Take it from a long time sufferer of Psoriasis. Don’t you ever get tired of all the bull crap on How To Cure Psoriasis? Read my story first and then judge for yourself. First there’s a few basic things you need to understand before I teach you how to cure psoriasis in less than 3 months.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been searching for a Psoriasis cure all of my life. Other than a “temporary”, but total disappearance of all traces of of Psoriasis on my body a few years ago, as far as I was concerned, there was no cure for Psoriasis. But wait… all of these years I’ve been approaching this all wrong, and so has everybody else including your narrow-minded doctor.

The reason being, is that there will never be a cure for psoriasis until such time that a team of biologist are assigned the task of discovering why our killer T-cells are over-reacting, and creating a medication mild enough for every day use that will suppress the immune system without the risk of developing other diseases. Does this sound like a contradiction? It sure is!

Rest assured that I speak and write from experience in addition to the extensive research I have done on the subject. Just so that you know, I’m not against doctors. I just feel that most doctors live in ignorance! Can you blame them? They’ve studied long and hard in their respective discipline to obtain their degrees, so in their minds, why should they listen to anyone else? How dare they ask me to “think” outside the box?

They usually have a family like most of us, are busy with their personal lives, and heck it’s not their problem… they’ve become indifferent and immune to people’s complaints about their legitimate health problems… until it affects them personally! This added to the fact that they constantly live in fear of being sued.

I’ve been a Psoriasis sufferer since the age of 22. I’m now 62, and I hope my story will inspire you not to waste too much time with this disease… as Psoriasis does worsen as you get older. Depriving yourself of everyday living, such as going swimming with your children to avoid embarrassment to them or yourself… things such as dating, wearing summer clothing, walking the beaches, always hiding and always conscious of people staring, making comments! Is it contagious? You know the feeling… being refused access to public swimming places because they fear you might catch another disease… so they say, and doing this for years, decades even… depriving yourself all of those little things that really count, which you could have done if only your doctor would have “thought” outside the box a little!

Using useless prescribed creams and methods that just don’t work, in the hope of a better life! But enough of that for now, as I’ll continue my story after giving you some facts on Psoriasis which were never revealed to you. And, what you must do to NO LONGER HAVE TO LIVE WITH PSORIASIS! This doesn’t mean that your Psoriasis is cured… it simply means that their will never be any visible traces of Psoriasis on your body… but better still, your Psoriasis will be controlled… in effect, the spread of it STOPPED!

Let’s begin with what Is Psoriasis? In short, Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. I want you to think real hard on these two phrases… autoimmune disease and faulty signal!

- Autoimmune disease? Disease is a little harsh. It’s more like an unbalanced immune system (probably due to some form of toxin in your body which has yet to be identified).

- A faulty signal! This is so very important to understand. Skin cells have a regular and natural growth cycle of about 24 days on average. In the case of Psoriasis, the growth cycle is much faster, hence not giving you enough time to shed your old skin, the new skin accumulating at the top causing inflammation and forming psoriatic plaques, before the old skin has had time to shed. What you have is a build-up of skin.

Your skin has a very sophisticated defense mechanism, whereby every time it feels it’s being invaded by some foreign, exterior toxin of some kind (many times a day), it signals the first cells of defense to stop these invaders by whichever way it has damaged and penetrated your skin, letting the natural growth cycle of new skin cells take it’s course.

The red inflammation you see on your skin is in fact that first line of defense, such as in an insect bite. If these guys can’t do the job, then they call upon REAL killer cells (T-cells), to come and do the job. These killer cells have a built in memory system, recalling past infections… and should only react when this specific intruder is present, or when called upon by the first line of defense for some other toxin/intruder. The natural growth cycle of skin cells continues as if nothing ever happened.

Again, the red inflammation you see around a cut, or wound, is that first line of defense busy working to heal the cut or wound and keeping out infections… and this is normal. Without inflammation, cuts and wounds would not heal and leave you open to serious infections. In the case of Psoriasis, rather than the first line of defense taking over and letting the growth cycle of new skin take it’s course, it is the real killer cells that immediately jump into action and in doing so causes the growth cycle of new skin to be fast with the result being an abundance of skin which form those scaly, silver looking patches.

Remember what I said about killer T-cells… they have a built-in memory system. When they are called upon to react for a particular infection, they will always respond for that particular infection thereafter. So when you first contracted Psoriasis and your killer T-cells reacted, that was it… it was forever embedded in their memory. So, in the case of Psoriasis, your immune system, rather than letting the first line of defense take it’s role, it calls upon those killer T-cells, interferes with the normal growth cycle, and quickens the process for faster healing, hence causing an over abundance of new skin under the yet to be shed old skin.

Psoriasis is not contagious. It commonly causes red, scaly patches to appear on the skin, although some patients have no dermatological symptoms. The scaly patches commonly caused by psoriasis, called psoriasis plaques, are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production. Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites which gives it a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees, but can affect any area including the scalp, palms of hands and soles of feet, and genitals.

