Psoriasis is one of the most misunderstood diseases. Neither the causes of this disease, nor the ways of its cure are known for certain. It is believed that it is impossible to achieve complete healing of psoriasis, therefore the main goal of therapy is to achieve a stable long-term remission and reduce the frequency of exacerbations. Since this disease requires correction of nutrition, lifestyle, systematic use of drugs and non-pharmacological agents, psoriasis is mainly treated at home.
Causes and signs of psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic pathology with a recurrent course. The disease can affect various organs and tissues, but the main manifestations of psoriasis are dermatological. Red lesions are poured out on the skin, which tend to enlarge and unite with each other. Their surface is covered with grayish scales, which are easily scraped off, revealing wet shiny spots with dots of "bloody dew" underneath.
The most common sites for psoriatic plaques are knees and elbows, scalp, behind the ears, and lower back. The rash is most often accompanied by itching, tightness, and discomfort in the affected areas.
The appearance of psoriasis is associated with stress, with a recent infectious disease, allergies, endocrine pathologies, but, according to many experts, it is based on a genetic defect. Any of the above factors is only a "trigger" that triggers the mechanism of the body's abnormal response to external stimuli.
Due to the failure, the process of division of epidermal cells is disrupted. The rate of death and desquamation of superficial cells increases by 4 - 5 times in comparison with the usual cycle. As a result, the scales that do not have time to peel off naturally form hard growths - plaques.
Rules for the treatment of psoriasis at home
Psoriasis treatment includes two areas:
- symptomatic- removal of acute symptoms of the disease (external agents, antihistamines, physiotherapy);
- pathogenetic:diet, desensitization of the body, cleansing measures, hormone therapy, and so on.
In severe cases, treatment in stationary conditions is indicated, it is possible to use serious hormonal drugs and basic therapy. The rest of the time, the patient fights the disease on his own, choosing the most effective methods by trial and error.
Psoriasis is a disease that does not have a one-size-fits-all solution. Those remedies that are suitable for one patient may aggravate the other. An individual approach is required here more than ever, but there are general principles that should be followed for successful psoriasis treatment at home:
- Listen to your body. No one except you can identify all the factors that trigger an exacerbation of psoriasis and find remedies that will work well on your plaques.
- It is advisable to carry out self-treatment under the supervision of a dermatologist. Do not give up on specialist tests, procedures and medications.
- With a mild form of psoriasis, good results can be achieved by eliminating provoking factors and using non-drug treatments, including folk remedies. If the manifestations of the disease are very pronounced, and psoriasis progresses, "heavy artillery" in the form of hormones and cytostatics may be required, strictly according to the doctor's prescription.
- Consistency and regularity are important in the treatment of psoriasis. You can't stop using effective remedies when the first results appear. Most of the drugs require a long course, first therapeutic, then - "fixing".
- It is important to maintain normal skin moisture, avoid scratching, trauma, and inaccurate removal of crusts. Plaques can only be cleaned off after preliminary softening and only if it can be done without effort.
- Many treatments cannot be used during the acute phase. Insolation, climate change, spa procedures, some ointments should be applied only with the onset of the stationary stage.
Treatment of psoriasis: how to smear plaques?
The most popular and effective treatments for psoriasis on the skin are pharmaceutical ointments and creams. Many of the topical preparations have serious side effects and must be used with caution. This is especially true of hormonal ointments, but on the issue of non-hormonal it is better to consult a doctor and strictly follow the recommendations for use.
Ointments with hormones
Hormonal agents in the treatment of psoriasis are indicated for persistent skin symptoms that do not respond to other therapeutic influences. The benefits of these drugs are fast acting. The patient's condition is improving literally before our eyes, but this effect is deceiving. After stopping use, the plaques not only come back but become more intense. Hormonal ointments are addictive, and with prolonged use - damage to the kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system, thinning and atrophy of the skin. There is also a fear that hormone-based drugs "drive" psoriasis into the body, and the disease manifests itself in a more severe form - psoriatic arthritis.
Addiction and withdrawal effects make hormonal ointments an undesirable treatment. If possible, it is recommended to avoid their use. If necessary, use for a short time, cancel gradually.
Today, several groups of drugs are prescribed in the treatment of psoriasis:
- Triamcinolone ointments.They have an antihistamine, antipruritic effect, relieve inflammation. They can cause local reactions, changes in skin structure, atrophy.
- Products with the active ingredient flumethasone.Reduces itching, has an anti-exudative effect. Negatively affect the skin, over time can cause systemic disorders.
- Hydrocortisone ointments.Reduce capillary permeability, relieve swelling of the affected foci, but with prolonged use there is a risk of systemic disorders.
- Preparations based on betamethasone.They have anti-inflammatory and anti-exudative effects. Suppress the process of accelerated desquamation of epithelial cells. Skin disorders and systemic problems are possible.
