Are there supplements help psoriasis?

[lynn]

Are there organic lotions that we can use? TIA

[Remudamom]

I have psoriasis that morphed into arthritis. IMO you should get it taken care of quickly in case it turns into something worse. I don't know how often that happens, but I assure you, you don't want it.

 

I use medications to keep it under control. Let me know if you decide on un-organic.

[Catherine]

There is nothing you could have done differently to change the course of it, Remudamom. Once you have it, there are some treatments that help to control symptoms and (hopefully) slow the progress of joint destruction. ((hugs))

[Mommyfaithe]

Oils...fish, flax etc. Make sure you are well lubricated from within. My psoriasis also turned into arthritis type pain. My skin finally looks good...but my bones hurt:glare:

Faithe

 

Eta. The only topical that helped with my skin was a coal tar based psoriasis lotion. It stunk to high heaven....made my skin black...but relieved the pain from the psoriasis.

 

Also, since I have been gluten free, my skin is really much better. For the first time in my entire life my elbows can be seen is short sleeves.

 

Faithe

Edited December 16, 2011 by Mommyfaithe

[Negin]

Excuse the copying, pasting, and lack of overall editing. I'm tired and am about to head for a looooong nap. :)

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PSORIASIS

 

Itchy skin

Scaly, inflamed skin patches

 

he most common type of psoriasis -- plaque psoriasis -- usually appears as red, raised patches of skin covered in white, flaking scales that crop up on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, or lower back.



 

Those with psoriasis may also experience itching, nail disfigurement (about half of people with the disease experience discoloration, separation from the nail bed, or thickened or pocked nails), and dry or cracked skin that can bleed. In guttate psoriasis, the second most common form of the disease, the patches are small and shaped like drops of water.

 

Painful swelling of the joints is a common symptom of psoriatic arthritis, which can develop before or after someone is diagnosed with psoriasis. Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis will also have psoriatic arthritis. Because skin conditions often resemble one another, it is best to see your primary care provider for a diagnosis.

 

Your psoriasis may flare without warning or be triggered by stress, medications, a skin injury, dry skin, or other stimuli. It can remit as quickly as it came, but it usually requires treatment to keep the condition from worsening.



 

Seeking Medical Help

 

You should see a doctor if you think you may have psoriasis or if you have already been diagnosed and your psoriasis worsens and causes pain, discomfort, or emotional stress; interferes with your normal activities; or does not respond to a treatment you have been prescribed. It often takes trial and error to find the treatment that works best for you.



 

Doctors usually gauge the severity of psoriasis based on the percentage of your body that is affected. If you have plaques only on your elbows and knees, for instance, you probably have a mild case. Moderate psoriasis is traditionally defined as covering less than 20 percent of your skin and can be accompanied by nondebilitating joint pain.

 

Severe psoriasis is characterized by more than 20 percent body coverage or psoriasis that develops in certain critical areas, such as the face. People with severe psoriasis may also develop fluid-filled plaques (pustular psoriasis) and psoriatic arthritis.

 

Psoriasis typically goes through cycles of flaring and subsiding, but rarely achieves permanent remission. There are, however, many new treatments available that can help people with psoriasis effectively control the disease and live a more comfortable, less painful life.

[Negin]

Eat less meat, more veggies and fruit

Eat less than 2 ounces of meat every other day.

Make nuts, beans, seeds, and lentils your main protein sources.

 

Apply a cream containing Oregon Grape Extract 3 times daily to affected areas, or simmer the herb itself in water to make a tea

Oregon grape root helps clear up liver-related skin conditions like psoriasis and acne

 

Psoriasis and other skin conditions common symptoms of a congested lymphatic system. Things that help to clear up the lymphatic system:

• Daily Rebounding

• Deep Breathing

• Dry Body Brushing

• Massage and/or Reflexology

• Swinging - as in sitting on a swing

 

You will benefit from a gluten-free diet if you have:

• An autoimmune condition like lupus, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis

• If you regularly experience 2 or more of the following symptoms:

Abdominal Pain

Gas and Bloating (especially after eating bread)

Diarrhea

Frequent heartburn

Allover Weakness

 

• Eliminate bread, pasta, barley, and rye

• Read food labels to avoid sources of gluten: soy sauce, lunch meats, blue cheese. Google “avoid gluten†for a complete list.

• Add more fresh fruits, vegetables, and rice to your diet.

 

Psoriasis may increase your odds of a heart attack. Serious cases of the skin ailment can more than double your risk of heart attack. Keep your heart healthy with diet and exercise.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0615161701.htm

 

VITAMIN D3

If you're under 50, take at least 2,000 IU per day.

