How to Treat Psoriasis
You don’t have to live with psoriasis—get rid of it with these home remedies! From sunshine to Miracle Whip, here is how to treat your skin condition.
Bruce and Jeanne Lubin
Get Some Sunshine (But Only Some!)
Everyone knows that too much exposure to the sun can lead to sunburn and skin damage, and it greatly increases your risk of cancer. In most cases of psoriasis, however, sunlight can help improve the condition. Apply sunscreen to areas of skin not affected by psoriasis, and spend 10-30 minutes in the sunshine every day. Speak with your doctor beforehand to make sure this sunlight treatment is the right way to go for your psoriasis relief.
Epsom Salt Soak
Prepare yourself a warm bath and pour in Epsom salts to exfoliate your skin, soothe itchiness, and melt away the scales. Make sure the water is warm—too hot and you can dry out your skin even more.
Vinegar Soak
Nix that frustrating itch with a cold bath plus a cup of apple cider vinegar. Vinegars have been used throughout history to soothe skin inflammation thanks to their disinfectant and pH-balancing properties, so this is a time-tested remedy. Talk to your doctor first to ensure that using apple cider vinegar is advisable for your particular case of psoriasis—then take a good soak!
Use Oil for a Scaly Scalp
Got a scaly situation on your head? Try this intensive oil treatment to tidy it up and relieve itch and discomfort. Heat olive oil on the stove or in the microwave until warm (but not hot!). Rub the oil into your scalp and gently massage the inflamed areas. Place a shower cap over your hair, and let the oil work for at least 20 minutes or overnight. Shampoo the oil out, and repeat daily until you see improvement, then weekly after that.
Oil Bath
The next time you bathe, pour a few tablespoons of canola or olive oil into the tub during your last five minutes of soaking. It’ll lock in the moisture rather than dry you out. Step out of the oily tub cautiously so you don’t slip!
Oatmeal Bath
Oats are a proven soother for skin conditions, so an oatmeal bath can be a great help for itchy psoriasis-plagued skin. Place one cup of uncooked oats in a blender and grind to a fine consistency. Pour the ground oats into a tub filled with warm water, and take a relaxing soak. The warm water will help dissolve scales and the oats will ease your irritated skin.
Moisturizer You Can Eat!
When you’re in need of a quick moisturizing treatment, open the fridge and grab the Miracle Whip! This product contains oil, vinegar, and egg yolks, and all three of those ingredients contribute to its moisturizing might. Spread Miracle Whip over your dry, itchy skin, leave for 15 minutes, and rinse with warm water and then cold water. Don’t have Miracle Whip? Just use regular mayo.
For more all natural remedies from all around the internet, check out our Health and Beauty Tips board on Pinterest. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Image courtesy of Shutterstock.
About the Author
Bruce Lubin and Jeanne Bossolina-Lubin are the proud parents of three boys and more than a dozen books. After saving thousands per year using everyday tips and simple lifehacks, they started their own business in the hopes of sharing their knowledge with others. They have been known to go into their friends’ refrigerators to turn their eggs upside down so that they last longer.