The disorder, as it is now called, is a chronic recurring condition that varies in severity from minor localized patches to complete body coverage. Fingernails and toenails are frequently affected (psoriatic nail dystrophy) and can be seen as an isolated symptom. Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints, which is known as psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis first appeared on my body, after a deep cut I sustained from a piece of chrome molding of a car. The cut was on the left forearm, close t the left elbow. At the time, I hadn’t thought much of it, but was glad that the 2″ long and deep cut had healed rather quickly. I was 22 at the time.

A few months later, the itching began and I noticed flaking of skin where the cut had been. The more time went by, the more the flaking had moved towards the left elbow. Now I was constantly scratching and picking at my left elbow. The more I scratched, the more the flaking developed into full blown scales, silver in color, and all I had to do was just pick at the scales… and they would fall off. It was then that I was diagnosed with Psoriasis. I was told it was incurable and to learn to live with it. By the following year, Psoriasis had spread to both elbows and both knees… and a very small spot or plaque, on the right thigh.

Fast Forward 3 Years…there is a point to all this. In 1974, I turned 25… and something I never expected happened. I was hospitalized for a growth on the left optic nerve. A growth called a pseudo tumor that just kept growing and slowly pushing my left eye out of its socket, causing extreme pain. I remained in that hospital (the Montreal Institute of Neurology), for approximately 90 days… but not without a series of many, many awkward tests involving a team of worldwide experts trying to determine the best approach to resolving my problem. One of the options was to drill a hole through my skull to try and get a biopsy of this growth. It was quickly ruled out because it being on the optic nerve, guaranteed complete blindness in the left eye and partial blindness in the right eye.

The only alternative left was to put me on a certain medication, which at the time was considered extremely dangerous because of its side effects. One of their main concerns was sterility for the rest of my life, and extreme weakening of my immune system leaving me open to serious infections which would normally not occur… as if I cared at 25. I mean what were my options… blindness or no kids! I’m Introduced To Prednisone.

Before I begin telling you of my experience on Prednisone, let me give you a brief description of this drug according to Wikipedia as of the writing of this report, some 35 years later.Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an immunosuppressant, and affects virtually all of the immune system. It is used to treat certain inflammatory diseases and (at

higher doses) cancer, but has significant adverse effects. Since it suppresses the immune system, it leaves patients more susceptible to infections.

In fact, during an overnight stay at the hospital recently, I was put in a room with 6 other men who had prostate cancer. All f those men were receiving Prednisone as a treatment for their prostate cancer. Prednisone is a prodrug that is converted by the liver into prednisolone, which is the active drug and also a steroid.

My treating physician sees no alternative but to put me on a high dosage beginning with 36 pills, then skipping a day, then down to 34 pills… and so on, always skipping a day in between. It worked! Not only did it suppress the growth on my optic nerve, but because it is an immunosuppressant, and hence suppressed those famous Real killer cells which causes Psoriasis… and all of my Psoriasis disappeared! Once of the Prednisone… and a few months down the road, the Psoriasis began to re-appear.

Fast forward to 1979. My father passes away at 59… and I’m traumatized! This trauma triggers the mass sitting on my optic nerve again. Back on Prednisone, but this time on a smaller scale. Starting with 24 – 22 – 20 and so on. All of my Psoriasis disappears… and re-appears some months down the line after I stopped the treatment. Ironically, my treating physician, a top neurologist at the Montreal Institute of Neurology informs me that Prednisone is not as dangerous as they once thought!

Fast forward to 1984. Low and behold, another trauma in my life… but this time because of a financial breakdown. On the point of losing my home etc., this trauma triggers my growth once again. Back on Prednisone on a smaller dose… 12 – 10 – 8… with the same results. After 1984, I never went back to Prednisone.

Fast forward to 2005. It is a difficult time in my life… alone, jobless, living in a basement apartment with lots of humidity and at times mold. In addition I’m going through stressful times with my teenage son. By now, the Psoriasis on my right thigh has grown to the size of a small plate. This stressful situation is beginning to take its toll. Psoriasis has now appeared on my front left leg just above my ankle and is growing rapidly. It has also appeared on the calf of my right leg and growing rapidly.

Fast forward to 2008 – 2009. Psoriasis has now spread to my lower back, my buttocks and in between the inner thighs and genitals. I’m living a nightmare. Early one morning in the fall of 2009, at about 5:00 A.M., I come to get out of bed and the moment my feet touch the floor, I feel excruciating pain in my feet and ankles. My feet, toes, ankles are swollen. In a panic I get to the hospital with just socks on, since I can’t get my shoes on. After a few blood tests and a physical examination, I’m diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis brought on by my Psoriasis!

I’m referred to a dermatologist who tells me he can’t do anything for but prescribe cream. I politely tell him “you obviously know very little about psoriasis” and leave! The hospital had also referred me to a Rheumatologist who supposedly is the specialist for Psoriatic Arthritis. Unfortunately, I’ve been trying to see this specialist for over a year now. I’m hoping that he will put me on a maintenance level of Prednisone, but I’m not holding my breath…cause I don’t particularly care what he says, and here’s why!

