As Psoriasis occurs due to immune system if overreacts and there will be many aggravating factors that include lifestyle, food, and psychological factors.
Managing Psoriasis:
Lifestyle Management:
When person suffers from psoriasis, one should understand about the disease that is due to weak immune system and try to avoid aggravating factors such as Stress, Anxiety, and Habits like smoking or alcohol. If person is having any other associated diseases such as diabetes or Hyperlipidaemia, and that should be taken care.
Personal care:
Moisturize: Applying suitable moisturizers will help to keep your skin moist in order to prevent scaly skin condition and itching.
Daily Baths: Warm water baths and oatmeal baths are very helpful to loosen scales of psoriatic skin. Epsom salt or Dead sea salt also beneficial if added to bathing water.
Sunlight: Natural sunlight exposure is beneficial as researches reveals that UV rays may help to prevent the psoriatic conditions and promotes quick heal.
Reduce Stress: Practicing Yoga, Relaxation and Anti-stress techniques are helpful as stress flares up psoriasis.
Avoid Anything Harsh Against Your Skin: Avoid any harsh products such as soaps, detergents, lotions containing alcohol, deodorants and deodorant soaps, etc.
You can use natural soaps or herbal powders for bathing.
Quit Smoking and Drinking: As alcohol and smoking aggravates the condition and are triggering factors, one should stop these habits if any.
Stop Scratching and Picking: excessive scratching and plucking of scaly skin may cause bacterial infections.
Food:
· Avoid packed foods in excess, prepared meats or pre-spiced meats, spicy foods.
· Avoid consuming Brinjal, ground nuts, most cold cuts and pastes, spice cakes, pickles, pickled spices and peppers, nut-based pastries, chocolate-based products
· Do not eat hot, spicy and pungent foods.
· Avoid salts and curds in excess, fatty foods, animal proteins etc.
What to eat?
· Consume green vegetables, cucumber, carrot, beet root, apple, Guava, grapes.
· Cabbage soup, fresh buttermilk, spinach, almond oil, sweet potato, sunflower seeds, and wheat germs etc., are useful.
Medicines: There are many sets of medicines for psoriasis. Broadly divided into three: Topical Applications, Internal medicines, and Local Therapies.
Ayurvedic Medicines: Based on Doshic vitiations Herbal medications are used.
Examples: Mahathikthakam Kashayam, Kaidaryadi Kashayam etc.
Dr.Vijay Kumar, Santhgiri Healthcare Centre, Mumbai.
