Psoriasis Smells! Use Aromatherapy and Essential Oils To Make It Better

 The human nose is an amazing instrument. Every single day we use

it to inhale and exhale an average of 23,000 times. Every breath pulls fragrant molecules out of the air, carries them into our nostrils and delivers their messages to our olfactory systems.

Every cycle causes a chain-reaction of events. It begins with an object releasing odor molecules into the air that eventually get swept into the nose, where they float down onto the olfactory nerves and send out their smelly messages to the limbic system of the brain, where our memories and emotions reside.

That is why, whenever you smell the warm aroma of a golden, freshly baked loaf of bread, you might remember that small bakery you used to run to everyday as a child, or reminisce about your grandma's home-made baguette.

Apart from that, the limbic system also includes a complex structure known as the hypothalamus, which is a control area that regulates our internal state. This is where the sweet smell of aromatherapy drifts into the picture, as it is this process that provides the therapeutic foundation for using different fragrances to treat psoriasis.

Which Essential Oils are the Best for Psoriasis?

The following essential oils are all great for psoriasis as they help to oxygenate, rejuvenate, nourish and heal damaged skin!

1. Tea Tree Oil, also known as melaleuca oil, is renowned for its special remedial properties and has been used by Australian Aborigines for hundreds of years. Apart from chewing on its leaves, the aborigines used it for treating many skin-ailments, such as burns, cuts, and psoriasis! This essential oil is steam-distilled from a tree native to Australia, and acts as an antiseptic, a mild anaesthetic and a disinfectant, thanks to a compound called 'terpinen-4-ol'. It is so useful that tea-tree oil became standard issue for Australian soldiers during World War 2! It is also great for treating scalp-psoriasis, and can be mixed directly into the shampoo before every wash.

2. Lavender Oil is a firm favourite for many - it smells just like that perfume your terrifying elderly aunt uses, and it's great for psoriasis! It is a species of mint that grows in the Mediterranean, and bears very recognisable purple flowers. The plant has anti-inflammatory compounds called linalool and linalyl aldehyde, and also acts as an antiseptic agent. In addition, the University of Maryland Medical Centre has published studies that have demonstrated the benefits of using lavender oil in controlling pain and limiting scaly skin patches.

3. Roman Chamomile oil (Anthemis Nobilis) and German Chamomile oil (Matricaria Chamomilla) are two other great essential oils for the skin. The word Chamomile means "earth apple", presumably after its apple-like aroma, and is usually light-blue in colour. Chamomile oil is great for psoriasis for two main reasons - it has vasoconstrictor properties that helps to reduce the redness of skin, and it has lipophilic compounds that strengthen the skin by decreasing capillary fragility.

4. Sandalwood oil is extracted from the up-to-60-years-old inner heartwood of the evergreen Sandal Trees. It is often found in perfumes alongside patchouli, and gives many eau de parfum's their exotic 'woody' smell. However, apart from just smelling good, this essential oil is also great for treating psoriasis. The highest quality sandalwood oils are pale yellow to pale gold in colour, and contain a high percentage of santalol - around 90%. It is useful in relieving the dehydrated and inflamed skin that is characteristic of psoriasis.

5. Rose Oil is an excellent oil for skin care as it promotes cellular regeneration and is great for hydrating the skin. It takes several thousand fresh rose petals to make one drop of rose oil, and it has been used by such historical figures as Cleopatra and Marie Antoinette. This oil is great for helping to soften any rough or hardened patches of psoriasis. You can even add a few drops to a 50p dollop of moisturising cream to treat your skin right before you go to bed!

6. Apricot Kernel Oil is another great choice for psoriasis. It is quite light in colour and has a pleasant nutty odour. This finely textured oil acts as a great exfoliator, helping to smooth and moisturize the skin. Apart from such skin softening properties, it is also high in vitamin A and E content, and has many essential fatty acids that make it good for treating prematurely aged and irritated skin. As it is so good at maintaining skin elasticity, it is routinely used to calm the inflammation of eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.

Natural Psoriasis cures - Safe and Effective Psoriasis Remedies

 Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the skin and joints. Psoriasis is not contagious. Visible symptoms include scaly, red skin that is itchy and dry. The severity of psoriasis symptoms also varies from person to person, and treatment must be tailored to meet the individual needs of the patient. Currently, there is no prescription medication available that is guaranteed to cure psoriasis 100%. Drugs used to treat psoriasis are often dangerous and come with unwanted side effects.