My research on Prednisone led me to a 21 page report prepared by Dr. Schein… so I will only outline what is pertinent to Psoriasis. I have only quoted what I feel is important to Psoriasis sufferers… what you must know before you decide to take this route, as I am about to:

1. What is clear in my mind is this… that Prednisone does allow you to live free of Psoriasis.

2. It is a fact that it can be taken on a maintenance level without too much concern.

Description: Prednisone is the most commonly prescribed oral corticosteroid. The drug is metabolized in the liver to its active form, prednisolone. Prednisone is 4 times as potent as a glucocorticoid (also known as GC). So What Is Glucocorticoids? GCs are naturally occurring hormones that prevent or suppress inflammation and immune responses when administered at pharmacological doses. GCs are part of the feedback mechanism in the immune system that turns immune activity (inflammation) down. They are therefore used in medicine to treat diseases that are caused by an overactive immune system, such as in Psoriasis. They also interfere with some of the abnormal mechanisms in cancer cells, so they are used in high doses to treat cancer.

Side Note: if it is the most commonly prescribed oral corticosteroid… then it cannot be that dangerous as my doctor once told me.

Pharmacokinetics: Prednisone is rapidly absorbed across the GI membrane following oral administration. Peak effects can be observed after 1 – 2 hours. Systemic prednisone (meaning taken according to a specific prescribed dosage), is quickly distributed into the kidneys, intestines, skin, liver and muscle. Any excess… inactive as well as small portions of active are excreted in the urine.

Dosage: Important… these recommended dosages are equivalent Glucocorticoid dosages. The following is the exact wording taken from the report which deals with Psoriasis. “For the treatment of rheumatic conditions such as arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute and subacute bursitis, acute non-specific tenosynovitis, acute gouty arthritis and gout, osteoarthritis, or epicondylitis”.

Oral Adult Dosage: Dosage is titrated (concentration is determined), to response. Usual dosage, however, is 5 – 30mg once daily.

Side Effects: Granted, there are a lot of them… but, they are “more” there as a precaution. As I stated earlier, my

doctor told me that prednisone is not as dangerous as once thought to be. You also have to pay attention to your pre-existing condition.There are over-the-counter drugs on the market, that people take every day, that have just as many side-effects and worse! I’ll give you just one example here… ALEVE!

There are also other oral drugs being prescribed for Psoriasis which are equally full of side-effects. I for one, consider Prednisone safer than most… but at least it works.

Conclusion: Considering the amount of Prednisone I use to take, with no or little side effects, I truly believe that we Psoriasis sufferers… especially the ones who’s Psoriasis has escalated to Psoriatic Arthritis should have the option to decide whether we want to take a little risk or not! It’s up to you to question your doctor

The Irony: I’ve come to realize that after a certain age, almost everybody either dies of cancer or heart failure whether their immune system is strong or not. One of the warnings of taking Prednisone is weakening your immune system and making you more susceptible to cancer. But yet, once you get cancer and you most likely will in later years… is they treat you with Prednisone, as in prostate cancer… the biggest killer of men next to heart failure. The same can be said for women with breast cancer. Isn’t that ironic?

Can it be that if you take Prednisone before cancer ever develops, that your chances of getting cancer are less?

Alternatively: Now I’m about to reveal to you what happened to me between 1990 and 1992. If you recall, this was during the big commotion on this new supplement called “beta carotene”. But not just any beta carotene, one specific expensive brand which is no longer available since certain “people” started saying that you could actually overdose on beta carotene… which turned out to be false. After being on this particular brand for about 3-4 months, all of my psoriasis had disappeared. Unfortunately, I never ordered enough and eventually the psoriasis came back.

This taught me a very important lesson because, that particular brand of beta carotene was the equivalent of eating many pounds of carrots, lettuce, cabbage, and fruits such as apples in huge doses and all in one day. Obviously, this is physically impossible in it’s natural form. But here is the key: it was a supplement consisting of massive amounts of vegetables and fruits with mainly carrots.

Supplements are meant to be taken with your regular meals. However, the point being is that this beta carotene became your main massive intake of vegetables and fruits, which in turn restored the balance of your autoimmune system.

In conclusion, in order to control your psoriasis and make it disappear for good, you need to restore the balance of your autoimmune system (safely suppressing those killer T-cells), via a proper alkaline diet consisting of mostly vegetables and fruits… and stay on it for the rest of your life.

So you have a dumb doctor who won’t put you on a maintenance dosage of prednisone… what can you do? You fear taking Prednisone or any other kind of medicine for Psoriasis. First, you begin by creating and follow a diet specifically tailored for people with Psoriasis.

I suggest you visit this website for a look at the special link to a book with the perfect diets to follow. Next find a supplement consisting of mainly vegetables that will compliment your Psoriasis diet 10 fold, and stick with it. This will suppress your killer T-cells without any danger of lowering your auto immune system.

Plaque psoriasis is the most commonly occurring form of psoriasis.

It is characterized by inflamed patches of red and silvery skin that flakes, itches, causes pain and is quite unsightly.

Plaque psoriasis is the form of psoriasis that comes to mind most readily when the disease is mentioned.

While the plaques can be found anywhere on the body as in very severe cases, the most common locations are the backs of joints such as the elbows and knees. Up to 50% of psoriasis sufferers also suffer from scalp psoriasis which affects the scalp and may reach to the ears, neck and face.

This type of psoriasis occurs equally in men and women and can occur at any age, the two peak ages being the late teens and the late 50′s. Certain hereditary factors mediate the potential development of plaque psoriasis but environmental factors such as sunlight exposure, smoking, alcoholism and preexisting immune conditions may play a role.

This form of psoriasis ranges in severity from almost asymptomatic to mild to extremely severe. Since this is a chronic condition, it never goes away completely but rather recurs cyclically. Flare-ups can last several weeks, even months.

Plaque psoriasis can be diagnosed by visual inspection by a doctor or dermatologist.

The characteristic scaly plaques obviate the disease.

Treatment of this form of psoriasis depends greatly upon the severity of the condition. Milder cases can often be managed with the use of topical creams and ointments and, in the case of scalp psoriasis sufferers, shampoos and oils.

Moderate and severe cases often necessitate stricter adherence to a set of psoriasis diet and exercise guidelines and the use of stronger medications. Psoriasis treatment in these more advanced cases may entail the use of strong topical medications, phototherapy (light therapy), systemic (body-wide) treatments and injections.

Topical applications may include anything ranging from moisturizers to salicylic acid to corticosteroids. Topical medications are best utilized in the treatment of particularly stubborn plaques and patches.

Treatment of this psoriasis with light therapy involves exposure to either natural sunlight or controlled amounts of specific wavelengths of artificially produced light. These therapies can work well but carry possible complications such as scarring, blistering and increased risk of skin cancer.

Systemic treatments include potent immunosuppressant drugs that carry serious side effects and so are typically reserved for very sever and recalcitrant cases of plaque psoriasis.

Lastly, since plaque psoriasis is a chronic condition, it is wise to take measures to mitigate inflammatory response and increase overall health by means of a proper diet, intelligent supplementation regimen, regular exercise and a low stress lifestyle.

There are many treatments for psoriasis both those that are effective and those that are not and one of the best psoriasis treatments involves implementing a psoriasis diet. Making changes to your diet will not only improve your health but also works as an effective way to control psoriasis.

While a psoriasis “cure” does not exist per se, there are definitely many ways that can help you deal with current psoriasis flare-ups or eliminate the occurrence of flare-ups or keep them to a minimum without resorting to drugs which may come with their own side effects.

What Causes Psoriasis?
Knowing what causes psoriasis begins with the understanding that this is a chronic skin condition with no known cure at the present time. There continues to be continuing research into what causes psoriasis since doctors have no idea what causes psoriasis. Doctors and research has shown that it tends to run in families with a family history of the condition however one may develop this condition even in the absence of a family history. In addition, simply having a family history does not automatically mean that that one will develop the disease.

This disease continues to remain a mystery in term of what causes psoriasis and why the immune system then functions abnormally leading to the skin regeneration occurring more frequently than normal in someone with psoriasis. Normal skin regeneration when old skin cells are discarded making way for new skin cells, takes place in about 30 days. With psoriasis, this process takes place in a matter of a few days leading to dry, round, scaly patches of that are silvery, gray or white in color in most cases of psoriasis. A few other cases of psoriasis produce smooth reddish skin, pus filled bumps, etc.

Psoriasis Diet
Psoriasis flare-ups can be triggered by a variety of reasons such as stress, a skin injury, certain infections especially bacterial infections, certain drugs, surgery, etc. Various herbalists also believe that flare-ups can be caused by having a toxic liver or anxiety.

Today’s agricultural practices are not what they used to be which means that our foods are not as nutritious as they could be and our bodies in addition to our skins bear the brunt of this change in the way food is produced. If you suffer from skin conditions including psoriasis, this makes it doubly important to follow a proper diet.

Our bodies are also filled with toxins from various sources such as the environment in addition to the food we consume. In order to rid our bodies of these toxins, it is better to do this through urine and not through our skin especially if you have psoriasis and a proper psoriasis diet will help you get rid of toxins naturally.

Getting a psoriasis diagnosis means that one of the effective measures you need to adopt is to adopt a psoriasis diet immediately which will help you control or eliminate flare-ups.

The first step with a psoriasis diet is to eliminate or significantly reduce processed foods. Include more whole foods such as whole grains in your diet. Look for organic foods which do not contain pesticides. These whole foods will help your body greatly with the process of elimination since they contain a lot of fiber and they also contain various nutrients that are not only good for the body but also good for the skin. A diet that is rich in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and zinc comprises an effective psoriasis diet. For sulfur content, consuming garlic and onions is beneficial.

