I'm seventeen and I've lived with psoriasis all of my life. The doctors put me on a number of creams and lotions to at least get rid of the flakes...but none of it helped. I tried the T-gel shampoo, it didn't work. One time, a girl even went as far as telling me that I had snowflakes in my hair because the flaking was so bad. It wasn't her fault, she didn't know that I had psoriasis, still it was hurtful.
Anyroad, I read in a medicinal herb book once that Aloe Vera helps it. Luckily enough, we had an aloe plant here at the house. I tried it for about a month or two. The lesions around my hairline went away (gradually) as well as a few on my shoulders and torso. Unfortunately, our Aloe plant died.
But, my Aunt recommened tea tree oil body/face wash for my acne. So I started using that. Within two weeks, my acne was clearing up and it's helped my psoriasis. You can get it as conditioner, cream, lotion, shampoo, skin wash, etc. So I recommend that for psoriasis as well. You can find it at Sally's Beauty Supply or go to http://www.puritan.com - www.puritan.com to get a Puritan's Pride vitamin catalog. You can also order it online.
You can also try hydrocortizone cream (sp???). It helps with the redness and it's thicker than regular lotion, so it keeps the flakes away.
Salt water helps as well as sunlight/tanning beds.
I'd never heard anything about psoriasis being an intestinal until now. I read from the magazine, Psoriasis Connections, that it is an immune disorder. However, I'm not disagreeing with the intestinal theory. That theory, from the way Gsxxy, it could tie in with it. But I've never actually heard of the intestinal theory.
I hadn't heard of it as being a fungus either. No offense, but that I don't believe. You'd figured if it was a fungus, they could give us an antibiotic topical solution to put on it and it would go away. Sometimes these lesions pop up after a cut, scratch, etc. There's been quite a few times that I've acidentally scratched a scab and within a couple of days there's a new psoriasis lesion.
My mother once told me that there is a shot that is supposed to help with psoriasis, but it damages your liver (I think she said liver...either that or kidneys).
I seriously hope this helps.
Gsxxy, I'd love to hear more about the food affect psoriasis if you find the time.
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