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Is Scalp Psoriasis Contagious
Anybody have any good Home Remedies For Psoriasis?
My niece is 3 years old and has a patch of it on her scalp and I also have a touch of it on my knees and elbows. They have tried a medicated shampoo for her but it doesn't seem to be working. I have also tried several prescription ointments for mine, that hasn't worked real well. I just wondered if anyone knew of any home remedies for this. My grandfather has it also. I just hope my kids don't end up with it. I was 19 before mine broke out. I've been told it's hereditary. It's hard to get control of and there is no cure for it and I really don't want them to have to go through that and the people looking at you like you have some kind of contagious disease. That really gets on my nerves. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Look for lactic. All our experts agree that the most important step in controlling psoriasis is to keep skin well moisturized. "A big problem with psoriasis is scale buildup, and moisturizers are extremely effective at preventing this," says Nicholas J. Lowe, M.D., clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine and director of the Skin Research Foundation of California in Santa Monica. "Plain petroleum jelly is a very effective moisturizer. But if you're buying a commercial moisturizer, those that contain lactic acid, such as LactiCare, seem to work better. Also, Eucerin cream works well as a moisturizer for those with psoriasis."
Moisturize after bathing. To get the most from your moisturizer, "apply it within three minutes after leaving the shower or bathtub," advises Glennis McNeal, public information director at the National Psoriasis Foundation headquarters in Portland, Oregon. "We recommend that you pat yourself dry and apply the moisturizer liberally all over your body--not just on plaques. That's because even 'clear' skin in people with psoriasis is drier than in people who don't have psoriasis. It's thought that little cracks on dry skin might encourage more psoriasis."
Soak up the sun. Many psoriasis patients are prescribed a specific regimen of ultraviolet light treatments. Getting artificial sunlight from a special lamp or tanning booth can help. An easier and less expensive method is simply to hit the Great Outdoors. "We know that exposure to sunlight is extremely helpful for treating psoriasis," says David Kalin, M.D., a family practitioner in Largo, Florida. A moderate amount of sunlight enhances the production of vitamin D, which may be effective in controlling psoriasis.
But don't soak up the booze. Doctors are still trying to find out for sure why alcohol exacerbates psoriasis. They suspect that alcohol increases activity of a certain kind of white blood cell that's found in psoriasis patients but not in other people. (But it's also possible that drinkers are just more highly stressed and therefore more prone to psoriasis.)
"Alcohol is a definite problem," according to Stephen M. Purcell, D.O., chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and assistant clinical professor at Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. "It's best to not drink at all if you have psoriasis."
Spice up your bath. Bathing is often a catch-22 for those with psoriasis. That's because soaking in warm water helps soften psoriasis plaques, but it sometimes dries skin and worsens itching. "One way to get the benefits of a bath without the dryness is to add a couple of capfuls of vegetable oil to your bath," says McNeal. "The best way to do it is to get in the tub first, so your body soaks up the water, and then add the oil." Another alternative suggested by McNeal: Mix two teaspoons of olive oil in a large glass of milk and add that to your bath.
Be extra careful stepping out of the tub, since oils can make surfaces very slippery. (Be sure to scrub the tub afterward.)
Head to the kitchen to soothe that itchin'. To soothe itching caused by dry skin and psoriasis, dissolve 1/3 cup of baking soda in a gallon of water. Soak a washcloth in the solution, wring it out, and then it apply to the itchy area. Or add a cup of apple cider kitchen vinegar to the water and apply that to the skin.
Cover the cracks with cow cream. If your skin is cracked because of psoriasis--which can cause itching and more plaques--do what dairymen do. "They found that Bag Balm, a product originally used to relieve cracking in cow udders, worked just as well on their cracked hands," says McNeal. "Then people with psoriasis found it worked great on their dry or cracked skin." Bag Balm is available at most feed stores; some drugstores may be able to order it.
Take care of mind and body. Stress is a known trigger of psoriasis, so managing your mental state--through exercise, relaxation techniques or whatever mellows you out--is one way to keep your condition under control.
Guard against infection and injury. "Infection may lead to an outbreak or worsen your condition, so it's important to try to avoid infectious disease," says Dr. Kalin. New lesions may also appear on injured skin, so try to avoid cuts and scrapes.
Watch what you eat. "Although there are no specific links that have been proven, it appears a diet high in oily fish--such as tuna, mackerel, sardines and salmon--helps reduce the itching and inflammation of psoriasis," says Dr. Lowe.
Avoid certain foods. "Some anecdotal reports suggest patients do better when they reduce or eliminate tomatoes and tomato-based dishes--possibly because of high acidity levels," says Dr. Kalin. "Also, some of my patients with psoriasis have noticed a decrease in plaques by avoiding or limiting their intake of pork products and other fatty meats as well as caffeine."
Go electric. If you have plaques on your face, neck, legs or other areas that require shaving, use an electric razor instead of a blade. "An electric razor won't cut skin as easily, and every time you cut yourself, you risk new lesions,"
What to Look For in a Psoriasis Shampoo?
If you are one of the many people who have scalp psoriasis, you have either tried or will want to try the use of psoriasis shampoo to help with the condition. There are many available over-the-counter varieties from which to choose, and they can help with psoriasis. There are also many herbal remedy shampoos which have been shown to lessen the effects of the condition as well.
Psoriasis is a chronic and non-infectious or contagious skin condition from which millions of Americans suffer. It is not actually a disease in and of itself, but it often results from other body mechanics. Though the exact cause of the condition is not known, it can be linked to a number of other ailments as well as other physiological conditions, including hormone levels, genetic predisposition, and age.
Many medical practitioners and researches believe psoriasis is actually a side effect of the body's own immune system. Disorders associated with autoimmune response are those which are caused by triggers or the overreaction of the body's immune response to external factors. These triggers can lead to flares in psoriasis symptoms. Common triggers can include common illnesses, severe infections, other chronic ailments, and stress.
The most common forms of psoriasis are those which affect the elbows, knees, and scalp skin. Scalp psoriasis can appear similar to dandruff in adults and adolescents, and to "cradle cap" in infants and babies. Just like dandruff, the most effective treatment for scalp psoriasis is the use of well-designed shampoos. In fact, those shampoos designed for the treatment of dandruff can often be effective in treating mild cases of scalp psoriasis. Other special psoriasis shampoos can also be effective for many sufferers. Those shampoos which include specific ingredients are the most effective. These ingredients include zinc and salicylic acid.
Coal tar shampoos have been proven particularly beneficial in the treatment of scalp psoriasis. They are designed to exfoliate psoriasis scales on the scalp, and can therefore provide relief from dryness and itching in addition to improving general scalp appearance. Shampoos can be obtained through a prescription from a dermatologist as well.
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Regardless of the type of psoriasis shampoo used, it is essential that it be left on for several minutes before thoroughly rinsing in the shower or bath. This allows the soothing, medicating, and moisturizing components of the shampoo to penetrate the thick, scaly layer of psoriasis plaques on the scalp.
To learn more about psoriasis, please be sure to visit http://www.psoriasis.healthanddiettips.com.
