much sugar in one’s diet

can be problematic; some fruits contain too much

fructose or fruit sugars.

Choose fruit that is low to medium in the GI (glycemic index) and strive for three to four

servings per day.

Here are some examples of fruits that you can

snack on daily without the fear of consuming too

much fructose:

Tomato

Apricot

Pineapple

Cantaloupe

Watermelon

Cherries

Raisins

Dates

Oranges

Grapefruit

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Pears

Kiwi fruit

Peaches

o Many adults from all walks of life are lacking in

sleep because of work, or just because they like

staying up late at night.

You may not feel the negative impact of having insufficient sleep every night, but your body is,

and it is doing what it can to survive.

There will come a time when your body will begin

to falter because of the lack of sleep and, when

this happens, your risk for serious health troubles

like increased risk for stroke, heart attack, and

cancer become all too real.

Adults need at least six hours of sleep every night.

Is five hours sufficient? No. You need that extra

hour of sleep, so be sure to meet this standard. If

you cannot get at least six hours of sleep at night,

try to go to bed earlier at night to meet this

requirement.

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Or do what others do: nap in the afternoon to get

that extra hour of sleep! Like exercise, the hours

of actual sleep that you get every day add up.

Don’t think for a moment that naps don’t count, because they do. Your body (including your brain)

needs sufficient rest. If it’s always tired and

gasping for more sleep, your psoriasis may

suddenly flare up, because of the stress your body

is experiencing.

o The human body is about seventy percent water.

That’s a lot of water, if you think about it, so think twice before filling your body with soda pop and

other unnatural ways of rehydrating your one and

only body.

If we get right down to it, the only thing that the

body needs from all those commercial drinks is

water itself. Water comprises 99.9% of the

beverages that we buy in supermarkets and

convenience stores worldwide.

Don’t like being cheated of your hard-earned

money? Stop buying soda pop and artificially

sweetened drinks, and feel the real difference in

how your body functions.

Also, volume matters: the eight US cups/glasses

rule still applies today! If people can drink liters of

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soda pop/diet soda, they can definitely drink liters

of pure, clean water every day.

o If you rarely talk to other people because you feel

that socializing is overrated, it’s time to break that

silence and reach out to others. Being isolated and

mum all the time can cause havoc in your body

and mind.

It is estimated that the depression that a person

experiences when he is isolated from the rest of

society can cause as much bodily damage as smoking 20 cigarettes a day.

You need to socialize with friends and family on a

regular basis. If you don’t, you are going to

experience a different type of stress that is equally

devastating: mental stress from social isolation.

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Tip # 2: Keep the Triggers in Mind

We have spent a considerable amount of time discussing the

many known triggers of psoriasis. The knowledge has been

given; the rest is up to you. You have to keep this

knowledge in mind at all times, so you can avoid triggering

your skin condition.

Some triggers, like cold and dry weather, are unavoidable,

but as for the rest of the known triggers, you can do a lot to

avoid them entirely. Stuff like smoking and drinking alcohol

can easily be remedied by simply saying no to these things.

Do not be discouraged by the number of known psoriasis

triggers. Think of this new knowledge as pure power: you

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can now do something to minimize the number of flare-ups

you have every month.

Tip # 3: Create a Psoriasis Journal

This may sound a little unappealing, but in order to really

manage your skin condition, you need to be familiar with its

own unique workings. You need to have an actual record of

when the breakouts occur, and what you were eating/doing

when the flare-up occurred.

You can also take note of the temperature of the

environment (e.g. hot, chilly, cool, etc.) and your location

when the psoriasis suddenly developed out of nowhere.

This detailed journal can really help your dermatologist

determine your strongest psoriatic triggers. You and your

doctor can brainstorm as to how you can better manage

your condition with the help of the information in your

psoriasis journal.

Now, your journal doesn’t have to be extremely technical in

order to be helpful. If you do not have a lot of time to write

entries on a daily basis and in a detailed manner, just write down concise details of flare-ups whenever they do arise.

Surely, writing down the date and a sentence or two won’t

be that hard, even for the busiest of career people.

Remember: you are doing this to manage your condition.

It is by no means a mindless chore. The information you will

be amassing in your psoriasis journal can help you figure out

how your own psoriasis works, and when it is most likely to

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come out to disturb your day. Each case of psoriasis is

unique.

Having a condition that others have does not mean that you

will be experiencing the same things as others in terms of frequency of breakouts. Your psoriasis will be strongly tied

to your own body’s genetic blueprint, diet, and lifestyle.

There is an urgent need to study these coordinates so you

can fully manage this skin problem.

Tip # 4: Take Better Care of Your Skin

In addition to keeping your skin clean and free of visible pollutants, it is also important to keep in mind that your skin

may be more sensitive to creams, lotions, scrubs, soaps,

patches, etc. In short, any product that comes into contact

with your skin has the potential to cause a sudden flare-up

of psoriasis.

I am not trying to frighten you, nor am I limiting your right

to try new skincare products. What I am merely pointing out

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is that you have to be more careful of the stuff that you put

on your skin.