If you're 50 or over, take at least 5,000 IU per day of vitamin D3.

Always take your vitamin D with a fat-containing meal to ensure absorption.

Your need for vitamin D3 is affected by age, skin color, and the severity of any deficiency

 

Don't be concerned that 2,000-5,000 IU will give you too much. With exposure to sunlight in the summer, the body can generate between 10,000 IU and 20,000 IU of vitamin D per hour with no ill effects. In addition, no adverse effects have been seen with supplemental vitamin D intakes up to 10,000 IU daily.

To this day, medical textbooks mention the risk of vitamin D toxicity. Yet, the scientific literature suggests that toxicity occurs only with very large intakes of vitamin D over prolonged periods (more than 10,000 IUs daily for longer than 6 months). Except in people with disorders known as granulomatosis (such as sarcoidosis or tuberculosis), little risk (if any) is associated with vitamin D supplementation.

 

Most people are deficient!

• Body-mass index (BMI) and obesity

• Older people

• Dark-skinned people

• Strict vegetarians

• People with celiac, Crohn’s disease, and cystic fibrosis

• Heredity

• Certain medications

• Regular use of sunscreen

• Northern Latitudes (above that of Atlanta, Georgia)

[Negin]

This, from Peela, who knows her stuff, and whom I really and truly miss:

All skin conditions (except an outright rash related to poison ivy sort of thing) originate from an internal condition, especially relating to the liver. The liver is our detoxifier, and if it struggles, toxins are expressed through the skin (that is a simplification but generally true). In naturopathy, you go to the liver and help it along if you want to deal with skin issues.

Considering all the trans fats and chemicals in our modern diet, (and how they affect the liver) and the quality of many people's diets, most skin conditions are definitely related to our modern day environmental and dietary conditions.

Psoriasis is very related to stress. I think we are chronically stressed in our society and that has a profound affect on our systems.

Finding ways of reducing stress is essential. Acupuncture, yoga, deep breathing, regular exercise - these should all help. Acupuncture is fabulous. It should really help with both your symptoms.

 

Psoriasis is an AI disorder

 

Autoimmune diseases include:

Rheumatoid arthritis

Lupus

Multiple sclerosis

Psoriasis

Celiac disease

Thyroid disease

 

These are all autoimmune conditions, and at their root they are connected by one central biochemical process: A runaway immune response also known as systemic inflammation that results in your body attacking its own tissues.

Autoimmunity occurs when your immune system gets confused and your own tissues get caught in friendly cross-fire. Your body is fighting something -- an infection, a toxin, an allergen, a food or the stress response -- and somehow it redirects its hostile attack on your joints, your brain, your thyroid, your gut, your skin, or sometimes your whole body.

Interestingly, autoimmune disorders occur almost exclusively in developed countries. People in poor nations without modern amenities like running water, flush toilets, washing machines, and sterile backyards don't get these diseases. If you grew up on a farm with lots of animals, you are also less likely to have any of these inflammatory disorders. Playing in the dirt, being dirty, and being exposed to bugs and infections trains your immune system to recognize what is foreign and what is "you."

 

Unfortunately, many of the conventional treatments available can make you feel worse. Anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil, steroids, immune suppressants like methotrexate, and the new TNF-alpha blockers like Enbrel or Remicade can lead to intestinal bleeding, kidney failure, depression, psychosis, osteoporosis, muscle loss, and diabetes, not to mention overwhelming infection and cancer.

When used selectively these drugs can help people get their lives back. But they are not a long-term solution. They shouldn't be the end of treatment, but a bridge to cool off inflammation while we treat the root cause of the disease.

[Negin]

Nine Steps to Treating Autoimmune Disease

1. Check for hidden infections -- yeast, viruses, bacteria, Lyme, etc. -- with the help of a doctor, and treat them.

2. Check for hidden food allergens with IgG food testing or just try The UltraSimple Diet, which is designed to eliminate most food allergens.

3. Get tested for celiac disease, which is a blood test that any doctor can do.

4. Get checked for heavy metal toxicity. Mercury and other metals can cause autoimmunity.

5. Fix your gut. Read up on Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

6. Use nutrients such as fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin D, and probiotics to help calm your immune response naturally.

7. Exercise regularly -- it's a natural anti-inflammatory.

8. Practice deep relaxation like yoga, deep breathing, biofeedback, or massage, because stress worsens the immune response.

 

Treat the underlying causes of your illness and you will begin to experience vibrant health once more.