Her psoriasis is like theirs because it’s different, uniquely her own.
What works for some might not work for her.
What works for her might not work for some.
A treatment will work well once, not as well the second time, and then not at all.
She doesn’t know why she has it.
Add unknown cause and stir in unknown cure, and you have a recipe for frustration. It’s easy to see why doctors like Laurence Miller, M.D., an adviser to the National Psoriasis Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, say, "When it come to psoriasis, modern medicine is absolutely inadequate."

Psoriasis is a disease in which the skin cells run amok. Normally, skin renews itself in about 30 days—that’s the time it takes for a new skin cell to work its way from the innermost layer of skin to the surface. In psoriasis, that cell reaches the top in just 3 days, as if the body had lost its brakes. The result is raised areas of skin called plaques, which are red and often itchy. After the cells reach the surface, they die like normal cells, but there are so many of them the raised patches turn white with dead cells flaking off.

Psoriasis usually goes through cycles of flare-ups and remission, with flare-ups most often occurring in winter. Sometimes it disappears for months or years. It can improve or worsen with age.

Without a cause, there is no cure. But there are many things you can do for yourself. Keep in mind, however, that what works for someone else might not work for you. You have to experiment and devise your own battle plan. Here are some strategies you can try.

The Great Cover-Up
Hollywood to the rescue (Burbank, to be precise). Cosmetologist and Hollywood makeup artist Maurice Stein helps out clients referred to him by medical doctors across the country, as well as the standard must-be-perfect stars. Here are some of his recommendations.

First of all, "Never try to cover up any open lesion," Stein says, echoing medical advice.
"There’s a very good over-the-counter cream, applied with a makeup sponge, that can be applied to the scalp to cover up the flaking," Stein says. "Get your doctor’s approval first. It’s called Couvre, and it comes in black, dark, medium, and light brown, and gray. It works by darkening the scalp to match the color of the hair."
For elbows and knees, Stein recommends Indian earth mixed with your favorite emollient and spread over the plaques with a makeup sponge. A rock, ground to face powder consistency, Indian earth can be bought in salons, department stores, drugstores, or health food stores. "A dime-size portion is enough to do your whole body," he says. The emollient will keep the plaques moist, and the Indian earth will disguise their appearance. "If you have to wear clothes over it, pat it dry to remove the excess," Stein advises.
If you can’t find Indian earth, "look for a cosmetic base with a lot of pigment," he says. "The best place to find and test them is at a local cosmetologist’s."

Get a new attitude. Philip Anderson, M.D., a professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, says the most important thing is to accept the fact that you have psoriasis and focus your attention on learning how to manage it and prevent it from getting serious. "Don’t waste energy fussing over every bump," he says. "That’s not a good idea."

Dr. Miller agrees. "I see some of my psoriasis patients maybe twice a year," he says. "There is no law that says every person with psoriasis has to get rid of every flake on the body. I put my hands about a foot apart and tell them, ‘It takes this much effort to get you 80 percent clear.’ Then I stretch my arms out as far as I can and say, ‘For the final 20 percent, this is what you have to do.’ I never say, ‘Learn to live with it.’ When you think you’ve run out of treatments, you’ve gone from A to Z, you start over again at A. Mild psoriasis can be controlled totally by following some of these remedies."

Lubricate your chassis. Emollients top every dermatologist’s list of over-the-counter treatments. Psoriatic skin is dry, and that can mean a worsening of the psoriasis and increased flaking and itching. Emollients help your skin retain water. The emollient can be your favorite nonirritating body oil or something as mundane as vegetable shortening or petroleum jelly. They’re most effective applied right after bathing, when you’re still dripping wet. (For safety’s sake, avoid bathing in bath oil, which can make the tub as slick as ice.) Dr. Miller recommends Sarna lotion, which contains menthol and camphor, to soothe itching.

Seek the sun. With regular doses of intense sun, 95 percent of psoriasis sufferers improve. (The Dead Sea area of Israel is famous for its climatotherapy, and many people regularly travel to sunny climes.)