Before applying any new lotion, soap, or cream on your skin,

test the product first on a small area the size of a coin, and let the product stay there for a few minutes to see if your

skin reacts to it.

If your skin does not react to the new product, progressively

increase the surface area until you are able to confirm that

indeed, the product does not trigger any autoimmune

responses in your skin.

Now, in an earlier section of the book I mentioned that there

is a strong correlation between smoking tobacco products and psoriasis flare-ups; be aware that OTC smoking

cessation devices, like nicotine patches, are contraindicated

for psoriasis. That’s right: wearing a nicotine patch on your

arm can cause a sudden breakout. Talk to your physician

about an alternative avenue (e.g. nicotine gum) instead.

Tip # 5: Manage Psoriatic Plaques Intelligently

Psoriatic plaques are the rough and extremely itchy patches

of skin that appear on affected areas of the body. These

affected areas must be managed intelligently if you do not

want to exacerbate the itch and the length of time that they

will be visible on your skin. Here are some important

reminders regarding the management of psoriatic

plaques/patches:

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1. Avoid scratching the plaques at all cost. Psoriatic skin

may seem tougher and more resistant to breaks but, in

reality, the rough patches that you feel on your elbows

or hands are just as fragile and prone to injury as normal skin. Rougher doesn’t necessarily mean more

durable, in this case. If you scratch the affected areas,

several things can happen:

a. The skin may become discolored. Darkening often

takes place when skin is repeatedly scratched.

b. The psoriatic plaque can become even thicker as a

consequence of having tiny breaks in the skin. The

body tries to defend itself by producing even more skin where you are scratching.

c. Breaks in the skin may become infected, which

may lead to more itchiness, inflammation, and

worst of all, infection.

d. The size of the affected area may increase when

you scratch at plaques.

People tend to pick and scratch itchy skin, because

scratching brings natural relief. This short-term relief

comes at a huge price. The most effective method of

preventing yourself from scratching plaques is by

keeping your mind occupied with work, or some other

activity.

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The itch will cease to bother you if your mind

preoccupied with something else. It won’t go away, but

the sensation of itchiness will be relegated to the back

of your mind where it won’t do much harm unless you

choose to pay attention to it.

Chronic itch may become a dull, harmless sensation if

you are able to teach yourself to ignore the sensation

altogether. Be strong; you can definitely do it!

2. Unless your psoriatic plaques are injured and extremely

inflamed, applying moisturizing agents (always choose

hypoallergenic brands) will do your skin a world of

good. Psoriatic skin is itchy primarily because it is often

drier than the rest of your skin.

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Cold weather can dry skin faster, so be sure to protect

yourself by applying moisturizers to affected areas

frequently. With the number of reliable moisturizers on

the market today I’m sure you can find a good brand

that suits your needs.

Again, I am not going to endorse any particular brand,

because that is not the purpose of this book. Just

choose a brand that has mostly natural ingredients and

focuses on moisturizing your skin.

Beautifying lotions and creams with fancy ingredients,

like vitamin A and vitamin E, are fine, but these

ingredients aren’t really that beneficial for psoriatic skin

(there is minimal proof that vitamin E can readily be absorbed and utilized at the surface level of the skin).

3. If your skin becomes extremely itchy to the point that

you can think of nothing else but to scratch it, grab a

cold compress and apply it directly to the affected

areas.

The numbing effect of the cold compress can help tame

inflammation, and can also help cut down the itchy sensation. It won’t be a permanent solution but at least

you can always use a cold compress when things seem

to be getting out of hand.

4. Menthol-based anti-itch creams and ointments appear

to be beneficial to psoriatic patients. If you can find an

emollient with menthol as its active ingredient, you can

use that to help tame the itch and keep your plaques

moisturized, and more supple, throughout the day.

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On the flipside, steroid-based anti-pruritic (anti-itch)

and anti-inflammatory creams can also be used to ease

the symptoms of psoriasis. Consult with your doctor as

to how much you should use and how frequently you should apply any cream that has steroids in it.

5. An age-old remedy seems to be effective in quelling the

itchiness brought about by psoriasis: oatmeal baths.

Not all oatmeal baths are the same, though. To

maximize the effectiveness of your long soaks in the

bathtub, ask your dermatologist for the appropriate

formula.

Your dermatologist will know what you should add to the water, what temperature the water should be, etc.

While effective, oatmeal baths may not work for some

people, so if it doesn’t help you, you don’t have to keep

doing it.

6. The soap or body wash that you use daily should be

free of any strong fragrances or perfumes. Skip the

brands that promise that you will smell like “ocean

spray” or “lilac blossoms.”

Soaps and body washes that are far too fragrant can

cause flare-ups and can irritate sensitive skin (not just

psoriatic skin). Opt for simple, fragrance-free body

washes that were designed specifically for people with

sensitive skin, or with skin conditions like psoriasis.

7. Some psoriatic patients like the idea of showering with

really hot water, because the temperature of the water

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can fizzle out the itchy sensation temporarily. While

you may feel some relief from the itchiness,

dermatologists do not recommend this at all. Cold and

hot water are not recommended for psoriatic skin.

