Do you have itchy skin? Burning sensations? Red patches and peeling skin? Do you have itchy scalp and dandruff? Impossible for you to last two days without washing your hair? You probably have psoriasis.
The psoriasis is a chronic skin disease, a bit like eczema, which affects between 2 and 4% of the French population .
It took me a long time to understand that I had this chronic disease and wasted a lot of time trying treatments and care that were not adapted to my pathology.
I had a series of appointments with the doctors and between each new treatment my patience was put to the test. I said to myself "this time, you won't scratch yourself!" (it's the ultimate goal when you know that scratching prolongs irritation for another 2 weeks) and I ended up scratching my blood. It even woke me up at night...
Please note, I'm not a doctor or a specialist, I'm just going to share with you what has worked for me and helped me calm my psoriasis-related itching . These tips should keep you going until a dermatologist finds the right treatment for you.
It's a skin disease which causes outbreaks of red patches on the body. These plaques scratch, pull and make the skin uncomfortable to the point that some people cannot work when they are in "crisis". Yes, because, even if we notice that some areas are more favorable than others (elbows, knees, skin folds and lower back), psoriasis can be found all over the body. In more advanced forms, the plaques can also appear on the skull, on the palms of the hands and feet, on the torso and on the legs. There is even a form of psoriasis on the nails called nail psoriasis !
You will find more information on psoriasis and its symptoms on the Améli website.
The triggering factors are so varied that it is still difficult today to draw a typical portrait of a person prone to this disease. Health professionals themselves cannot agree on the most favorable moments in life for the first outbreaks . For some it may be before 1 year of life, for others this disease may not appear until adolescence and for still others it only appears between the ages of 30 and 50, when the skin becomes more mature.
Beyond the fact that this disease can cause discomfort and be very disabling , it can also affect self-confidence. The way others look at various skin problems (eczema, acne, atopic dermatitis, angioma, etc.) is often difficult for patients to live with... An association also exists to help and support them:France Psoriasis.
The triggers of seizures are very diverse:
The symptoms are as diverse as the causes of triggering and above all each form has its own symptoms ! So that psoriasis in the elbows is not necessarily the same as that which appears on the skull, hands or feet. The signs range from small red patches, to small pustules, through fever outbreaks, chills and severe itching.
In any case, during the first outbreaks, it is strongly recommended to make an appointment with a dermatologist or a treating physician. The dermatologist will be able to make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment to relieve the symptoms and improve the quality of life.
To accompany this treatment and to prevent seizures , it is also recommended to review your lifestyle. So, how to calm the itching of psoriasis? How to relieve the effects of psoriasis on the scalp? We tell you everything!
Here we will not talk about treatment strictly speaking, because I am not a dermatologist, but rather natural solutions to calm the itching of psoriasis and prevent attacks! Between diet, mental health and beauty products, several things can be put in place at home in order to space out crises and get out of the vicious circle of "crisis-stress-poor diet-let go-crisis-.. .".
You should know this if you regularly read our articles, at NUOO we believe in a natural beauty in &out . Food is just as important as the cosmetics we use. Well, know that an anti-inflammatory diet could calm the itching of psoriasis and space out flare-ups! Nothing has really been proven, but based on the principle that this chronic disease causes inflammation of the skin, some doctors consider it wise to limit the latter via anti-inflammatory foods . Not so stupid knowing that diet is one of the causes of triggering!
It is therefore advisable to limit gluten consumption (if recognized allergy), to focus on a good intake of omega 3, via vegetable oils, and selenium, via tuna, nuts, but also to drink plenty of water. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains as well as dark chocolate are also to be consumed!
If in your case the psoriasis is due to a dysregulation of the immune system , taking vitamin D by mouth can be a good idea since it regulates the immune system. It is also known to limit inflammation!
As we have seen, stress is one of the triggering factors. The best way to manage stress is to do relaxing activities such as meditation, yoga or even going for a walk. If you are more of an intensive sport style, treat yourself! The goal is to eliminate any potential stress from the body and take care of the mind. Remember:the body expresses emotions, so well-being or discomfort can result in rashes.
I thought for a long time that I was not affected by stress, but my body manifested it in different forms and made me realize that I had to change my habits. I started meditation, running and a few sessions of yoga and it helped me a lot to channel all that energy and stress! Putting on my sneakers and taking a breath of fresh air in the forest after my day's work helps me decompress and get rid of all the hassles of everyday life. You should try;)
Fighting itching also involves using the right beauty products! We banish all conventional products, far too irritating and stripping, to turn to more natural care. Vegetable oils, for example, can be used to nourish the skin and massage it to calm the itching of psoriasis. Tamanu, borage or calendula oily macerate are recommended, as they are softening, regenerating, soothing and anti-inflammatory plants.
Focus on the care to use to relieve psoriasis !
For the beauty routine, it is better to go for organic cosmetics made with as many natural ingredients as possible. We also favor anti-inflammatory and soothing active ingredients , such as Roman chamomile, cadier wood, or even coriander leaves, all present in Indemne's "Hair to Scratch" Soothing Lotion.
For the scalp, it's a bit the same principle as for the body, we seek soothing, softness and hydration . Before shampooing, you can apply argan oil to the scalp, a regenerating, softening and nourishing oil. To wash the hair and scalp gently, Indemne's "Hair to Scratch" Shampoo is ideal. It contains the same active ingredients as the lotion mentioned above.
Of course, we avoid hair dryers or straightening irons, which are a little too aggressive.
I share with you a selection of shampoos for sensitive scalps that worked well on me and calmed my itching:
These are organic shampoos, made with 97% natural ingredients minimum, without sulphates (except for the Unique brand shampoo which contains Sodium Coco Sulfate) and without controversial substances, you can go there with your eyes closed!
The latter is known to have anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial properties and has an alkaline pH, everything you need to drive away the urge to scratch! To use it, just mix in a bottle 125 ml of organic vinegar with 1 liter of lukewarm water. The mixture can then be applied with a compress to the irritated areas up to twice a day to calm and relieve the itching!
For my part, I sprayed the mixture on my scalp and I left it on for 15 minutes before my shampoo to relieve psoriasis located on the scalp (in addition, it leaves pretty highlights in the hair!).
If in doubt, the first advice we can give is to consult a health professional in order to make a diagnosis and have a treatment adapted to the type of psoriasis. Then, all the tips mentioned above can be implemented in prevention or in support of treatment during a new outbreak! They will also allow you to better cope with the situation and regain your self-confidence, two essential things when you are suffering from a skin disease.
Do you have any questions about our advice to soothe the itching of psoriasis? Leave them in the comments!
For a personalized routine adapted to psoriasis, contact us at [email protected]