Doctors typically prescribe steroid creams, phototherapy, and systemic drugs to alleviate psoriasis symptoms. Steroid creams can thin the skin, phototherapy may be inconvenient, and systemic drugs often come with dangerous life threatening complications. However, there are plenty of natural remedies for psoriasis that are both safe and effective.

Because psoriasis is unpredictable and stubborn, a solution that works for one person may not work for another. It is up to the psoriasis sufferer to carefully monitor their reactions to different treatments, natural or otherwise. It takes trial and error to find each individual's psoriasis cure.

Here are some of the most popular and effective natural cures for psoriasis:

Natural Psoriasis Treatment #1: Sunlight

Many psoriasis sufferers have cited sunlight as a natural cure for psoriasis. The UV rays from the sun slow down the T-cells in our body that cause inflammation and an overproduction of skin cells. Exposing the skin to sunlight also allows the body to produce vitamin D, which reduces the severity of psoriasis lesions. Try getting at least 10 minutes of sun daily. However, be careful to avoid sunburn as it can lead to a psoriasis flare up.

Natural Psoriasis Treatment #2: Lukewarm Baths

Take baths in lukewarm water. Hot water can dry out skin and aggravate psoriasis symptoms. Allow yourself to soak for 10-15 minutes in order to soften the skin scales. This will aid the exfoliation of dead skin. Gently rub off the dead skin after 10 minutes of soaking.

Some psoriasis patients have had great success soaking in bath salts. Add Dead Sea salt or Epsom salt into the bath water as an effective treatment for psoriasis. The salt draws toxins out of the body and quells inflammation and itching.

Natural Psoriasis Treatment #3: Add Flax Seeds to Your Diet

Flax seeds contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation. Flax seeds can be purchased at most health stores and should be eaten daily to control the severity of psoriasis symptoms.

Take a spoonful of flax seed oil three times a day or sprinkle flax seeds generously over your cereal in the morning.

Like any treatment, natural treatments for psoriasis often take time to produce results. Be patient and don't give up! If one natural remedy doesn't work, persevere and try another.

Living With Psoriasis Skin Disease

 Do you, or someone you know, suffer from psoriasis skin disease? Do you know the cause? Did you know that Psoriasis may be one of the oldest recorded skin conditions? It was probably first described around 35 AD. Some evidence indicates an even earlier date. Yet, until recently, little was known about psoriasis.

Psoriasis is the most common skin condition known today. People who develop psoriasis have plaque psoriasis, which appears as patches of raised, reddish skin covered by silvery-white scale. These patches, or plaques, frequently form on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp. However, the plaques can occur anywhere on the body.

Psoriasis skin disease is a chronic condition because there is currently no cure. People often experience flare ups and remissions throughout their life. Controlling the signs and symptoms typically requires lifelong therapy. Psoriasis usually causes much discomfort; the skin often itches, and it may crack and bleed. In severe cases, the itching and discomfort may keep a person awake at night, and the pain can make everyday tasks difficult.

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Some psoriasis is so mild that the person is unaware of the condition. Recently, research has significantly advanced in the understanding of psoriasis. One important breakthrough began with the discovery that kidney-transplant recipients who had psoriasis experienced clearing when taking cyclosporine. Since cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive medication, this indicates that the immune system is involved.

The National Psoriasis Foundation reports that 56 million work hours are lost each year by those who have psoriasis. Additionally, a survey conducted by the National Psoriasis Foundation in 2002 indicates that 26% of people living with moderate to severe psoriasis have been forced to change or discontinue their normal daily activities.

Unfortunately, more than 4.5 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with psoriasis, and approximately 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. An estimated 20% have moderate to severe psoriasis. While psoriasis occurs equally in males and females, more recent studies show that there may be an ethnic link.

It seems that psoriasis is most common in Caucasians and slightly less common in African Americans. Additionally, psoriasis is most common in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe. It appears to be far less common among Asians and is rare in Native Americans.

However, living with this lifelong condition can be physically and emotionally challenging. Itching, soreness, cracked and bleeding skin are common. Several studies have shown that people often feel frustrated. In some cases, psoriasis limits activities and makes it difficult to perform job responsibilities.

Studies also have shown that stress, anxiety, loneliness, and low self-esteem are part of daily life for people living with psoriasis skin disease. Imagine the embarrassment and pain an individual suffers with this condition.

Why Choose Home Remedies For Psoriasis Treatment

 There are a number of products and choices out there for sufferers of psoriasis. There are store products, medication, or home remedies. Everyone is different and not all things will work for everybody. Preferences are different too while one person is fine with home remedies others prefer doctor prescribed medications. 