Non-steroidal drugs
Non-hormonal ointments are the preferred treatment for psoriasis. They do not act as quickly and strongly as hormones, but their effect is more persistent and lasting. Non-steroidal ointments can be used for a long time without fear of addiction and the development of negative consequences.
In psoriasis, drugs with different compositions and different effects are used, many of them are combined with each other. The main groups of applied ointments:
- Salicylic.The acid in them softens plaques and helps cleanse the skin. Reduces inflammation, acts as an antiseptic. The remedies are usually prescribed to eliminate scales, and then the affected area is treated with another remedy with medicinal ingredients.
- Zinc.Dry rashes, relieve inflammation and irritation of the skin, create a protective film that prevents negative effects on the affected areas from the outside.
- Tar.Ointments with the addition of birch, pine, coal tar have an anti-inflammatory and disinfectant effect. They stimulate blood circulation, improve the healing of damaged skin. To eliminate plaque, you can add pure tar when you make your own remedies. Ointments with tar can be poorly tolerated, so they begin to smear on small areas in a test mode. With good tolerance, the dosage is increased. Tar increases the skin's photosensitivity, which can lead to sun allergies in summer.
- D-fortified ointments.Calcipotriol-based preparations have proven themselves well in the treatment of psoriasis. They suppress proliferation, reduce plaque and prevent it from reappearing. They do not cause atrophic processes. If there is an effect, they provide a stable remission. It is recommended to use it in tandem with UV therapy, the combination with salicylic ointments is contraindicated.
- Oil based ointments.Exfoliate plaque, relieve itching and inflammation, but require careful use. With increased sensitivity, it can lead to a worsening of the skin manifestations of psoriasis, furunculosis. These funds are contraindicated in patients with anemia, kidney disease. Treatment with these drugs is carried out outside the exacerbation stage.
- Vitamins.Ointments with vitamins activate metabolic processes in the skin, restore tissue trophism, promote regeneration, eliminate peeling, slow down the keratinization of cells. Retinoids and preparations based on the tandem of vitamins E, A possess such properties.
- Solid ointments.Effective agents with a pronounced anti-inflammatory, keratolytic, antipruritic effect. Penetrate deep into the skin and normalize metabolic processes in it. They are used for a long time, in the absence of allergies. These ointments cannot be combined with hormonal ointments, and alcohol should be avoided during treatment.
Psoriasis: Treatment from the Inside
It is difficult to cope with the manifestations of psoriasis with external agents alone. It is also necessary to act from the inside: to desensitize, to improve digestion.
- During an exacerbation, antihistamines are shown to help relieve itching, eliminate the influence of provoking factors. In addition to the antiallergic effect, the drugs have a sedative effect.
- Detoxification of the body is carried out with the help of sorbents.
- The use of enzymes is recommended to improve digestion.
- In psoriasis, liver support is important: hepatoprotectors are taken on a course.
- "Psoriasis" need to be calm. Stress is one of the factors that trigger psoriasis. The disease itself, in turn, can lead to neurological problems: nervousness, insomnia, and so on. Herbal sedatives are recommended.
- NSAIDs can help relieve pain in the joints in psoriasis.
The appearance of a focus of infection in the body can cause an exacerbation of psoriasis. Acute infectious and inflammatory diseases must be treated with antibiotics, as prescribed by a doctor.
How to treat scalp psoriasis at home: features
ICH psoriasis is the most troublesome for patients. It is more difficult to treat it than open skin, since the presence of hair requires a special approach to therapy and the use of special means.
Treatment of psoriasis on the head at home consists of the use of shampoos, pharmaceuticals and traditional methods. Skin lesions can be either mild, in the form of separate spots, or severe. In difficult cases, the head is covered with the so-called "crown" or "helmet" - a hard, itchy and scaly psoriatic scab, mainly along the border of hair growth on the forehead, behind the ears, on the neck.
Under no circumstances should you comb and "pick" dry crusts. They need to be softened with a special keratolytic shampoo, a cleansing mask, and then gently remove loose scales from the skin.
Wash your hair for psoriasis as often as necessary. It is preferable to use either special or neutral shampoos. The second group includes products for children and adults for sensitive skin. They are free of fragrances, dyes and other harmful ingredients.
From medicated shampoos you can use:
- Tar.These products contain coal tar, which gives them a dark color and a specific odor. These shampoos are not well tolerated, so a test is needed. Medicinal cosmetics are sold in pharmacies.
- Zinc.They contain zinc-pyrithione, which cleanses the scalp from dead scales and reduces their number, relieves itching. If allantoin, an emollient ingredient, is added to the shampoo, it helps to relieve dry skin and heal the damage faster. Some remedies are designed to treat dandruff, but can be used for milder psoriasis.
- Antifungal.Ketoconazole shampoos reduce flaking and itching, and destroy fungal infections on the scalp.
