Common Home Remedies Making Your Psoriasis Worse

If you have psoriasis, chances are you’ve received well-meaning advice about psoriasis home remedies. There are many recommendations for helping psoriasis flare-ups at home. As psoriasis can be a painful, debilitating condition, it’s natural to want to relieve symptoms in a convenient fashion.

You should always approach psoriasis home remedies with caution. What works for one person may not work for another, as psoriasis symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. Home remedies are also often not well-researched and there’s limited evidence as to their effectiveness.

While some home remedies may simply be ineffective, some can actually harm your skin – especially if your skin is very sensitive. There may be anecdotal evidence that some people with psoriasis benefited from the below solutions. However, be careful as they can cause debilitating side effects that make psoriasis worse.

Oregon Grape

An antimicrobial herb, Oregon grape is a much hyped psoriasis home remedy. While some research does indicate creams containing Oregon grape reduce symptoms, research is still preliminary.

If you decide to use Oregon grape on your psoriasis, you should do so with extreme caution. Topical creams containing Oregon grape can cause burning, itching, irritation, and rashes. As it’s a relatively new solution option, it’s probably best to avoid Oregon grape until we have more evidence about its effectiveness – especially considering it could potentially worsen symptoms.

Essential Oils 

Essential oils have been touted as a natural solution for a range of ailments. Tea tree oil, lavender oil, and rose oil are often used for psoriasis. However, it’s easy to use essential oils improperly, and even with safe use they can cause side effects.

Essential oils should never be applied to the skin directly. You should always use only a few drops of essential oils diluted in a carrier oil like olive oil or canola oil. Even when properly diluted, many people have allergic reactions to essential oils or experience side effects like burning, scaling, and redness.

All of this can make psoriasis worse. Essential oils are particularly risky if you have other skin conditions, like eczema, in addition to psoriasis. Those with sensitive skin should also avoid essential oils.

Sea Salt Baths

Preliminary research has shown that sea salt baths may help with psoriasis. However, much like Oregon grape, studies are very limited. You should exercise caution before taking long baths if you have psoriasis.

Water in general depletes skin of its natural oils, drying it out. This can worsen psoriasis symptoms. Sea salt, or similar products like Epsom salt, might not be inherently harmful to psoriasis, but long baths can be.

If you do decide to try a sea salt soak, make sure you limit your time in the tub to no more than 15 minutes and apply moisturizer afterwards.

Aloe Vera Gel

Known for its ability to soothe burns, it’s no surprise that many have taken to using aloe vera creams as a psoriasis solution.

However, research on its effectiveness on psoriasis is mixed. In fact, some clinical trials found that aloe vera gel fared no better than placebos for psoriasis solution.

Not only that, aloe vera gel can cause many side effects similar to options like essential oils. It contains latex, which can trigger an allergic reaction, and can also cause side effects like redness, itchiness, and rashes.

Safer Solution Options

Not all home remedies are dangerous. There are many that may be worth trying.

As stress is known to cause flare-ups, try practicing yoga and meditation. Or increase your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are often found in fatty fish like salmon and tuna. Omega-3s have anti-inflammatory properties that could help with psoriasis.

Even though the research on these solution options is mixed, none of them are inherently harmful. In fact, even if they do not affect your psoriasis, they could improve your mind and body in other ways. When it comes to home remedies, it’s best to choose options that have supplemental health benefits and don’t carry undue risk.

 
Delfina was created by a physician and is designed to penetrate the skin’s outer layer and stimulate hydration from within. Delfina users have not reported side effects.

Delfina Dry Skin Oil is also very easy to use. All you have to do is spray the affected area and rub the oil into the skin. Full absorption only takes 10 seconds.

If you’re suffering from psoriasis, we know exactly how important it is to find relief. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us at any time. We are always happy to help.