Psoriasis: An Overview of Treatment for Psoriasis by Dr Rajesh Shah, MD

Psoriasis is a difficult disease to treat. It has been a challenge to the medical faculty, as most cases of psoriasis tend to relapse after using any kind of currently available treatments.

Various therapies for psoriasis treatment:

There are many ways, methods, and therapies applied to treat psoriasis. Many methods produce results, which may last for varying periods. The psoriasis treatment modalities included conventional medicine or so-called modern medicine and alternative medicines such as homeopathy, herbal, Ayurveda acupuncture, supplements, phototherapy, etc.

The treatment is used by different modes of administrations such as topical or local cream or lotions or oils, oral medicines, use of ultraviolet lights (phototherapy), injections, and use of needles in acupuncture.

Topical treatment:

Psoriasis being a disease on skin, a layman would obviously think of getting it treated by applying some form of medicine on the skin. The use of the local application is called topical therapy. The medicines used on the skin may be in any form such as the use of immunosuppressive medicines, such as cortisone, herbal oil, anti-bacterial cream, moisturizer, and other topical applications.

Ask your questions to Dr. Shah's team directly & get an expert opinion on your ailment

Dr Shah’s views on topical treatment:

However, it must be noted, as I am always saying, that, psoriasis is a disease on the skin, and it is not a disease of the skin. This means that psoriasis is a disease of the internal, immunological system, which manifests on the skin. The topical treatment is going to be short-lasting and superficial.

Our experience, based on a few thousand of cases treated at Life Force, states that when you treat psoriasis (or any skin disease for that matter) by topical method, the disease invariably relapses or comes back.

Conventional medicine (immunosuppressive) medicines: The conventional medicines or so-called allopathic or modern medicine uses more of the following medicines, all of them are immunosuppressive medicine in some way or the other.

Psoralen (with or without P-UV rays) (Oral)

Cortisone (Oral, injections, topical)

Methotrexate (Oral)

Cyclosporine (Oral)

Retinoids (Oral)

Homeopathic treatment for Psoriasis:

Homeopathic treatment for psoriasis aims at addressing the immunological factors responsible for its development. The immune system is governed by a host of factors such as genetic, environmental, physical, emotional, hormonal factors, etc. So, psoriasis treatment with homeopathy aims to consider the totality of the person who has psoriasis.

The most distinguishing method in homeopathy is the way homeopathic medicines are prepared, using a method called Potentization, which allows hidden therapeutic nano-particles to be released from the source material. The medicines used in homeopathy are sourced from plants, minerals, chemicals, animal products, etc.

Some of the commonly used medicines in homeopathy for psoriasis treatment can be listed as Graphites, Kali carbonicum, Thuja occidentalis, Sulphur, Petroleum, Mezereum, Kali sulphuricum, Psorinum, Arsenicum album, Lycopodium clavatum.

The homeopathic medicines are always administered in the form of oral pills, to be taken in the mouth. Homeopathy does not believe in applying any medicinal substance on the skin to cure it, except using moisturizer.

At Life Force, we use some of the recently developed, research-based new homeopathic medicines as well.

Non-medicinal moisturizer:

The use of moisturizer forms a vital part of the psoriasis treatment, regardless of the kind of medicines that you use as primary therapy. Excessive scaling and dryness of skin, flaking, and itching can be helped with moisturizer.

At Life Force, we suggest one or more of the following moisturizers:

Petroleum jelly

Coconut oil or olive oil

Aloe vera juice

Natural, Herbal, Ayurvedic treatment:

Certain herbs and Ayurvedic medicines have been found to effective for psoriasis treatment. The treatment entails the use of plants, salts, churns, and chemicals (rasayana) in different forms along with yoga, pranayama, body cleansing, and correcting food habits.

Ask your questions to Dr. Shah's team directly & get an expert opinion on your ailment

Supplements for Psoriasis:

Psoriasis does not arise due to any deficiency. However, certain supplements could help fast recovery from psoriasis indirectly. Excessive flakiness may be regulated by an adequate dose of Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D3.