Keeping sodium consumption to a minimum is important for psoriasis. Sodium contains dehydrating properties and one of the main ways to fight psoriasis is to keep the skin properly hydrated. Dry skin will only lead to psoriasis flare-ups.

Including good fats in your body while eliminating bad fats such as saturated fats and trans fats is important on a psoriasis diet. Good fats include omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids commonly found in certain fish such as salmon or tuna, certain nuts, oils such as olive oil or canola oil, etc. Fatty acids are great to reduce inflammation. Supplements containing these fatty acids may also be added to a psoriasis diet if you have difficulty included the actual foods on the psoriasis diet. Other supplements such as those containing evening primrose oil, borage oil, etc are also great for a psoriasis diet.

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. Most people with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales. The skin grows much faster than surrounding skin and feels much thicker. This skin, now called scales, either fall of on their own or through rubbing or scratching

My Psoriasis

I developed psoriasis at about the same time I got sarcoidosis, and after a long round of prednisone and a number of inhalants, the sarcoidosis was gone leaving me with the psoriasis and now asthma as well. My doctor kept me on the inhalants, which there were three of, and prescribed a cream with a steroid in it for my psoriasis. It started on my knees and spread to my elbows, then my ankles, lower leg, and finally the back of my hands. It is currently making its way from my elbows to my hands. This is a very slow progression as I am talking about a period of 25 years. Over the period, I graduated to stronger and stronger creams and today I use Dovobet, which is very effective but seems to cause skin disruptions in other areas. All the creams I have used in the past have left the skin very thin and I regularly find my elbows or knees bleeding from minor bumps and rubs.

When I did my 21 day fast in 2010 the psoriasis did improve greatly but it was still there. The skin cells did seem to be multiplying at a slower rate and If I had kept going who knows what the result could have been. Doctor Joel Fuhrman, M.D., wrote in his book “Fasting and Eating for Health” the following, “My experience has shown that most patients psoriatic lesions improve if they fast long enough”. A short fast of seven days does show improvement as I have experienced and a long fast can drastically improve the condition.

There are a few schools of thought as to the cause of psoriasis. One being a condition called leaky gut syndrome which is a damaged bowel wall that allows toxins, microbes, undigested food, waste, or larger than normal macromolecules to leak through and get into the bloodstream. This causes all kinds of problems including out of control immune system responses and inflammatory type responses.

Since my psoriasis did improve during my last 21 day fast I expect to see much better improvement this time around. I am at day 12 of my water fast as I write this and I do see definite improvements in the psoriasis especially my hands. That is the last place that it appeared and may be the first location to see great improvement. I do not expect it to be totally gone by the end of the fast as that will take a few months longer after the fast and will be dependent on my diet. I suspect a water fast would have the same beneficial effects on those with Eczema as well. My fast started August 29th, 2011 and will continue until my hunger returns, which I suspect will be between 40 and 60 days. I invite you to follow along at my blog where I will be providing pics, video, stats and commentary every couple of days.

Since psoriasis in the eyes of the world isn’t all too much of an important disease attempts to cure and or help with the symptoms come few and far in between. Obviously these people don’t have to deal with psoriasis on a daily basis. If you suffer from this you know that new psoriasis treatments are hard to come by, but you know the pain and irritation caused by the ever itching dry red and sometimes scaly plaques. After testing countless products I think that I just might have found a new approach that may start to clear psoriasis once and for all.

Ustekinumab is the funny word for a new psoriasis treatment which is actually a chemical drug that was invented in 2009 to help the sufferers of auto immune inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis. It works by targeting the mechanisms that cause your body to create an excess of skin cells. It’s still in its trial state but in a test involving 1200 participants after about 12 weeks of being exposed to Ustekinumab 75 percent had a significant reduction of the psoriatic plaques in an even more astounding feat about 42 percent of the patients lost about 90 percent of the symptoms of psoriasis. This simple to take drug can be taken in three month intervals by way of injection.

This may mean that you can finally get rid of the embarrassment associated with having psoriasis. Imagine a life where you don’t have to hide your arms, where you are free to enjoy yourself.

With any disease, ensuring that the sufferer gets adequate rest, manages stress, exercises, and follows a healthy eating plan are very important when trying to overcome any sickness. The last item is of especially great importance to psoriasis sufferers to help control the condition by following a proper psoriasis diet.

Importance of a Psoriasis Diet

While there currently exists no cure for psoriasis, there are various drug therapies as well as home remedies for psoriasis that can help to alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis. Another way to manage this chronic skin condition is by following a psoriasis diet which requires making adjustments to the food consumed to help with the various symptoms of psoriasis.

While psoriasis can not be managed with a psoriasis diet alone, it can certainly help and there is no harm in trying. Psoriasis is such a complicated condition to treat and various therapies such as the use of various medicines, home remedies for psoriasis, light therapies, psoriasis diets, etc may be required before finding what works to control your particular case of psoriasis. This search and trial and error to find what works may be arduous but it is important not to lose hope and to keep trying until you find what works for you.