Opt for showers that are warm (not scalding) and avoid

soaking yourself for prolonged periods of time (unless

you are in an oatmeal bath). Frequent showering is a

must, as this will keep your skin hydrated and naturally

clean.

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Frequently Asked Questions

In this part of the book, I will be answering the most

common questions that people have regarding psoriasis, so

people will be able to make more intelligent decisions regarding their condition without having to rely on hearsay

regarding this disease.

Q: Is psoriasis a rare or common occurrence?

A: Statistically speaking, psoriasis is very common. In the

United States alone it is estimated that almost eight million

people, from all walks of life, are affected by this

autoimmune condition.

You are not alone; in fact, more than one hundred thousand

new cases of psoriasis are document each year by hospitals

around the country. Of course, these statistics exclude

undiagnosed cases, and cases that have yet to see the light

of the day (e.g. doctor’s visit, trip to the hospital or clinic).

Q: What is the exact cause of this skin condition?

A: Frankly, no one really knows the exact cause of psoriasis. As I have mentioned before, the medical community is in

agreement that there is definitely a genetic and autoimmune

component to it. Also, it cannot be passed on from one

person to another, like other diseases. A psoriatic patient is

not contagious and never will be!

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Q: Is it possible for psoriatic plaques to appear on top

of eczematous skin?

A: No. The human skin has certain limitations in terms of expressing the symptoms of different skin conditions. This is

the reason why a reddish patch of skin can mean so many

different things. The only surefire way to get a 100% correct

diagnosis is by visiting your dermatologist.

Otherwise, that red patch of yours can really be anything.

Also, you can’t tell your condition apart from others just by

looking at pictures. Only a dermatologist is able to analyze

your case up close, to understand what is exactly happening

to your skin.

Now, there are some signs that a rough skin patch is most

likely psoriatic. For one, psoriatic skin is characteristically

flaky. Flaky skin is easy to remove; it doesn’t adhere to the

lower layer of the skin that much.

Another sign of psoriatic skin is shininess. Shiny skin is often

found underneath the flaky layer that can easily be

disturbed and removed when you pick at affected skin.

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Q: Is there a singular cure for psoriasis?

A: In terms of conventional medicine, the answer is sadly a

no. There is no known, fixed cure for psoriasis. In academic

circles, it has been suggested that gene modification may

one day be the answer that psoriasis sufferers have been

looking for.

Gene modification will alter the genes responsible for

triggering the psoriasis in the first place. Unfortunately, the

exact method and technology needed for this undertaking is

not yet in existence.

The closest that we have to a cure, without having to spend

money on supplements, drugs, creams, etc., is to be very

aware of the specific triggers that initiate your own flare-

ups. This is the main reason why we spent a considerable

amount of time discussing known triggers in a previous

section.

Q: Do I have a higher chance of suffering from an infection if my psoriatic plaques break and are

invaded by bacteria?

A: Scientific studies have shown that the type of bacteria

present in normal skin and psoriatic skin are essentially the

same. If we look at the volume of actively reproducing

bacteria, the number appears to be higher in psoriatic

plaques, or in the rough patches of skin that are affected by

psoriatic flare-ups.

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Though statistics may lead many to believe that they have a higher risk for sudden skin infections, dermatologists believe

that this does not pose any significant risk to psoriasis

sufferers. You can rest easy knowing that those unruly

psoriatic plaques are not in danger of infection, unless you

scratch them.

Q: Does psoriasis affect a person’s lifespan?

A: Some psoriasis patients feel that they are on their

deathbed, especially when a bad flare-up brings with it extreme itchiness that doesn’t abate, even with known home

remedies.

Fortunately, medical science has found no connection

between psoriasis and a person’s lifespan. Your skin may be

itchy, but it doesn’t mean you cannot strive to reach 100

years old. Again, you can breathe easy, as this disease will

not shorten your life at all!

Q: I have psoriasis of the scalp and I am afraid of

losing my hair because of this disease. Will this

disease become the cause of my premature baldness?

A: Simply put, no. People with psoriasis of the scalp can

experience some hair fallout because of flaking skin. To ease

this problem, you can use a shampoo with salicylic acid. This

is not a cure, but it will help reduce the hair fallout.

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But no, psoriasis will not cause large swaths of hair to fall

out for no reason. If you are balding now, it is probably

because of your genetic predisposition for thinning hair, and

a particular balding pattern, and has nothing to do with your

psoriasis.

Q: What should I do to care for my skin during the

winter season?

A: As a psoriasis patient, it is important that you devise a

specific skin care routine for each season. The summer

months are definitely warmer and, based on the existing

literature on psoriasis, you won’t be suffering from frequent

psoriatic flare-ups during this time of the year. It is different

when the winter months roll in.

When the air starts to become chilly and dry, you have to

apply emollients and other moisturizing agents more

frequently. A humidifier system will help keep the air in your

home moist, which may help keep your skin clear of flare-

ups during this time of the year.

As long as you are able to lock in some moisture in your skin

through a regular routine, flare-ups shouldn’t be too frequent at all. If this doesn’t work, you can consult with

your dermatologist for added measures to keep your skin

from breaking out in itchy plaques during winter.

