Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes red, scaly patches on the skin. While medical treatments are often necessary, many people look for natural remedies they can try at home to help manage their symptoms. Research has studied various home remedies to see which ones actually work for psoriasis.
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Home Remedies for Psoriasis
Research has examined many home remedies to determine which ones can truly help with psoriasis symptoms. Here are the remedies that have been studied in clinical trials.
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera gel has been used for centuries to treat skin conditions. Research shows it can be helpful for psoriasis too. In one study of 60 patients with mild to moderate psoriasis, those who used aloe vera extract cream for 16 weeks had much better results than those using a placebo. The aloe vera cream cleared psoriasis in 25 out of 30 patients (83.3%) compared to only 2 out of 30 (6.6%) in the placebo group (1).
Another study compared aloe vera to a standard steroid cream (triamcinolone). After 8 weeks of treatment, both treatments reduced psoriasis symptoms. The aloe vera cream may have worked slightly better than the steroid cream in reducing scaling (2).
2. Fish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids that can help reduce inflammation in the body. Several studies have looked at whether fish oil supplements or eating more fish can improve psoriasis. In one study, 28 patients took either fish oil capsules or a placebo (olive oil) daily for 8 weeks. Those taking fish oil significantly improved itching, redness, and scaling. They also had less total body area affected by psoriasis (3).
Eating oily fish regularly can also help. When people ate about 6 ounces of oily fish like salmon or mackerel daily for 6 weeks, their psoriasis improved by 11-15%. This was better than eating white fish, which showed no improvement (4).
A larger review of multiple studies found that omega-3 supplements can reduce psoriasis severity scores and improve scaling and redness (5).
3. Turmeric and Curcumin
Turmeric is a yellow spice that contains curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Research shows it can help with psoriasis when taken as a supplement or applied to the skin.
In a study of 63 patients with mild to moderate psoriasis, those who took curcumin supplements (2 grams daily) along with their regular topical treatment had better results than those using topical treatment alone. The curcumin group also had lower levels of inflammatory markers in their blood (6).
For scalp psoriasis, a turmeric tonic applied twice daily for 9 weeks significantly reduced redness, scaling, and thickness of lesions. It also improved patients’ quality of life compared to placebo (7).
4. Dead Sea Salt and Salt Baths
Bathing in mineral-rich salt water has been a traditional remedy for psoriasis. Research supports using Dead Sea salt baths as an effective home treatment. Studies show that taking baths with a 15% Dead Sea salt solution followed by UV light therapy works better than regular salt baths. After 4 weeks of daily treatment, 80% of patients using Dead Sea salt had significantly better results (8).
The combination of Dead Sea water bathing and natural sunlight exposure is especially effective. Research shows this approach helps due to both the special properties of Dead Sea minerals and the unique UV radiation at the Dead Sea (9).
5. Sunlight Therapy
Controlled sun exposure can help improve psoriasis for many people. A study in India compared professional UV light therapy to treatment with natural sunlight in 36 patients who completed the treatment. Both treatments were equally effective, with about 75-94% of patients responding well. However, sunlight therapy was twice as cost-effective (10).
6. Moisturizers and Emollients
Keeping skin well-moisturized is a simple but important part of psoriasis care. Research shows that regular use of moisturizers can help maintain improvements after other treatments. One study found that using an emollient after steroid treatment helped prevent psoriasis from coming back. The moisturizer helped maintain the improvement achieved with steroids and reduced skin dryness (11).
Special moisturizers containing ceramides may work even better. A study of 106 patients found that using a linoleic acid-ceramide moisturizer along with standard treatment improved results. The special moisturizer group showed superior results in achieving 50% improvement in psoriasis severity compared to standard treatment alone (12).
7. Dietary Changes and Weight Loss
For people who are overweight, losing weight through diet and exercise can significantly improve psoriasis. A large study of 303 overweight patients with moderate to severe psoriasis found that those who followed a structured weight loss program for 20 weeks had much better improvements than those who just received general advice.
The diet and exercise group saw their psoriasis improve by 48% compared to only 26% in the control group. About half of the diet group achieved significant improvement compared to one-third of the control group (13).
A review of multiple studies confirmed that weight loss interventions can reduce psoriasis severity. The improvements come from both losing weight and increasing physical activity (14).
8. Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that may help psoriasis by reducing inflammation. Research shows mixed but promising results. One study gave patients with psoriasis a probiotic supplement for 12 weeks. About 67% of those taking probiotics saw major improvements compared to 42% taking a placebo. The probiotic group also had lower chances of their psoriasis coming back after treatment ended (15).
A review of probiotic studies found that probiotic supplements can improve psoriasis severity scores and quality of life measures. The benefits may come from probiotics’ ability to reduce inflammation throughout the body (16).
9. Stress Reduction and Meditation
Since stress can trigger psoriasis flares, stress reduction techniques may help. Research has studied whether meditation and relaxation can improve psoriasis symptoms. In one innovative study, patients listened to meditation instructions during their UV light therapy sessions. Those who meditated during treatment cleared their psoriasis significantly faster than those who had light therapy alone. They reached the halfway point and completed clearing more quickly (17).
Another study of 18 patients found that those who practiced meditation for 12 weeks showed clinical improvement in their psoriasis symptoms, while control groups showed no change (18).
10. Capsaicin Cream
Capsaicin is the compound that makes chili peppers hot. When applied to the skin, it can help reduce itching and inflammation. A study of 197 patients with itchy psoriasis tested capsaicin cream against a placebo for 6 weeks.
Those using capsaicin cream showed significantly greater improvement overall and especially in reducing itching. The most common side effect was a temporary burning sensation when first applied (19).
11. Other Natural Remedies
Several other natural remedies have been studied for psoriasis with varying results:
Indigo naturalis: This traditional Chinese herb showed excellent results when applied as an ointment. In one study, 74% of patients achieved clear or nearly clear skin after 12 weeks of treatment (20).
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape): A cream containing this herb improved psoriasis severity scores and quality of life compared to placebo in a study of 200 patients (21).
St. John’s wort: When applied as an ointment to psoriasis patches for 4 weeks, this herb significantly reduced redness, scaling, and thickness compared to placebo (22).
Conclusion
Home remedies can be valuable additions to your psoriasis treatment plan. Research shows that several natural approaches can help improve symptoms. Regular moisturizing, maintaining a healthy weight, and controlled sun exposure are also important parts of home care.
While these remedies can provide relief, they work best when combined with proper medical treatment. Some remedies may work better for certain people or certain types of psoriasis. It’s important to be patient, as most natural remedies take several weeks to show results.
Always talk to your doctor before trying new remedies, especially if you’re already using other treatments. With the right combination of medical care and home remedies, many people with psoriasis can achieve better control of their symptoms and improved quality of life.