In addition to the various methods discussed previously, if you find that changing your diet or using various food supplements seems to help control the condition without harming you, it would seem prudent to continue with this psoriasis diet and/or food supplements.

Implementing proper nutrition is very important for a psoriasis diet especially when you think about the heavy loss of skin that results from the scales created with psoriasis as well as the inflammation during the entire period of a psoriasis flare-up which could possibly lead to nutritional deficiencies. The skin which is usually affected by psoriasis is the largest organ in the body and needs various nutrients to remain healthy. Following a proper psoriasis diet could help to add back and maintain optimal levels of nutrients.

A healthy and nutritious psoriasis diet should take into consideration the following;

A reduction in the amount of red meat consumed

A reduction in dairy products consumed that may aggravate psoriasis symptoms

Reduce or eliminate foods that are high in fats and sugars. Saturated fats should be reduced or eliminated as well as trans fats which are considered “bad fats.” Good fats such as monounsaturated (heart helper) and polyunsaturated (physique helper) fats should be increased. Good fats are found in foods such as certain fish like salmon and tuna, walnuts, flaxseeds, soybean oil, peanut butter, olives, olive, canola and avocado oil, etc.

Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your psoriasis diet

Quit smoking and drinking and it has been found that even small amounts of alcohol can still worsen psoriasis symptoms

Consume greater amounts of fiber. Avoid any foods that have the word “enriched” in the ingredients list. Look for whole grains or packaging that says whole wheat. Fiber has great healing powers in addition to lowering cholesterol, preventing constipation and lowering the risk of cancer and heart disease. While fiber contains no nutrients, it is the only way to remove harmful toxins and chemicals quickly from the digestive tract. Being constipated as a result of not eating enough fiber will ensure that these chemicals and toxins remain in the body longer and do great harm to the body.

Fiber can also help to control weight since it helps one feel fuller sooner as maintaining a proper weight is important for psoriasis sufferers. Being obese will prevent you from responding to treatment or you will respond to treatment very slowly and relapse quickly when treatments are stopped.

Reduce the consumption of smoked, salt cured or nitrite preserved foods

Ensure that the psoriasis diet contains varied foods

It also goes without saying that before starting a psoriasis diet or adding food supplements to help with psoriasis treatment, it may be important for you to discuss it with your doctor first.

If you have been getting scaly red, dry patches on your body then you have psoriasis. The medical society has yet to decide if psoriasis is an infection or allergic reaction. A person suffering from psoriasis not only aggravates a person but also makes the person very self-conscious. Some people even choose to wear clothing that completely covers the affected area.

The issue of psoriasis can be treated, and there are several different options for doing so. The following is a list of different soothing measures you can take to help calm or even cure the psoriasis.

1. Re-hydration with direct water treatments is highly recommended. Taking a swim or soaking in the tub can help reduce the itching and swelling, it will also help to soften any areas that are scaly, so that the scales may be easily removed. Luke warm water is the best suited for this, as hot water will only serve to aggravate the psoriasis further.

2. Your body produces natural oils that help to moisturize your skin, and prolonged soaking will break these oils down. Moisturizing not only helps in reducing inflammation and preventing dry skin but also helps in keeping psoriasis under control.

3. Pay close attention to the type you choose. Some soaps are harsh and can further dry out your skin. Choosing a mild soap with a moisturizing base would be your best choice.

4. Keeping the air in your house humid may help. It is recommended that you keep a simple humidifier in your room.

5. People suffering from psoriasis should be careful while taking any kind of medication as medicines like lithium, beta blockers and anti-malarials aggravate the psoriasis conditions. Whenever you visit a doctor for any problem, let him know that you are suffering from psoriasis so that he can be careful in writing your prescription.

6. Psoriasis can be worsened by scratching, sun burn or by rough clothing.

7. If you are overweight and suffer from psoriasis, it is recommended that you lose the excess weight, as it may be a contributing factor to psoriasis.

8. The strep virus may trigger psoriasis in some people. If you are suffering from fever or sore throat, be sure that you see your doctor right away.

So far, they have not found a cure for psoriasis, but these steps will help in relieving the symptoms of psoriasis.

Fighting psoriasis can be a lifelong battle to find the right cure for psoriasis for you and one of the ways to fight psoriasis is to make important lifestyle changes as well as use home remedies for psoriasis. It is important to not lose hope in the fight against psoriasis which can happen after trying various approaches that may have worked for someone else but fail to work for you. You just need to keep experimenting until you find the right psoriasis treatment that works for you.

Why Make Lifestyle Changes and Implement Home Remedies For Psoriasis

Dealing with psoriasis symptoms can be quite challenging. While there is no psoriasis cure, they are various habits that you can adopt that will help you to prevent psoriasis flare-ups or deal with the various psoriasis symptoms. While there are many medications, gels, lotions, etc, that can be prescribed or available over the counter, taking an inside out approach to fighting psoriasis by making lifestyle changes and experimenting with various home remedies for psoriasis is probably the best psoriasis treatment.