Remember: you do not have to sacrifice your happiness and

functionality just because you have psoriasis. But you have

to take the appropriate action to ensure that this skin

condition does not get in the way of your social life and

work.

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If you do not take the right action, the flare-ups will become

a fact of life, because your body will be simply carrying out

what is written in its genetic code.

Q: I can be quite clumsy and I tend to accidentally end

up with superficial cuts/scratches on my skin. Will

this be a problem?

A: Yes. Scratches and other superficial breaks on the skin

can become a big problem for psoriasis sufferers, because

one of the known triggers of this disease is skin injury.

I am not saying that you will develop psoriatic plaques every

time you have a scratch, but it is possible that itchy lesions

will suddenly form on affected sites, even if you haven’t

scratched or picked at the area at all.

This sudden manifestation of psoriatic plaques simply means

that your skin is sensitive to injury. If you tend to bump and

tumble most of the time, it will help if you familiarized yourself with proper wound care and, of course, be more

careful so you don’t end up with regular skin injuries!

If you have psoriasis of the hands, and your work is

physically demanding and relies heavily on physical

exertions (e.g. driving, lifting things, etc.), wearing hand

protection just might do the trick.

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Of course, I won’t recommend this if your psoriasis is

triggered by friction (e.g. constant contact between skin and

any other material like leather or fabric).

Part 2: Treatment Toolbox

Conventional Treatments for Psoriasis

In a previous section, I touched upon the fact that there is

no singular cure for psoriasis and all its subtypes. By cure I

refer specifically to any drug or mode of treatment that will

completely eradicate all traces of the disease from a

patient’s body.

If you have been looking for this type of cure then I’m afraid

we have to wait a few more years (or decades), as the

medical community still doesn’t know how to treat this

condition from its very core – your genes.

Gene therapy for psoriasis is still being researched, and you

can expect that this type of therapy will be very expensive if

it does come into full fruition in the next couple of years.

What we will be discussing in this section are some

conventional medical treatments that have shown some

promise in terms of alleviating the symptoms of the disease.

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As you may already know, symptoms are merely

manifestations or expressions of a particular disease.

In most cases, psoriasis patients feel happy and satisfied if

they are able to find a way to tame their psoriasis outbreaks. This does not mean that they no longer have

psoriasis. It just means that they were able to manage their

symptoms well, and they have become fully functional and

happy with life again.

This is our main goal: to lay down the available avenues of

effective symptom management, so this skin disease will not

become a hindrance in your life.

It is important for you to realize that this disease will be

around for a very long time. Spontaneous remissions are

extremely rare, so don’t bank your hopes on a miraculous,

instant disappearance of this disease, because there is only

a one in a million chance of that actually taking place.

What we can do now is to manage your disease by avoiding

triggers, living a healthier life, and by taking advantage of the available treatments for this condition.

Now, when you visit your dermatologist for treatment

recommendations, your doctor will probably ask you a few

questions regarding your physical condition and emotional

state.

Many psoriasis patients become anxious and depressed

because of the physical appearance of the lesions on their

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skin. It can be difficult to function normally if a person thinks

that he looks horrible because of his lesions and rashes.

If you have a mild case of psoriasis, your doctor will have no

real reason to recommend a systemic treatment for your disease.

Again, I have to emphasize that you should really be more

focused on the maintenance needed to keep the flare-ups to

a minimum. But this does not mean that you do not need to

seek treatment for this disease.

Dermatologists around the world still recommend that you

get checked out at once if you think you have psoriasis.

Psoriasis doesn’t go into remission instantly, but if you are

already suffering from prolonged and severe symptoms of

the condition, there is no reason for you not to seek help.

In fact, you should schedule an appointment with a dermatologist as soon as possible if you think you have

psoriasis. Your doctor will be able to advise you as to what

the next step should be.

Below are some of the convention treatments for psoriasis

available at the present time:

Treatment Option # 1: Topical Agents

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There are two things that you must always remember if you

want to keep your psoriasis at bay. One, your skin must

always be physically clean. Second, it has to be moisturized

as much as possible.

You can maintain the clarity and cleanliness of your skin by

washing affected areas often with pure water, and by

showering frequently.

Short, but frequent, showers throughout the day will

naturally clean and hydrate your skin. Of course, not

everyone has the luxury of time to shower three or four

times per day.

This is where emollients and other moisturizing agents come in. You can easily apply emollients even when you are at

work. Let me clarify though: emollients are applied topically

to keep your skin hydrated to prevent drying and itchiness.

These products don’t treat your psoriasis; they are merely

applied to manage the moisture level of your skin. If your

skin is always clean and moisturized, it is unlikely that you

will feel the urge to scratch, because even the psoriatic

plaques will be soft and supple to touch.

A daily skin regimen is necessary in addition to applying

ointments and creams that address itch and inflammation of

affected skin. Here are some of the most commonly

prescribed topical agents for psoriasis.

Again, these topical agents will not eradicate the psoriasis;

they are only capable of mediating some of the symptoms of

the disease.

