Psoriasis: Symptoms, Causes & Home Remedies

 

Psoriasis, a chronic skin disease that is affecting the lives of millions of people, around 2% to 3% of the total population in the world have psoriasis, in the count of numbers, this percentage stands around 125 million (12.5 crores). This number is very high, psoriasis badly and completely affects the quality of life. Psoriasis mainly occurs because of the weak immune system; psoriasis can be cured easily in its initial stage of occurring. Psoriasis can affect your skin at any stage of life, but mostly it affects people with the age between 50-69. Psoriasis negatively distresses the life of patients. Psoriasis gradually increases and spread across the large surface of the skin. Psoriasis directly or indirectly affects more than 10 million (1 crore) Indian every year. 1 out of 3 cases of psoriasis triggers the people whose family members and relatives have or had psoriasis.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease. Generally, new skin grows and old dies in a time span of 30 days, but in psoriasis, this process decreases into 4 days, through which new amateur skin comes out. Psoriasis gives the bad painful sensation like itching, burning, aching, stinging, and throbbing. The aetiology of this skin lesion is unidentified yet, however fewer cases of psoriasis gives the sign and clew of genetic predisposition. Psoriasis generally affects the scalp, back, knees, elbow, legs, and palms. Psoriasis commonly gives the impression of red and pink plaques, scaly, and patchy shapes on the skin. Psoriasis gradually covers a large area of the skin. Psoriasis emotionally and professionally affects the life of a person.

What are the types of psoriasis?

There are a few major types of psoriasis mentioned below-

Plaque Psoriasis: Plaque psoriasis is the most common psoriasis that affects more than 60% of total psoriasis patients. Plaque psoriasis appears with red inflammatory dry skin generally covered by the silvery and white scale. The prevalence of plaque psoriasis is higher in people between the age of 45-79 years.

 

Intertriginous psoriasis: Psoriasis in genital areas and folds, intertriginous psoriasis impacts more than 13% of total psoriasis patients. On this type of psoriasis, skin turns red or white with wetness in the plaques and patches without any scale covering it. 

 

Droplet Psoriasis: Droplet psoriasis mostly occurs in children between the age of 8-10 years. 20% of total psoriasis that affects children 8 years of age is droplet psoriasis. Droplet psoriasis appears like multiple tiny reddish spots commonly on legs, trunks, and arms.

 

Pustular Psoriasis: More than 2% of cases of total psoriasis world register are of pustular psoriasis. Multiple red or pink plaques and patches come together to make one large coalescing pustule, these pustules or plaques are particularly filled with non-infectious pus. Pustular psoriasis mainly occurs on the palms, nails, soles, and hands.

 

 Erythrodermic Psoriasis: This majorly affects adult males, erythrodermic psoriasis mainly affects the back and can affect the entire body with multiple red-black spots. Erythrodermic psoriasis can be life-threatening as it can lead patients to hypothermia.

 

What causes psoriasis?

There are few causes of psoriasis that may trigger the occurrence of psoriasis-

• Skin infections or throat infection
• Environmental factors (Cold and dry weather impacts skin)
• Skin injuries like burning and cuts
• Highly sunburned skin
• High professional and personal stress
• Smoking
• High consumption of alcohol
• Hereditary or family history of psoriasis
• Medication of high blood pressure and heart diseases

 

What are the symptoms of Psoriasis?

There are a few major and common symptoms which psoriasis affected person may experience-

• Red patches and plaques on the skin
• Itching and stinging pain
• Affects the large area of skin
• Excessive scalp dandruff
• Nail discolouration
• Burning and soreness in the affected area
• Psoriasis occurring on the scalp may be covered with white scale
• Pain and stiffness in the joints
• Multiple small bumps
• Dryness and flakiness skin
• Psoriasis may spread to the larger area

 

What are the complications of Psoriasis?

Psoriasis isn’t just a skin disease but psoriasis is also the medium of many psychological complications and the cause of other life-threatening diseases-

• Pain, rigidness, and swelling in joints
• Eye diseases like conjunctivitis, uveitis, etc.
• Overweight or obesity
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure or hypertension
• Heart-related diseases
• Inflammatory skin disorder
• Various autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s autoimmune disease
• Depression and anxiety
• Hypothermia

 

Dos and Don’ts in Psoriasis:

Follow the tips mentioned below to reduce the effect of psoriasis-

• Take frequent precautions if you have a skin or throat infection
• Quit smoking
• Avoid the consumption of alcohol
• Keep your skin moisturized
• Avoid consumption of dairy products and meat products
• Avoid the consumption of citrus food
• Stay and soaked in a warm-water tub for at least 15-20 minutes
• Light sunbath is helpful but don’t take an excessive bath of sun
• Eat healthy food
• Do not consume the food that produces high cholesterol in the body

 

What are the home remedies for psoriasis?

There are a few home remedies mentioned below that have shown positive results in curing psoriasis-

 

First home remedy for psoriasis:

Ingredients: Cabbage

Step 1: Take a few leaves of cabbage and make a perfect paste of it.

Step 2: Take a hot water bowl and float the bowl of cabbage paste on it, till the paste become lukewarm.

Instructions: Apply the paste on the affected part of the skin, and compress the paste using soft and clean skin.

 

Second-home remedy for psoriasis:

Ingredients: Bitter gourd juice and lemon juice

Steps: Take one glass of bitter gourd juice and mix 1 spoon of lemon juice into it.

Instructions: Drink this mixture regularly on an empty stomach for 4 to 6 months.

 

Third home remedy for psoriasis:

Ingredients: Baking soda and water

Steps: Take a bowl of water mix 2 spoons of baking soda into it.

Instructions: Apply the mixture directly on psoriasis using the towel.

 

Fourth home remedy for psoriasis:

Ingredients: Carrot, beetroot, ½ glass of water

Step 1: Boil half of a carrot and half of a beetroot.

Step 2: Blend the boiled carrot and beet with water in order to make a juice.

Instructions: Drink this mixture regularly once a day.

 

Fifth home remedy for psoriasis:

Ingredients: ½ Cucumber, 1 stalk of lemongrass, 2 leaves of basil

Steps: Blend all these ingredients to make a mixture.

Instructions: Drink this mixture regularly without straining it.

 

Top 5 best tips for psoriasis:

• Try a fruit-filled diet for one week
• Usage of olive oil and eating legumes reduces psoriasis
• Consumption of beetroot juice, cucumber juice, and bitter gourd juice helps
• Eat vitamin-E rich food and fruits
• Consumption of nuts and seeds