Diet in Psoriasis:

As such psoriasis is not a dietary disease. However, it has been observed that certain unhealthy diet could spoil health in general and psoriasis in particular. At Life Force, we have observed that reducing or eliminating animal proteins in the form of red meat helps recover faster. Also, A gluten-free diet has helped many patients. Eliminating fatty foods, dairy products, and processed foods, and artificially flavored foods can help treat psoriasis symptomatically. Omega 3s rich foods, such as flaxseeds, olive oil, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts, are beneficial along with psoriasis treatment.

Ask your questions to Dr. Shah's team directly & get an expert opinion on your ailment

Amazing Benefits of Homeopathy for Psoriasis:

Homeopathy uses a different approach than other treatments to treat psoriases and offers the affected individual a great relief. Some prominent benefits of homeopathy for psoriasis treatment are as below:

The homeopathic treatment acts on your body’s immunity level and helps normalize your over-active immune system. It regulates the symptoms of psoriasis effectively without any concerns.

Homeopathic medicines for psoriasis treatment are derived from natural substances. This is why homeopathic medicines are completely safe to use and do not cause any side-effects.

Homeopathic treatment figures out the root cause of psoriasis and works on eliminating it.

Homeopathic medicines for treating psoriasis are specific to every affected psoriasis individual. It considers detailed medical history, past treatments, and various other factors to provide you a customized treatment.

Homeopathy for psoriasis treatment provides you a long term relief, and, eventually, it helps cure the condition completely over a period of time.

6 Effective Health Tips For Psoriasis:

1. Resist Scratching:

You may feel an urge to scratch your inflamed, red, itchy, and patchy skin resulting due to psoriasis. However, scratching your skin will only aggravate the condition, damage your skin, and give rise to infection. So, avoid scratching your psoriasis affected skin. Make sure you have short nails and use hand gloves to avoid scratching hazards.

2. Reduce Stress:

Most often chronic psoriasis sufferers are vulnerable to anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and suicidal thoughts. So, you need to relieve your stress in order to help regulate your condition. Joining a support group or going for counseling can help

3. Eat Healthily:

Eating healthy food is also a part of psoriasis treatment to regulate the flare-ups. You need to eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fishes like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and others, garlic, fresh fruits, carrot, kale, squash, and other fresh vegetables to regulate the inflammation. Avoid gluten foods in your diets, such as bread and pasta, as they may trigger the flare-up. Drink a lot of water daily. Also, you need to get plenty of sleep and perform exercises regularly.

4.Have Warm Baths:

Avoid hot water baths and go for warm baths, as hot water may irritate your skin. Add Epsom salt and soothing olive oil to your lukewarm bathing water as it helps soothe your itching and offers you a great relief.

5. Avoid Triggers:

Avoiding psoriasis triggers supports psoriasis treatment, as it helps you minimize the chances of flare-ups. Figure out your psoriasis triggers, such as foods, medications, stress, or weather, and stay away from them to regulate the risks of a flare-up.

6. Stop Smoking and Limit Alcohol:

Make sure you stay away from alcohol and smoking, as smoking and heaving drinking can interrupt the remission periods, mitigate the effect of psoriasis treatment, and trigger the flare-ups easily. Get help from your doctor to quit smoking and regulate your drinking.

Side-Effects of other Treatments:

While homeopathy for psoriasis treatment is 100% safe, various treatments other than homeopathy can affect your health adversely. Here are some side-effects of conventional treatments.

Retinoids: Even though retinoids treat psoriasis symptoms effectively, the symptoms return when you stop using it. Its side effects are lip inflammation, loss of hair, and birth defects in newborns if it’s consumed during pregnancy.

Even though retinoids treat psoriasis symptoms effectively, the symptoms return when you stop using it. Its side effects are lip inflammation, loss of hair, and birth defects in newborns if it’s consumed during pregnancy. Cyclosporine: Side-effects of cyclosporine when used as psoriasis treatment are a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, and kidney problems.

Side-effects of cyclosporine when used as psoriasis treatment are a weakened immune system, high blood pressure, and kidney problems. Methotrexate: The long term use of methotrexate can cause a significant reduction in white and red blood cells in your body and liver damage.

The long term use of methotrexate can cause a significant reduction in white and red blood cells in your body and liver damage. PUVA: Itching, burning, and nausea are some of the common side-effects of PUVA.

Ask your questions to Dr. Shah's team directly & get an expert opinion on your ailment

Psoriasis treatment in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and across the globe by Life Force