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Let us take a look at the features, pros, and cons of topical

agents that are often used to treat the symptoms of

psoriasis:

Calcipotriene/calcipotriol

One of the first topical agents used to ease the

symptoms of psoriasis. Calcipotriene has been around

for many years, and is definitely a favorite for many

dermatologists.

When applied, it has been said that the beneficial

effects of calcipotriene is comparable to that of the

effects of steroid-based topical agents for psoriasis.

If this topical agent is able to tame your psoriasis after

the recommended number of days, it is also possible

that it will be able to cut down the number of flare-ups

or breakouts in the future as well.

If used properly and under the guidance of your

dermatologist, calcipotriene shouldn’t cause any severe

side effects at all.

If you are allergic to the active ingredient itself, you

may notice some irritation where you have applied the

topical agent. Apart from minor skin irritation, no

significant side effects have been documented for

calcipotriene.

Calcipotriene is a derivative of vitamin D, but is not

equivalent to the dietary vitamin D found in fortified

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eggs and dairy products. Therefore, you cannot get the

same benefits of calcipotriene by eating foods rich in

vitamin D.

A vitamin D rich diet may help alleviate other health conditions, but there is no conclusive proof that

correlates the efficacy of dietary vitamin D in

alleviating the symptoms of psoriasis.

Calcipotriene may not be applied to any part of the

face, as it has not been indicated as safe or effective

for facial skin.

Facial skin tends to be thinner and more prone to

irritation, so unless your dermatologist tells you otherwise, don’t use this topical agent on the face.

Also, do not forget to wash your hands after applying

calcipotriene to the affected parts of your skin.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are very common topical agents, and can be purchased easily anywhere in the country. They

are used primarily to quell itching and to reduce the

inflammation of skin. Corticosteroids are prescribed for

a variety of skin ailments, not just psoriasis.

Not all corticosteroids are the same. You cannot just

buy any brand of corticosteroid and expect excellent

results.

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Each brand and variant has its own specific formulation

and strength. Your dermatologist will be able to tell

you which brand is best suited for your type of

psoriasis.

Some cases of psoriasis are mild and would only

require low to medium strength corticosteroids.

On the flipside, some people have very aggressive

psoriasis, and therefore, more powerful corticosteroids

may be used to control the itching and inflammation of

the psoriatic plaques.

If your psoriasis is very aggressive in the beginning

because it hasn’t been treated yet, your treatment regimen may begin with a very potent corticosteroid

with a higher volume of active ingredients, and after

that, the dosage may be altered to fit the reaction of

your skin.

Some dermatologists will also change the prescription

altogether, so you won’t have to use a very potent variant all the time. If your psoriasis becomes “tame”

or more manageable, you will most likely downgrade

to a milder corticosteroid.

Topical corticosteroids are generally prescribed by

dermatologists if the psoriasis is mild, and the skin

area affected does not exceed ten percent of the total

skin surface area. This topical agent has been proven

effective for guttate psoriasis.

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More potent corticosteroids may be needed to alleviate

inflammation in areas, such as the knees

Anthralin

May be used on psoriatic plaques on the arms, hands,

etc., as well as the scalp. One of the more well-known

treatments for psoriasis of the scalp.

This topical agent helps people with psoriasis by

controlling the skin generation in affected areas of the

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body. It must be applied to the affected areas, as it is

not a systemic remedy.

Anthralin stands out from all the other topical agents

for psoriasis because it can be safely used on large areas of affected skin.

In contrast with corticosteroids, anthralin must only

stay on the affected parts of the skin for twenty to sixty

minutes. After the prescribed period of time, the topical

agent must be washed off cleanly.

If the anthralin is applied to the scalp, you can apply

shampoo to rinse your hair and scalp. Anthralin is

generally applied only once per day to control the symptoms of psoriasis.

Severe psoriasis will require a higher dosage of

anthralin. If your psoriasis is mild, and your

dermatologist recommends that you to apply anthralin,

you will probably be prescribed with a low-strength

variant.

Don’t fret though: dermatologists will match the strength of the topical agent with the severity of the

skin problem. If you are prescribed a low-strength

variant, you can probably leave the ointment/cream on

the affected area for twelve to twenty-four hours before

washing/shampooing it off.

Anthralin therapy is often performed in conjunction

with other topical therapies for psoriasis, such as using

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corticosteroids. Ask your dermatologist if your specific

type of psoriasis will benefit from dual therapy.

There are some known side effects when you undergo

anthralin therapy for any measure of time:

o Temporary staining of the skin. The staining will

disappear after you have stopped anthralin

therapy.

o Discoloration of grey hair strands. Expect some

pink hair strands if you apply this on your hair

(people with brown, black, red and blond hair

strands need not worry much).

o Discoloration of the lower layer of the skin (skin

may turn red). This type of discoloration may take

longer to disappear (at least a few weeks).

Coal tar

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Coal tar may also be applied to psoriatic plaques to

ease inflammation and itchiness. This topical agent is

often recommended alongside other psoriasis

treatments, such as ultraviolet light treatment. Unlike

other topical agents, coal tar can be acquired from pharmacies without the need for a prescription from a

dermatologist.

Coal tar can be found in a wide variety of topical

preparations, including ointments and skin creams. The

strength and formulation of each brand varies, so it is

best to ask your dermatologist how potent the coal tar

preparation should be so you can find a good brand

yourself.

More often than not, dermatologists have their own

stockpile of ready-to-purchase skin care products, so if

you do not want to drive far, ask your doctor if his

clinic dispenses this type of topical preparation.

When used in conjunction with ultraviolet light therapy,

treatment with coal tar is called Goeckerman

Treatment. This type of therapy for psoriasis typically

lasts for at least two weeks to up to three weeks, depending on the severity of the psoriasis and the

reaction of the skin to the coal tar.

In the Goeckerman Treatment, about eight hours is

needed every time the coal tar and UV light are used.

As such, this type of treatment is often performed in a

doctor’s clinic, or in a similar facility.

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A tripartite approach has also been developed in recent

years: ultraviolet light therapy is combined with coal

tar and regular applications of anthralin. This approach

to alleviating the symptoms of psoriasis is called the

Ingram Regimen.

Why is coal tar recommended for psoriasis? After

repeated applications, the psoriatic plaques tend to

become less inflamed and less red. The itchiness also

goes away to a certain degree.

It must be noted early on that on its own it is not the

most effective approach to alleviating the symptoms of

psoriasis. But when it is used in combination with other

treatments, it becomes more effective.

Based on the current examinations performed by the

United States Food and Drug Administration, coal tar

does not pose any significant risks to human health.

This topical agent rarely causes side effects. Care must

be taken when applying the topical agent to the

sensitive areas around the eyes. Unlike anthralin, coal

tar preparations can be safely applied on the face, should psoriatic plaques appear in this part of the body.

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Retinoids

Like coal tar, retinoids are often used in conjunction with other types of psoriasis treatments. Retinoids are

a derivative of vitamin A, and come in both oral and

topical preparations.

The medical community is in disagreement as to how

retinoids actually help alleviate symptoms of the

disease. What we do know is that, when you apply

retinoids on affected areas, the plaque build-up tends

to slow down, and this greatly helps improve the

appearance of the affected site.

Retinoids are often prescribed for pustular psoriasis.

Topical retinoids are given to patients who have mild to

moderate cases of psoriasis. In most cases, patients

respond readily to the regular application of retinoids,

as the effect of the topical agent is enhanced by other

therapies.

In the event that the psoriasis does not go into

remission, a dermatologist may choose to prescribe a

more powerful and potent formulation that can be

taken orally as a retinoid pill.

While many people believe that they will be using

special skin creams forever, this is actually not the

case. As we have already discussed in a previous

section, a dermatologist can easily change the

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prescription for a patient, depending on the actual

response of the psoriatic plaques to the topical agent.

It is also possible that a therapy will be ended

completely when the plaques finally go away. It all depends on how insistent the disease is in expressing

itself through the skin.

Known side effects of retinoid therapy include hair loss

and changes in the skin’s thickness. It is also possible

that you will develop some sensitivity to natural

sunlight as a result of continued exposure to the topical

agent.

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Treatment Option # 2: Phototherapy (UVB & PUVA)

If you have moderately aggressive psoriasis that covers

up to twenty percent of your total skin area (this is

equivalent to having plaques on both of your arms

including your hands), you may want to look into

phototherapy.

Phototherapy involves using ultraviolet B (UVB light) to

treat psoriasis. UVB occurs naturally in sunlight, but in varying degrees.

When a dermatologist performs phototherapy on you,

everything is controlled, and your skin will only receive

a specific amount of UVB in a set period of time, so you

won’t get sunburned.

Phototherapy has been in use for many years now in

dermatological circles around the world because of its versatility, and its ability to naturally heal human skin

that is afflicted with different types of conditions.

Phototherapy is not as invasive or impractical as many

people think. On the average, a psoriatic patient will

only have to undergo phototherapy up to three times

every seven days.

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Compare this with more intensive methods, like the

Goeckerman Technique, and you can see just how

practical this approach is to alleviating symptoms of

psoriasis.

Another form of phototherapy exists: PUVA therapy.

PUVA stands for psoralen and ultraviolet A light. The

first form of phototherapy makes use of ultraviolet B or

UVB. Psoralen is a drug that is taken orally prior to the

patient’s exposure to the UVA light. After several weeks

of therapy, patients often note a marked improvement

in their psoriasis.

In terms of safety ratings phototherapy with UVB light

has a higher safety rating. However, this comes with a price: in terms of effectiveness, PUVA therapy is

considered more potent than UVB therapy.

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Treatment Option # 3: Oral Medications

In the event that topical agents and phototherapy do not

produce the target results expected by the dermatologist,

another line of offense may be set up through oral

medications.

Take note that, most of the time, dermatologists skip oral

medications if the psoriasis can be tamed through topical

agents and phototherapy.

If these treatment avenues do not work, the dermatologist

may choose to employ more powerful measures to counter-

act the severe symptoms of psoriasis. Below are the most

common oral medications prescribed/recommended for psoriasis:

Methotrexate

Methotrexate is an anti-psoriatic drug that can be taken

orally. The patient may choose to take the drug in one

large dose once a week. If this does not work for him,

he may opt for three separate doses that can be taken

twelve hours apart.