Over time, these various psoriasis medications, gels and creams can cost a lot of money and still leave you with a feeling of being powerless over this chronic skin condition. Making important lifestyle changes and experimenting with home remedies for psoriasis is a proactive approach to treating psoriasis and gives you a sense of power over this disease. It means that you are not going to take this disease lying down but will fight every step of the way until you find the important changes you need to make in your life and the home remedies for psoriasis that will control the flare-ups and eliminate the symptoms of psoriasis. Making these changes in also relatively inexpensive and can in some cases help you save money that you are currently spending on bad habits.

Making lifestyle changes can be difficult as we all know. We are creatures of habit and changing a habit can be one of the hardest things to do in life. When you are suffering from a chronic condition such as psoriasis, it makes it doubly important to make the lifestyle changes as one of the important ways to bring your psoriasis under control.

Important Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies To Make

Diet Changes

Diet changes are one crucial area to help you not only lose weight and promote a healthier body but rid your body of various toxins that may be aggravating your disease. Start to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables, more whole grains and less processed foods, less sodium, sugars and the bad fats such as saturated fats. Monitoring your cholesterol levels is also very important.

Alcohol

One of the triggers for your psoriasis may be your alcohol intake. If you are suffering from frequent psoriasis outbreaks, consider eliminating alcohol or reducing the amount of alcohol you consume and then determine whether there is any difference in the flare-ups and frequency.

Smoking

For overall health and wellbeing and not just for psoriasis prevention, smoking should be eliminated. Being a smoker is one of the behaviors that may actually increase your chances of developing psoriasis in the first place and once you develop psoriasis, can increase the severity and frequency of the psoriasis flare-ups. While eliminating this behavior may be difficult when started, there are many smoking cessation programs that you can implement to help you quit this bad habit. This habit is also expensive and eliminating it will help you save money that you can use is more positive ways.

Stress Reduction

Stress and anxiety has been identified as triggers for psoriasis flare-ups and being able to reduce the amount of stress is one of the best treatments for psoriasis. Stress leads to many health problems besides increasing the chance of a psoriasis outbreak. In order to maintain optimal health and reduce or eliminate the symptoms of psoriasis, you need to implement a stress management system.

There are many home remedies for psoriasis related to this area of stress management that you can implement including exercising, taking time to relax or read a book, taking an aromatherapy bath infused with essential oils that contain relaxing properties such the lavender essential oil, drinking a cup of herbal tea, and many other stress relieving activities that work for you.

Sunlight

While sunlight is important for psoriasis sufferers as it helps to heal psoriasis lesions, spending too much time in the sun can lead to leathery skin, premature aging, age spots as well as skin cancer. While spending some time in the sun daily is one of the most important home remedies for psoriasis, only spend a few minutes in the sun in the morning and evening so that you only suffer minimal side effects from exposure to the sun. Or you can use sunscreen to cover your unaffected skin while leaving the psoriasis affected areas bare if you wish to spend more time in the sun.

Calendula Oil

This oil is one of the best oils and one of the best home remedies for psoriasis that a sufferer should attempt to use daily. One of the important lifestyle changes if not already a part of your life is to ensure that the skin is always moisturized at all times. Dry skin triggers psoriasis breakouts. Using oil that is infused with calendula is not only moisturizing but soothing as well. Calendula contains many anti-inflammatory properties that are important for psoriatic skin and can also help relieve pain and itching. There are many recipes for home remedies for psoriasis using calendula oil that you can find online and offline to help with psoriasis symptoms.

Symptoms of psoriasis commonly appear on the scalp, elbows, knees, lower back and fingernails and while there are many home remedies for psoriasis that work, the first place to start with home remedies for psoriasis is with bathing practices. As of the present time, there does not yet exist a cure for psoriasis but there are many things that you can do to treat the various symptoms of psoriasis and prevent flare-ups.

Symptoms of Psoriasis
The various symptoms of psoriasis include thick patches of skin that are raised and pinkish red. These patches of skin are usually covered by silvery gray scales that are dry. In a few types of psoriasis, the symptoms may be evidenced by smooth reddish skin that may be incorrectly assumed to be some other condition and not psoriasis. In addition, a few other types of psoriasis may be pus filled bumps.

These symptoms can be aggravating and embarrassing for the sufferer and in some cases may lead to a loss of self confidence if you suffer from excessive symptoms of psoriasis over much of your body. These patches may also itch or sting. One of the most effective ways to combat this disease is through the use of various home remedies for psoriasis.

Home Remedies For Psoriasis – Bath Habits
One of the most important home remedies for psoriasis includes moisturization and bath practices. When the skin is excessively dry, it may trigger the various symptoms of psoriasis. Proper bathing procedures are a great way to deal with the various symptoms of psoriasis as well as the aches and pains that may be associated with flare-ups.

With psoriatic skin, you may be advised against taking long showers or baths in addition to avoiding very hot water by your doctor. Lukewarm water is usually advisable for psoriatic skin as well as implementing only quick showers and baths.

