Psoriasis

Home Treatment

Skin care at home can help control psoriasis. Skin care and treatment may include using creams or lotions, pills, baths or soaks, and ultraviolet (UV) light. Skin care for psoriasis includes the following:

• Take care of your skin, and keep your skin moist.
• Gently soften and remove psoriasis crusts by putting cream on the crusts and then peeling the loose crusts off. This may help creams and lotions be absorbed into the skin. But removing crusts should be done very carefully so that the skin is not irritated.
• Follow instructions for skin products and prescribed medicines. It may take a period of trial and error until you know which skin products or methods work best for you. For mild symptoms of psoriasis, various over-the-counter products, such as aloe vera, may be soothing.
• Follow your schedule for sunlight or ultraviolet light treatments.
• Seek information or counseling from your doctor. Psoriasis day care centers, where you can get intensive treatment for severe psoriasis, may be available in some areas. To find a center near you, ask your doctor or contact the National Psoriasis Foundation at www.psoriasis.org.

For more information on caring for your skin, see:

Psoriasis: Skin care.

Other helpful suggestions to control psoriasis include:

• Protect your skin. Treat all infections promptly, and try to avoid skin injuries and irritation.
• Take care of your scalp. When you have psoriasis on your scalp, treat your scalp, not your hair.
• Trim your nails. Keep your nails trimmed to prevent the spread of psoriasis or flare-ups.
• Be careful in the sun. Although short periods of sun exposure reduce psoriasis in most people, too much sun exposure can damage the skin and cause skin cancer. Also, sunburns can trigger flares of psoriasis.
• Be aware of possible medicine reactions. Certain medicines can trigger psoriasis or make symptoms worse.

Studies have not found any "psoriasis diet" that can cure or improve the condition, despite claims over the years. Try to eat a balanced, low-fat diet, and stay at a healthy weight.

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Author:	Maria Essig	Last Updated: December 26, 2009
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology
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