 

 

There are five main reasons why people choose home remedies over the other choices. The first reason is home remedies are low cost and effective at the same time. Not everyone wants to spend lots of money on medications and creams when they can use products around the home they already have.

The second reason is there are no doctor's visits. Not everyone these days has health insurance and even with the insurance a doctor's visit can be pricy. There is not always time to go to the doctor either, so home remedies also save time.

The third reason is the amount of choices home remedies give you. You can do things at home and in your own time and you can choose which treatments work best for you. Some people will simply lotion after showers and drink extra water. Other people will opt for oatmeal bathes, wet wraps, or diet changes. There are many other treatments to choose from.

The fourth reason is the fewer side effects with home remedies. Many prescription medications and over the counter products come packed with dangerous side effects. Home remedies are safer because they have little to no side-effects. You want to find relief for psoriasis, not a whole load of other medical issues.

The fifth reason is that there is nothing really to lose. You are in charge of your own relief and creating your own remedy. Not many things can go wrong and if they don't work, you can always stop using them without money being thrown out of your pocket.

Psoriasis is not fun to have and the outbreaks can be unbearable, but there are things you can do to help alleviate the symptoms. Home remedies are a cheap and easy way to find relieve.

Conventional Treatments for Psoriasis - and why they could making you worse!

 You make an appointment to see your doctor because your psoriasis is flaring. He takes a look and then whips out his prescription pad to order one of the following:

. A prescription strength topical treatment

. phototherapy

. oral and injection therapy

. over the counter drugs

Any of these treatments (or a combination of them) may work fine to relieve your symptoms and make you feel better - for now. The trouble with conventional treatment methods is that they rarely work to cure the underlying cause of this skin condition; and that can leave you suffering repeat attacks. Still it is important to know what helps are available, and how they may help - or hurt - your chance of treatment success.

Topical Ointments

Topical ointments are used at the first sign of psoriasis. If caught early enough they can sometimes stave off a full-blown attack. Unfortunately, most people report becoming immune to them when used often, which makes them useless for long term use. Still, using the occasional cream or gel can help relieve some of your symptoms. Steroids

Both topical and internal steroids can be prescribed to help ease psoriasis swelling inflammation and itching. Immunomodulators (TIMS)

A non-steroidal treatment for psoriasis, TIMS work by inhibiting a key step in the activation of the T-lymphocyte, a cell found in the immune system that causes some of the changes seen in psoriatic skin lesions and plaguing. Oral and Injection Therapies Oral and injection therapies used for psoriasis are usually reserved for hard to treat cases and include three main oral and injectable medications: Methotrexate (MTX)

MTX is a type of chemotherapy drug that has been shown to help relieve severer psoriasis. This heavy duty drug works in two major ways: 1. to stop plaque building cells from regenerating at such a fast speed 2. to stop inflammation on white blood cells, which keeps psoriasis lesions from growing. Cyclosporine

An immune suppressing drug that was originally used to help transplant patients beat organ rejection, Cyclosporine helps to inhibit T lymphocyte production so that scaly plaque is unable to grow on the surface of the skin. Oral Retinoid

Retinoid are Vitamin A based synthetic drugs that fall under two main groups: Isotretinoins and Acitretins.

Side Effects to Watch Out For When Using Drug Therapies

Psoriasis drug therapies may offer some relief from your symptoms, but they can also cause some nasty side effects. Although irritation is the most common side effects of these medications, a few more serious ones may include: . thinning of the skin - when left go, this can become a real health hazard

. stretch marks

. acne like eruptions

. dermatitis

. increased lightening or darkening of the skin

. inflammation of the hair follicle

. increased blood vessel formation

. infection

. rebound psoriasis

. loss of effect over time (the drugs simply stop working)

Phototherapy

One of the most effective (and safest) forms of psoriasis treatment help is natural sunlight. When used properly (and in conjunction with other treatment methods), sunlight can help to heal sore and damaged skin as well as rid the body of psoriasis.

Phototherapy, combines UVB and UVA rays with topical steroids or other ointments for best results. Dead Sea Salts

Although a common psoriasis healing help in Asia, Dead Sea Salt water is just now becoming popular amongst American dermatologists. Simply soaking in a bath filled with a cup of these slats can offer tremendous relief. With so many different types of conventional psoriasis therapies available, it can be difficult for patients to gauge whether the relief offered is worth the risk. Discuss both the pros and cons of all medications with your doctor before undergoing any psoriasis treatment.