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In the event that the patient does not want to take this

drug orally, he also has the option of having the drug

injected once every seven days.

Ask your dermatologist about your options when taking

methotrexate, if other treatment methods have failed

to control your psoriatic flare-ups.

Like anthralin and coal tar, methotrexate helps

psoriasis patients by decreasing the rate at which skin

forms in the body. Psoriatic plaques are scaly and itchy

because of increased skin production in these areas.

Theoretically, if the accelerated skin growth is

addressed, the associated symptoms of psoriasis

should go away as well.

Methotrexate is not normally prescribed for people with

mild to moderate psoriasis. This oral medication is

usually given to patients who have very aggressive

subtypes of the disease. Aggressive psoriasis can cover

more than twenty percent of a person’s body.

Again, twenty percent of a person’s skin area is

equivalent to both his arms including the hands.

Oral medications, in general, are considered the final

frontier if all modes of therapy have already been

exhausted, and no change have been noted in the

affected areas of the body.

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This drug cannot be used by patients with kidney, liver,

blood, and stomach issues. Patients who are currently

medicating for contagious illnesses should finish their

current medications first before starting on

methotrexate.

A person who is taking methotrexate must regularly

consult with a physician to check if his organs are

clearing/handling the drug well. Do not take this drug if

you have no plans of having yourself checked out

during the duration of your treatment for psoriasis.

Oral retinoid preparations

Retinoids can be applied topically or taken orally. Examples of oral retinoid preparations are tazarotene

and acitretin. The term retinoid refers to a class of

vitamin A derivatives used to treat medical ailments,

such as psoriasis.

Oral retinoid preparations may be taken once every two

days or, in more severe cases, seven times a week.

Oral retinoid preparations must never be taken more

than once per day, as these are very potent drugs with very strong formulations.

Taking more than the recommended dosage may result

in severe side effects, like increased blood cholesterol

levels and liver problems.

Cyclosporine

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Cyclosporine, unlike other treatments for psoriasis,

does not directly act upon the pace of skin

regeneration. Instead, it acts as an immunosuppressant

agent.

Psoriasis has an autoimmune component; this drug

acts upon this major component of the disease. When

the immune system is suppressed, one of the direct

effects would be the slowdown of skin regeneration.

This drug is available as an oral preparation, and can

also be injected directly into the body. The exact

dosage and formulation will depend on the severity of

your psoriasis, your age, and your weight.

Cyclosporine has been known to cause some notable

side effects, including increased blood pressure and

kidney problems. This drug should never be taken if the

psoriasis patient has already undergone PUVA therapy

(psoralen + ultraviolet A phototherapy).

Cyclosporine can instigate skin cancer in individuals

who have undergone PUVA therapy. This is a real risk,

so be very wary of the idea of combining the two treatments or using them in succession.

Biologic agents

Biologic agents, or TNF antagonists, can be used to

counteract specific immune signals in the body that

may contribute to psoriatic flare-ups. TNF stands for

tumor necrosis factor. Biologics are comprised mainly

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of special proteins that have a direct impact on the

immune responses of the body.

Biologic agents can be given as oral medication or as

an injection, to be given once or a few times per week. The drug is injected under the skin.

TNF antagonists are not as effective as fast-acting as

other treatments, but they are generally safer. The

known side effects of biologic agents are nausea,

fatigue, and fever.

Natural Remedies & Better Home Management

Now that we are done discussing conventional methods of

treating the disease, it is time to explore natural avenues of

easing the symptoms, as well as some no-nonsense tips that

will make home management of the disease a piece of cake.

1. Vinegar – The itchiness caused by thick psoriatic

plaques can be maddening. If you cannot function well

with that nagging itch at the back of your mind, you

can try a vinegar bath to help ease the itchiness.

Simply fill your tub with lukewarm (note: not scalding

hot) water, and pour 1-2 US cups of pure apple cider

vinegar.

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Regular apple cider vinegar from the grocery is fine;

you do not have to buy more expensive varieties. Soak

for a few minutes until your skin absorbs the lukewarm

vinegar infusion. Feel free to shower afterward to

remove the vinegary smell.

If the smell doesn’t bother you, or if it is very mild, feel

free to just rinse off. Some patients use this technique

at night before going to bed. The mild smell of the

vinegar will probably not cause any serious problems,

since you are going to rinse off after a long soak.

Pure apple cider vinegar can also be applied directly to

the affected skin. To make things more convenient,

pour a small amount of pure apple cider vinegar to a plastic/glass spray bottle.

When your skin feels itchy, spritz a small amount on

tips of your fingers, and apply gently on the affected

skin. Remember: don’t scratch or pick at the plaques!

If you want the vinegar to act upon your diseases from the inside, you can also make a vinegar-honey infusion

called honegar. A simple honegar can be made with 1

US cup of warm water, 1 tablespoon of apple cider

vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of pure organic honey.

Sip at this concoction until it is finished. Supporters of

this folk remedy claim that honegar can reduce

itchiness, and may even help cut down the frequency of

flare-ups.

