Scalp psoriasis, Plaque psoriasis, Signs of psoriasis, Treatment for psoriasis, Psoriasis symptoms, Inverse psoriasis, Itchy skin, Flaky skin.
Root Cause of Disease
Inverse psoriasis is a disease that causes your skin cells to reproduce very quickly. It’s a type of psoriasis that appears in areas where your skin rubs against itself (skin folds), including:
- Armpits (axilla)
- Belly button (navel)
- Below your breasts
- Groin
It looks like a shiny, smooth, discolored (brown, red or purple) rash, and it may feel damp. Inverse psoriasis is commonly referred to as an autoimmune disease. But the antibody that causes the condition hasn’t been identified. So, it’s technically categorized as an immune-mediated disease.
Inverse psoriasis may cause red lesions in the skin folds to appear smooth and shiny. Typically, people will find that the areas are itchy. They may also experience pain due to fissures or cracks that commonly form in the center of the plaques. The lesions in the skin folds may present as well-defined dark brown or purplish patches in People of Color. An individual may also notice areas of darker or thicker skin. Psoriasis is not contagious. Common areas affected by inverse psoriasis include the armpits, under the breasts, and groin. It can also occur in the genital area. In the presence of warmth, moisture, and friction, the appearance of the skin changes and may further irritate inverse psoriasis.
Symptoms
Symptoms of inverse psoriasis include:
- A shiny, smooth, discolored (brown, pink, purple or red) rash.
- Cracks (fissures) in your skin creases.
- Itchiness.
- Moist patch of skin.
Symptoms of inverse psoriasis with an infection may include:
- Bumps in the affected area that contain pus.
- A foul smell.
- Small cuts or tiny cracks in your skin.
- Swelling.
- Tenderness.
Causes
Inverse psoriasis is an immune system problem. Your immune response overreacts, causing inflammation, which leads to new skin cells growing too fast.
Typically, new skin cells grow every 28 to 30 days. But in people with inverse psoriasis, new cells grow and move to the surface of your skin every three to four days. The buildup of new cells replacing old cells creates a shiny rash.
Inverse psoriasis runs in families, so there may be a genetic trigger. Parents may pass it down to their children.
In addition to your genes, these things can make you more likely to get psoriasis:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Medications
- Infections
- Alcohol
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Stress
- Skin irritation or any injury to the skin
Home Remedies to treat Inverse Psoriasis
Remedy – 1: See the Light
Sunlight is an excellent remedy for psoriasis. Every day, spend 15 to 30 minutes in the sun, and you should see results in less than six weeks. While doctors don’t have the full explanation, research shows that sunlight decreases the activity of the skin’s T cells. These specialized cells produce substances called cytokines, which initiate a cycle of inflammation. When you expose T cells to sunlight, it quells their action, breaking the cycle. Protect yourself from burning by wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 on healthy areas of skin.
Remedy – 2: Go Skin Dipping
• Take a good, long soak in warm water then add some vegetable oil.Here’s why: A long bath can soften scaly patches and soothe itching, but bathing can also dry your skin and make itching worse. So sit in the tub for about 10 minutes, letting your skin get thoroughly soaked, but about 5 minutes before you get out, add a few spoonfuls of vegetable oil. That’s all it takes to seal the water into your skin.
• To relieve itching, try a cool-water bath, adding vinegar to the bathwater. Many people find that vinegar helps psoriasis, even though doctors aren’t sure why. What’s known is that acetic acid in vinegar kills bacteria—and one theory holds that psoriasis is made worse by bacteria.
• Fine-ground oatmeal is another good ingredient for itch relief. You can sprinkle in an oatmeal product specially made for bathing, such as Aveeno. Or put unflavored oatmeal in a blender, grind it until it turns into a fine powder, then sprinkle it in the water.
Product link: Oatmeal, Vinegar
Remedy – 3: Avoid Getting into Scrapes
• Keep your hands off the red spots. Even minor damage to your skin can worsen your psoriasis symptoms. If you pick and scratch the itchy patches, you’ll damage your skin, which can lead to more extensive outbreaks.
• Always use an electric shaver instead of a razor if you have psoriasis on your legs, face, or other areas where you shave. A sharp razor nicks your skin, no matter how careful you are, which raises your risk of new outbreaks. Shavers are gentler.
Remedy – 4: Exercise
Get regular exercise. It’s a great stress reducer—and stress is known to contribute to outbreaks. If you can take a 30-minute walk every day, you may be surprised at how effectively that token amount of exercise distracts you from things that are getting you keyed up.
Practice a relaxing mental exercise, such as meditating or deep breathing, a few minutes each day.
Other Remedies
Aloe Vera
You can apply the gel from the Aloe Vera plant to your skin up to 3 times per day. There are some studies which are said that this home remedy can help to reduce the scaling and redness associated with psoriasis. There are no studies in which it is said that taking Aloe Vera in tablet form can help you in the treatment of psoriasis and it can be dangerous so you should avoid it unless your doctor has recommended it.
Turmeric
Turmeric is possessing antioxidant and anti – inflammatory properties. It has curcumin, an active ingredient, which has the ability to alter gene expression. There was one study in 2012 in which it was said that turmeric has the ability to modify TNF cytokine expression which is linked to minimising psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis flares. You can take turmeric in supplement or pill form. Also, if you want curries, then you can add it to your food. It is recommended taking 1.5 – 3 grams of this natural cure on a daily basis to be safe. You should talk with a naturopathic practitioner to help you with the right dosage for you.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of a plant which is native to Australia. It is believed that it has antiseptic properties and it can be applied to the skin. Some people have found that using shampoos with tea tree oil can help them to get relief from scalp psoriasis. But there are no scientific studies to prove the effectiveness of the tea tree oil on psoriasis. You should use tea tree oil with care because some people can be allergic to it.
Preventions
There is no way to prevent psoriasis. But you can take steps to improve symptoms or help reduce the number of psoriasis flare-ups.
The best treatment option may vary from person to person. Experimenting and finding the best combination of approaches can help.
1. Wrap up during cold, dry weather
This type of weather can trigger psoriasis flares.Scientists do not fully understand why flares are more common in wintry weather, but some research suggests that cold and dark conditions with low humidity cause the skin to thicken and become inflamed.Wrapping up warm reduces the skin’s exposure to cold, dry air, and this may help prevent winter flare-ups.Using a home humidifier helps keep the air moist. This may help moisturize the skin and reduce psoriasis symptoms. A humidifier may be particularly useful in the winter.
2. Keep the skin moisturized
Moisturizing is a key technique for people with psoriasis. This is because dryness can trigger flares and make skin scaling so severe that the skin cracks and bleeds.People might also try moisturizing with coconut oil or aloe vera gel, both of which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
3.Avoid sunburn
Skin damage, including sunburn, is a common cause of psoriasis flares. Wearing sunscreen and limiting time spent in the sun during the hottest part of the day are helpful strategies.
4. Supplement with Vitamin D
Research has suggested that vitamin D deficiency is common in people with psoriasis, particularly in the winter.
People can get more vitamin D from:
- Natural sunlight
- Certain foods, such as salmon, milk, and fortified cereals
- Vitamin D supplements