In psoriasis, it is advisable not to rinse the shampoo off immediately, but to keep it for several minutes to several hours, so that the medicinal substances can penetrate deeper. The head must be washed gently without scratching the skin. After thoroughly rinsing off the shampoo, rinse with cool water acidified with vinegar. Avoid using a hair dryer.
Regular ointments are not suitable for lubricating plaque on the head. They are too oily, sticky hair and do not wash well. It is better to buy medications in the form of a cream, lotion, emulsion or aerosol - many manufacturers produce their products in a form that is convenient for treating ICH psoriasis.
Treatment of psoriasis on the head at home is successfully carried out with the help of folk remedies: masks and rinses.
Popular Recipes:
- to soften the crusts, rub a mixture of oils into the scalp: base (olive, burdock) and essential (tea tree, rosemary, cypress), put on a hat and leave until morning;
- make a paste of white or red clay with the addition of oils, spread on the head overnight;
- rub fresh onion juice into the skin;
- rinse with a decoction of nettle, chamomile;
- mix grape, almond and coconut oil in a 1: 1: 2 ratio (in tablespoons), add 1 tsp. cognac and honey, a few drops of lavender oil, mix thoroughly in a water bath, apply on the head for 2 hours;
- Exfoliate the scalp with sea salt with essential oil (eucalyptus, tea tree) - rub in and gently massage with your fingertips for 5 minutes, then wash your hair;
- prepare a mask: burdock oil, 2 yolks, alcohol tincture of marigolds, a few drops of tar, and keep it on the head for 2 - 3 hours.
Home Treatment for Nail Psoriasis
When psoriasis affects nails, they become brittle, wavy, and change color. These nails should be protected from external influences:
- do homework with gloves;
- abandon trim manicure;
- cut short nails after soaking them in water;
- use a protective healing varnish.
Home treatment for nail psoriasis includes:
- Reception of vitamin and mineral complexes that strengthen the nail plate, protect the cell membranes from damage (vitamins C, E, calcium).
- Hormonal ointments are most effective for nail treatment. When glucocorticosteroids are rubbed into the nail plate, they are practically not absorbed into the skin and do not penetrate into the bloodstream, therefore, their use is safe for 2 to 4 weeks.
- To strengthen and moisturize the nails, it is necessary to rub in them daily sea buckthorn oil (3 times a day) and oil vitamin A.
- For whitening and strengthening of nail plates, warm baths with cornstarch or oat flour, infusion of celandine, nettle, string are recommended.
Home remedies for psoriasis treatment
Herbal infusions are one of the most popular home treatments for psoriasis:
- Brew 1 tbsp in a thermos overnight. l. flax seeds (per glass of water). Before going to bed, drink 2 tablets of activated charcoal, take an infusion in the morning, eat the seeds. This recipe helps to detoxify the body, helping to reduce the intensity of the symptoms of the disease.
- Broth from the collection: roots of elecampane (10 gr. ), calamus (12 gr. ), St. John's wort (15 gr. ) and celandine (5 gr. ). Brew 300 ml of hot water in a thermos, leave for 3 hours. Filter, take 100 ml 2 times a day.
- 4 st. l. boil the seeds of the plow in a liter of water over low heat for 60 minutes. Strain and drink every hour on a spoon with an exacerbation, 4 times a day - in remission.
- Birch mushroom (100 gr. ) Brew with hot water overnight. In the morning, grind the chaga and pour the remaining water heated to 50 degrees, leave for three days. Filter, take 100 ml before each meal.
Effectively cleanse the skin of plaques, relieve itching and soothe baths:
- with decoctions of sage, string, celandine, St. John's wort;
- with sea salt;
- with blue clay;
- with baking soda
- with potato starch;
- with turpentine.
Before the bath, take a shower, then pour water at a comfortable temperature (not hot), dilute the medicinal composition. Bath time - 15 - 20 minutes, course - every other day.
To lubricate the plaques, you can use fresh celandine juice or prepare an ointment: mix ground dry herb with petroleum jelly or baby cream.
A well-proven butter cream (5 parts) with propolis (1 part). Put in a water bath, mix thoroughly and cool. Lubricate the plaque with hydrogen peroxide before use.
Diet for psoriasis
Psoriasis is often associated with food allergies. Many patients know exactly which foods are causing them to deteriorate. Others believe that nutrition does not significantly affect their condition. In any case, it is recommended to stick to a diet, at least during an exacerbation:
- exclude cocoa, chocolate;
- refuse coffee;
- do not eat spicy food;
- avoid preservatives and other additives;
- limit citrus fruits, red vegetables and fruits;
- completely forbidden alcohol (especially beer).
Outside of exacerbation, the diet can be expanded with "harmful" products, but at the same time carefully monitor the reaction of the skin.
Through diet, a healthy lifestyle, and home remedies for psoriasis, long-term remission can be achieved. But if folk remedies obviously do not help, you should "surrender" to the dermatologist and not give up the procedures and drugs that he offers. After relieving the exacerbation with the help of official medicine at home, it will be easier to engage in anti-relapse prevention.