Scalp psoriasis, Plaque Psoriasis, Signs of psoriasis, Treatment for psoriasis, Psoriasis symptoms
Root Cause of Disease
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the rapid buildup of your skin cells. This buildup of cells causes scaling on your skin’s surface. Inflammation and redness around the scales are fairly common. Typical psoriatic scales are whitish-silver and develop in thick, red patches. However, on darker skin tones, they can also appear more as purplish, dark brown with gray scales. Sometimes, these patches will crack and bleed.
Psoriasis is the result of a sped-up skin production process. Typically, skin cells grow deep in your skin and slowly rise to the surface. Eventually, they fall off. The typical life cycle of a skin cell is 1 month.In people with psoriasis, this production process may occur in just a few days. Because of this, skin cells don’t have time to fall off. This rapid overproduction leads to the buildup of skin cells..
The most common type of psoriasis, plaque psoriasis causes dry, itchy, raised skin patches (plaques) covered with scales. There may be few or many. They usually appear on the elbows, knees, lower back and scalp. The patches vary in color, depending on skin color. The affected skin might heal with temporary changes in color (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation), particularly on brown or Black skin.
Symptoms
Psoriasis symptoms differ from person to person and depend on the type of psoriasis you have. Areas of psoriasis can be as small as a few flakes on your scalp or elbow, or cover the majority of your body.
The most common symptoms of plaque psoriasis include:
- Raised, inflamed patches of skin that appear red on light skin and brown or purple on dark skin
- Whitish-silver scales or plaques on the red patches or gray scales on purple and brown patches
- Dry skin that may crack and bleed
- Soreness around patches
- Itching and burning sensations around patches
- Thick, pitted nails
- Painful, swollen joints
Causes
Normally, new skin cells need about 28 days to migrate from deep within your skin to the surface, where they replace dead cells that fall away. But if you have psoriasis, the cycle is compressed into about four days. Skin cells pile up, causing distinctive red, bumpy patches covered with white scales. These frequently develop on the knees, elbows, and scalp. The cause is unknown, but psoriasis seems to be more prevalent in some families than in others. People with psoriasis tend to have flare-ups, when the rashes get worse, followed by intervals when the condition is far less severe.
Psoriasis is thought to be an immune system problem that causes skin cells to grow faster than usual. In the most common type of psoriasis, known as plaque psoriasis, this rapid turnover of cells results in dry, scaly patches.
The cause of psoriasis isn’t fully understood. It’s thought to be an immune system problem where infection-fighting cells attack healthy skin cells by mistake. Researchers believe that both genetics and environmental factors play a role. The condition is not contagious.
Common psoriasis triggers include:
- Infections, such as strep throat or skin infections
- Weather, especially cold, dry conditions
- Injury to the skin, such as a cut or scrape, a bug bite, or a severe sunburn
- Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
- Heavy alcohol consumption
- Certain medications — including lithium, high blood pressure drugs and antimalarial drugs
Home Remedies to treat Plaque 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
Materials : Vegetable oil, Vinegar
Procedure:
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 spoon full of vegetable oil. That’s all it takes to seal the water into your skin. (Be careful getting out of the tub ,because oil makes the tub slippery.)
- 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.
Shopping links: Oatmeal, Vinegar
Remedy – 3: Don Another Layer
- After bathing, spread on a moisturizing cream to lock in your skin’s natural moisture. Make sure to add a thick layer to the psoriasis patches. This helps prevent cracking. Avoid liquid lotions, which dry up too quickly.
- Try a cream that contains chamomile, if you can find one. This plant has a long-held reputation for reducing inflammation and soothing flaky skin.
- Rub a few drops of tea-tree oil into your psoriasis patches several times a day. This Australian remedy is useful for relieving itch and softening psoriasis patches, especially if you have a mild case. However, some people have an allergic reaction to tea-tree oil, so be sure to test on a small patch of skin. Also, the skin covered with tea-tree oil may have increased sensitivity to Sunlight.
- To soften the skin and remove scaly patches, you can also use petroleum jelly. Apply it as often as necessary.
Other Remedies
Avoid fragrances
It is known that most soaps and perfumes have dyes and other chemicals in them which can irritate your skin. They can make you smell great, but also they can inflame psoriasis. You should avoid these products whenever you can or you should choose products that are used for sensitive skin.
Capsaicin
This is an ingredient found in chilli peppers which makes them hot. When this ingredient is added to creams and ointments, then it blocks nerve endings which transmit pain. There are some studies in which it is said that the OTC creams which have capsaicin can help to reduce the scaling, redness and inflammation associated with psoriasis. But a lot more studies in future to approve its long – term usage and safety. There are some people who have said that they felt a burning sensation when the capsaicin ointment is applied.
Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has been used by ancient cultures as a disinfectant. It can help you to get relief from scalp itch caused by psoriasis. You can apply it to your affected areas. If you have cracked wounds or if they are bleeding, then you should avoid this home remedy because it can irritate your skin and cause you a burning sensation. Usually, this home remedy gives better results in a period of a few weeks but you should talk with your doctor before you start using 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. Keep the scalp moisturized
When psoriasis affects the scalp, it is important to keep this area moisturized. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, tar shampoos and salicylic acid can help.
4. Get regular exposure to sunlight
UV radiation has immunosuppressive effects. As a result, it may help reduce symptoms of autoimmune conditions, such as psoriasis. UV light therapy is a treatment option for people with psoriasis. But short, regular exposure to natural sunlight may also help improve psoriasis symptoms and prevent flares due to the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects of sunlight.
5. 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.
6. 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:
