Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Psoriasis Treatments: Keeping Moist

Psoriasis Treatments: Keeping Moist
Psoriasis is a condition of the skin. It flares up in the
form of scaly red dry patches causing unsightly patches and
much discomfort. Some with psoriasis become very self
conscious about their appearance. Some will not even leave
their homes without being sufficiently covered. Psoriasis
can be an unsightly and uncomfortable disease.

Those that suffer from it equate their flare ups with
having an unwanted guest. They suddenly show up, irritate
you and know one knows what to do with them. There are
several treatments for this skin condition that can range
from itchy to down right painful. For any psoriasis
sufferer, the first port of call should be your doctor.
However, never be afraid to ask your doctor about home
remedies that can help your condition. One such home remedy
is keeping the skin moist.

Keeping the skin moist can be done in a variety of ways.
Soaking the skin is a very effective way. By taking warm
baths, soaking and swimming, you're helping to re-hydrate
the skin. This can also help to remove some of the dry,
hard scaly skin that can develop. Soaking helps the skin
stay moist as well as reduces the itching. The scaly skin,
which can act as a barrier to many creams and medications
can be removed more easily. If your don't wish to soak or
don't have the time, applying cool wet compressed to the
areas can also help.

It is important to remember that if you soak frequently,
you should apply some moisturizer straight after. Soaking
can remove some of the skins natural oils. Doing this too
often without re-moisturizing the skin can actually make
the problem worse. Make sure, at least within 3 minutes of
your soak, you apply a moisturizer with heavy emollient.
This will replace what was lost by the soak and help your
skin stay moisturized.

Creams can also help you overcome your psoriasis condition.
There are several moisturizers that you can by but these
can be quite expensive. The costs can add up quite quickly
as well if your condition is wide spread and serious. If
you have cooking oils, petroleum jelly or lard around your
house, you have some of the best treatments. All of these
items help moisturize the skin and lock the essential oils
in. they also offer symptom relief from psoriasis itself.
Most of us have one or even all of these items in our
homes. They are just as good if not better than many of the
hand creams you can buy and cost much less.

Keeping you skin clean is important for anyone. It is
especially important for the psoriasis sufferer. Dirty skin
can lead to infections. These can make the skin condition
worse as well as create illness. One problem with keeping
the skin clean is that many soaps can dry the skin out.
Psoriasis sufferers must be careful with cleansers. At very
least, choose a mild soap. If your psoriasis is quite
severe then you may have to opt for a soap free option. You
doctor or pharmacist will be able to advise you on which
products will be best.

If one suffers from psoriasis, keeping the skin moist is
essential. Dry skin can be irritating, itchy and even cause
injury. Extremely dry skin can reduce flexibility and limit
movements. It can also lead to skin breakage which can
cause bleeding. Moisturizers are available but can be
expensive. If you don't want to spend loads at the pharmacy
use cooking oils and petroleum jelly. These are just as
good and will save a fortune. Use caution in choosing
soaps. Cleanliness is important but certain soaps can
worsen you condition. By keeping you skin moist, you can
improve your skins condition and feel much better.

If you are a psoriasis sufferer, you may want to invest in
a humidifier. Keeping moisture in the air may help reduce
your psoriasis symptoms. We all hear of the benefits of dry
heat but in the case of a psoriasis sufferer, the opposite
is true. Dry heat and dry air equals dry skin. This can
inflame the skin and make the condition worse.

Psoriasis can be an irritating and painful disease. It can
create unsightly patches of skin and leave the sufferer
self conscious of their appearance. Treating psoriasis can
require medical attention; however there are several home
treatments that deserve a try. Keeping the skin moist, with
regular soaks and moisturizers can help minimize the
symptoms and improve skin quality.


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Jim Moore has spent the last 20 years as a professional
writer working for some of the world's largest companies.
Jim's personal goal is to pass on what knowledge he has
gained throughout his career to help as many people as
possible.
http://www.psoriasisprevention.com

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