How not to treat psoriasis: 7 useless or even dangerous ways

Why psoriasis can be difficult to treat

Psoriasis is a chronic conditionPsoriasis / NHSin which new skin cells are formed too quickly. Because of this, on certain parts of the body appearPsoriasis / National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases flaky patches, sometimes the affected skin is itchy or even sore. Psoriasis causes physical and psychological discomfort: firstly, it is simply unpleasant, and secondly, many worry about how the manifestations of the disease look like.

Although there is no remedy that could completely get rid of psoriasis and permanently prevent its exacerbation, there are ways to alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Basic methodsPsoriasis diagnosis & treatment / Mayo Clinic psoriasis treatments are systemic therapy, topical medications and phototherapy. They are used individually or together, depending on the course of the disease and on the recommendation of a specialist. Treatment options are not always fully satisfactorySteven R. Feldman. The Challenge of Managing Psoriasis: Unmet Medical Needs and Stakeholder Perspectives / American Health & Drug Benefits

patients, and periods of remission, when symptoms disappear, are often replaced by exacerbations. This is due to the fact that it is still not possible to establish the true cause of psoriasis and understand how it can be eliminated, although experts are inclined toPsoriasis causes / NHS to the fact that it is all the fault of a violation of the immune system.

Since medicine does not give absolute guarantees, patients can turn to folk remedies and alternative methods of getting rid of the disease. Unfortunately, many of them can only exacerbate the situation. Here are some treatments for psoriasis that don't work.

1. Diet

Healthy eating and physical activity are capable ofLiving with psoriasis / NHS reduce the risk of complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems. Also, experts may recommend that a person with psoriasis follow a diet if he is overweight. But sometimes the advice goes further.

For example, to improve the condition of the skin, it is recommended to completely abandon dairy products. Sometimes it is advised to completely switch to strict vegetarianism or stop eating red foods, it does not matter whether it is animal or vegetable. Another popular trend is the gluten-free diet. It should only be observed for celiac disease.Celiac disease / Mayo Clinic - intolerance to a certain protein.

Research showsTreatment of psoriasis in adults: diet / UpToDatethat specific diets do not affect psoriasis in any way. And an unbalanced diet can negatively affect the quality of life: from a deficiency of elements necessary for the body to a bad mood due to constant restrictions.

2. Solarium

Since psoriasis is treated withPhototherapy / National Psoriasis Foundation phototherapy, many patients think that it can be replaced with a solarium. The problem is that UV light is different. So, for phototherapy, it is recommended to use ultraviolet B - medium wave. In tanning salons, ultraviolet type A - long-wavelength is most often used for tanning.

Regular sunlight contains all of these types of rays, so it can bring relief, but tanning beds are much less effective. In addition, there is a risk of getting burns - especially if you use photosensitizing compounds before visiting the solarium. Excessive use of ultraviolet light can provokeUltraviolet (UV) Radiation / American Cancer Society the occurrence of oncological diseases of the skin, therefore, light treatment should be carried out only under the supervision of specialists.

3. Nutritional supplements

In the line of many manufacturers of dietary supplements there are remedies for "psoriasis". Essentially, nutritional supplements are food and diet does not affect psoriasis. Of course, you need to get all the necessary substances, especially if they are in short supply. But in the recommendations for professionals dealing with psoriasis, dietary supplements are not evenPsoriasis treatment / NHS mentionedPsoriasis - an overview / British Association of Dermatologists as a means of assistance.

The exception is vitamin D, which experts sometimes recommend. The point is that he answersVitamin D / National Institutes of Health for the regulation of many processes, including cell renewal - the very one that leads to the formation of psoriatic foci. But mainly forms and analogues of this vitamin (for example, calcipotriolCalcipotriol for psoriasis / Patient.info) is used as an external agent.

4. Radon baths

These are baths with mineral water enriched with radioactive radon gas. Similar procedures came to medicine from the spa treatment. They are credited with unique properties - judging by the advertising, radon heals everything.

Taking such baths for psoriasis is not a good idea. During an exacerbation, even a regular shower can provoke itching and dry out the skin, so experts recommend8 ways to stop baths and showers from worsening your psoriasis / American Academy of Dermatology stay in the water no longer than 15 minutes a day.

The benefits of radon baths for psoriasis in accordance with the standards of evidence-based medicine have not been established. There are only two evidenceRadon balneotherapy and physical activity for osteoporosis prevention: a randomized, placebo ‑ controlled intervention study / National Library of Medicine researchLong-term benefit of radon spa therapy in the rehabilitation of rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, double-blinded trial / National Library of Medicine pluses of radon baths, but they do not relate to psoriasis, but to other diseases. In addition, data on the benefits of radon are given with a huge number of reservations.

Finally, radon is simply dangerous. According toRadon and its effects on human health / World Health Organization World Health Organization, its impact is one of the main causes of the development of lung cancer.

5. Surgery

It is difficult to imagine, but on the Internet, you can really find proposals to alleviate psoriasis with radical interventions. They can only be justified in somePsoriasis Treatment & Management / Medscape cases - when psoriasis leads to problems with vision or joints. But proposals to somehow “cut off” the affected areas of the skin are nonsense. In fact, any additional trauma to the skin will not be able to remove the cause of psoriasis, but it canPsoriasis / Cleveland Clinic provoke deterioration.

6. Echinacea tincture

It is suggested to use it internally, calculating the required number of drops depending on age and weight. The logic is clear: echinacea is a folk remedy for strengthening the immune system, and since psoriasis is caused by a malfunction in the immune system, then echinacea will help.

In fact, immunity is too complex a system, and it cannot beHow to boost your immune system / Harvard Health Publishing abstractly "improve". Eating, being active, walking, getting adequate sleep, and quitting smoking and alcohol helps to maintain health. Only vaccinations, but not herbal extracts, can directly affect the development of immunity. Echinacea is ineffective in evidence-based studiesEchinacea for the prevention and treatment of colds / Cochrane even to combat ARVI, what can we say about such a complex condition as psoriasis. In this disease, the immune system is already active.Psoriatic Disease and the Immune System / National Psoriasis Foundation, and interference in its work can only worsen the course of the disease.

7. Folk remedies

Before there were effective topical remedies, people tried to use whatever came to hand to relieve itching and moisturize their skin. For example, the Internet is full of tips on how to deal with psoriasis with baking soda. It can provide temporary relief, but then the condition can worsen because the skin loses moisture. Approximately at the same level are the recommendations for treating the skin with the help of grated garlic, potatoes or aloe. Their effectiveness has not been proven, but some substances in the composition of plants can cause allergies.

Another option is any moisturizer. Indeed, with psoriasis, the skin canPsoriasis - an overview / British Association of Dermatologists and needPsoriasis treatment support. Tar preparations are generally capable ofTreatment of psoriasis in adults: tar / UpToDate help, but their smell can exacerbate psychological discomfort. Still, it is more pleasant to use formulations from which you do not want to pinch your nose. For this, there are special tools created taking into account the condition of the skin with psoriasis.

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