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2. Epsom salts – An Epsom salts infusion during your

daily soak can help remove the dry, scaly skin on top of

the plaques. You will need a quarter of a cup of Epsom

salts. Add the Epsom salts to your bathtub, and be sure to soak the affected areas for at least fifteen minutes.

During this time, your skin will soften, and the scaly

skin will drop off on its own. There is no need to rub

the affected areas at all, as the Epsom salts will take

care of that for you. Do not apply Epsom salts directly

on your psoriatic plaques!

3. Wheat germ, castor & sunflower oils – These three

oils can be combined to produce a very natural and

very soothing moisturizing agent. You will need half a

teaspoon of wheat germ oil, half a teaspoon of castor oil, and one half US cup of sunflower oil.

Make sure that your oils are organic and pure, with no

additional fragrances or chemicals. After combining the

three oils, take a small amount and apply gently to the

plaques.

These oils have known restorative and antibiotic

effects, so you can be sure that your plaques will stay

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hydrated and free of bacterial invaders as well. Feel

free to reapply the oily emollient whenever you feel like

it.

If it works for you, be happy knowing that this mixture is very hypoallergenic, and does not cause side effects.

You can use it every day if you like, if it really helps in

reducing dryness and itchiness of your plaques.

4. Vitamin E – Vitamin E supplementation may help ease

the itching associated with psoriasis. You will need no

less than eight hundred international units of vitamin E

every day if you want to supplement the treatment of

psoriasis.

5. Fish oil – Fish oil is a known wonder supplement

because of its heart-healthy benefits. But did you know

that the heart-healthy advantages of fish oil (derived

largely from the presence of omega 3 fatty acids) can

also be used to manage psoriasis?

According to current research, the anti-inflammatory properties of omega 3 fatty acids can also help

psoriasis patients by reducing the inflammation of

psoriatic plaques.

You will need between 2000 – 3000 mg of fish oil every

day to achieve good results with this type of natural

therapy.

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Be careful though – fish oil supplements are not

recommended for individuals with a history of stomach

ulcers and hyperacidity, as it may exacerbate such

conditions.

If you are unsure, ask your doctor first before buying

fish oil supplements. Also, make sure that you are

really getting 2000/3000 milligrams of pure fish oil and

not other ingredients.

6. Goldenseal – ¼ teaspoon of goldenseal infusion or

tincture can be used to detoxify the body. Taken once

daily for a total of ten days, this natural herbal remedy

may help the body cleanse itself of unsavory toxins and

waste products. Indirectly, this may help reduce the onset of psoriatic flare-ups.

7. Milk thistle – If the idea of applying topical agents and

taking oral medication for psoriasis seems unappealing

to you, here’s a natural remedy that is definitely worth

looking at: milk thistle.

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Extracts of this herbal remedy can be found easily in

natural health stores. You will need at least three

hundred milligrams of pure extract.

Alternative health practitioners believe that this herbal remedy can help slow down the pace of skin growth

throughout the body. Perfect for psoriasis, indeed!

Additionally, milk thistle is a live-protective herbal

remedy.

8. Gotu Kola – If you have been looking for a restorative

remedy for your psoriatic plaques, gotu kola just might

help you. This world-renowned remedy has natural

healing properties, and may help cut down the healing

time of plaques that have breaks on them. It also has some anti-inflammatory properties as well. You will

need to take two hundred milligrams of this

supplement daily.

9. Natural sunlight – While it is true that sunburns

should be avoided at all costs, this doesn’t mean that

the sun does not have anything positive to contribute

to the fight against psoriasis.

Exposure to natural sunlight can definitely help reduce

psoriasis flare-ups, as long as the exposure is not too

long, and you apply sunscreen products frequently

throughout the day.

10. Diet culprits – Some people develop psoriatic

plaques after consuming certain foods or beverages. If

this happens to you frequently, try to write down the

foods that you eat on a daily basis and, when the

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psoriasis strikes, you can narrow down your list of

culprits. You can add this information to your existing

psoriasis journal.

11. Capsaicin – Capsaicin is oil that is naturally derived from chilies. Essential capsaicin oil may help

reduce itchiness and dryness of psoriatic plaques.

Be careful when applying essential oils though; many of

these oils are so potent that they can cause trouble if

applied directly. Consult with a dermatologist or an

experienced alternative health practitioner to learn how

you can apply such oils safely to affected areas.

You can also try primrose oil and oregano oil, as these oils have also shown promise in terms of reducing

inflammation and itchiness of affected skin.

12. Psoriatic scalp – Pure apple cider vinegar can be

used as an organic wash for your scalp if plaques have

appeared in this area. Wash the area for a few minutes

with pure vinegar and let the skin absorb it first. Wash

off the vinegar afterward, and feel free to shampoo as

well.

13. Special shampoos can help – Extremely

fragrant shampoos are a definite no-no when you

psoriasis of the scalp.

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However, if you can find organic shampoos with

ingredients like jojoba oil, you are definitely on the

right track. Jojoba oil can help soothe the itch on the

scalp, and can help reduce the incidence of scratching (which can then lead to more itchiness, scaly skin and

even bleeding).

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