When implementing proper bathing practices as one of the home remedies for psoriasis, some sufferers may determine that it is not necessary to bathe or shower everyday as doing so may dry the skin excessively and lead to flare-ups. Dry skin means itchy skin which leads to flare-ups. If you can get away with taking baths every other day, then by all means try not to bathe every day.

After each shower or bath, it is important for a sufferer to moisturize immediately and thoroughly after patting the skin dry. Applying a good moisturizer will ensure that moisture is retained by psoriatic skin which will help prevent flare-ups. Applying moisturizer after a bath or shower is one of the easiest and best home remedies for psoriasis and will go a long way in the fight against this chronic skin condition.

While being careful about the amount and length of baths and showers is important, the importance of baths for psoriatic skin can not be downplayed. A quick shower or bath can provide needed moisture but under no circumstances should you wait too long before applying moisturizer after a shower or bath. You need to lock in this moisture with a good moisturizer immediately after each bath or shower.

When implementing proper bath practices as one of the home remedies for psoriasis in the fight against this disease, it is recommended that you avoid rubbing motions when drying off. Simply pat yourself dry and you may want to leave a little moisture on the skin before you proceed with applying a cream or lotion.

Adding a bit of mineral oil, olive oil or vegetable oil to a bath is another one of the home remedies for psoriasis. These oils will help with skin inflammation that is prevalent with psoriatic skin in addition to helping to lock in moisture. Epsom salts added to bath water can also help with the various symptoms of psoriasis by helping fight against dry skin.

Several recently published articles have confirmed a correlation between patients with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity and those who also suffer from psoriasis and eczema, and that gluten sensitivity runs in the family[1]. These studies finally bring to light something people who have chosen a gluten free lifestyle have known for years. Skin disorders can be caused by gluten sensitivity (GS) and living a strict gluten free diet can alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema. And, gluten sensitivity is often present in several members of the same family.

Patients now have a new tool in working the medical profession and physicians have reason to suspect a patient might have GS when presenting with psoriasis or eczema or when considering a patient’s family medical history.

Clinical Correlation

An article published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology[2] found that 34.1 percent of patients with psoriasis also had elevated antibodies to anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA). Gliadin is a peptide of wheat that those with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities can’t digest. It is this antibody that causes the many symptoms of celiac disease and GS including nutrient deficiency and gastrointestinal distress. In my practice, I look for correlations between symptoms as a matter of course. The body’s systems do not operate independently of each other but instead work as a whole. Food sensitivities and other allergies naturally lead to a wide variety of reactions including skin disorders. More doctors need to look at the whole patient when treating individual disorders to make the correlations.

Psoriasis and Eczema as Symptoms

For many years, those in the medical profession did not consider psoriasis or eczema a primary symptom of gluten sensitivity and celiac disease. And, often enough, patients who had lived with gluten sensitivity for many years had enough other symptoms, particularly gastrointestinal symptoms, which allowed physicians to look past psoriasis and eczema as being caused by celiac disease.

However, the significant correlation between psoriasis and gluten sensitivity highlighted in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology has changed the game. Additionally, an article published in British Journal of Dermatology[3] in 2011 found that 16 percent of all psoriasis sufferers also had high levels of AGA. Physicians who treat both patients with psoriasis and eczema and those who treat patients with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities should be aware of the skin disorders as a symptom of the body’s inability to digest gluten. Patients may present with intestinal symptoms. However, they could also have several other extra-intestinal manifestations of gluten intolerance including the presence of psoriatic lesions.

Once again, these studies prove that doctors should look at their patients from a holistic perspective rather than looking just at symptoms in isolation. We must treat the whole body – internally, externally and neurologically – to help patients find relief from chronic pain.

Gluten Free Diet Treatment

Moving patients with psoriasis and eczema to a gluten free diet as a treatment for these skin disorders should be considered a viable treatment plan instead of or along with pharmacological approaches.

In another study, 33 patients who tested positive for AGA strictly complied with a gluten free diet for a specified period of time, did not use other pharmacological treatments on their lesions, and nearly all of them reported a significant improvement in their skin lesions after three to six months on the gluten free diet.

Given the radical success of a gluten free diet for this group of patients, physicians should consider prescribing a gluten free diet for sufferers of psoriasis and eczema as a primary treatment for the skin disorders.

Family Genes

Finally, a study published in World Journal of Gastroenterology found that the single most important risk factor for celiac disease is having a first degree relative with already defined celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, particularly a sibling. The risk factor was at least 20 percent for people who have a first degree relative with a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease.

For many people who live with a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease and doctors who approach their patients holistically, these findings only confirm what they have known for years. Gluten sensitivity runs in the family and choosing a gluten free diet can dramatically reduce the presence of psoriasis and eczema. The medical profession must consider these factors in addition to the more severe intestinal distress and nutrient deficiency symptoms of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity to help diagnose more people earlier. The sooner patients can begin living a gluten free diet, the better they will feel and the healthier they will be.

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[3] British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 142, Number 1, January 2000, pp. 44-51(8)