"The disease seems to be so much worse in wintertime or in a variable or humid climate that you should consider moving to a warm, dry area," Dr. Anderson says. It’s the ultraviolet waves that fight psoriasis, and the UVB rays work the fastest. But there’s a catch-22. UVB’s are also the ones that give you a sunburn and run up the risks for skin cancer. They can also cause psoriasis sufferers to break out in previously unaffected areas.

There is, however, an out. Sunscreen. "The benefits of sunbathing can outweigh the risks of skin cancer and spreading psoriasis if you use sunscreens on the places where you don’t have psoriasis and only expose the affected areas to the full force of the sun," says Dr. Miller.

Turn on the lamp. Get yourself a small UVB sunlamp to treat patches of psoriasis, suggests Dr. Miller. Each person’s needs vary, so consult your doctor first. You may prefer the UVA light found in tanning parlors, but it’s weaker and needs much more time to work.

Use tar without feathers. Over-the-counter coal tar preparations are weaker than the prescription versions but can be effective in mild psoriasis, says Dr. Miller. You can apply the tar directly to the plaques or immerse yourself in tar bath oil and treat your scalp with tar shampoo. Since even the OTC tars can stain and smell, they’re usually washed off after a certain amount of time, but some kinds can be left on the skin to enhance the effect of sunlight or UVB treatments. "Tar makes you more sensitive to the sun, so be careful," Dr. Miller warns.

He notes that some new tar products "have been made a little more elegant and cosmetically acceptable in gel form. They don’t smell like tar pits, and they can be used daily and wash off easily." He gives these precautions: "If any tar product causes burning or irritation, stop using it. And tar should never be used on raw, open skin."

Get wet and warm. "Baths and heated swimming pools are excellent for psoriasis," Dr. Miller says, by flattening plaques or cutting down scaling. "But how water can actually make itching worse."

Or get wet and cold. A cold-water bath, maybe with a cup or so of apple cider vinegar added, is great for itching. "Another thing that really works is ice," Dr. Miller says. "Just dump some ice cubes into a small plastic bag and hold it against the afflicted skin."

Try cortisone for small areas. "OTC topical cortisone creams are weaker than their prescription cousins, but they’re worth trying, and they’re safer on the face and genital areas," Dr. Miller says. "But if you use it all the time in these areas, it will become less effective, and when you give up on it, the psoriasis can rebound. Just use it until you show some improvement, and then gradually wean yourself off."

Seal off psoriasis. Researchers have discovered that covering lesions with tape or plastic wrap for days or weeks can help clear up psoriasis, especially if cortisone cream is applied first. "I’ve slept in Saran Warp and a shower cap," says Mossman ruefully, not saying how it affected her marriage.

"The cells on the surface get real soggy and damaged," Dr. Anderson explains. "It seems to slow down the proliferation." This treatment, however, is good only for small areas, "no bigger than a half dollar. You have to be careful because the skin can get gooey and infected, and then the psoriasis can get worse."

Don’t risk injury. New lesions often appear on injured skin, Dr. Anderson says. Researchers believe the trauma to the skin may send the body into ungovernable overdrive. "People with psoriasis shouldn’t go out picking blackberries, just like a man with a bad back shouldn’t be a piano mover," Dr. Anderson says. You can injure your skin with such things as tight shoes, watchbands, dull razors, and harsh chemicals.

The Alternate Route

——————————————————————————–

Zostrix: Hot Stuff for Psoriasis
Because thee is no cure for psoriasis, people scour the planet for treatments and will try anything, including medications designed for other ailments. A good example is Zostrix, an over-the-counter cream used to treat shingles.

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine clinical associate professor of clinical pharmacology Joel Bernstein, M.D., invented (and holds the patent for) Zostrix. It’s made from the ingredient in red pepper, capsaicin, that gives real meaning to the word hot. It’s been tested on psoriasis but has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration only for shingles, Dr. Bernstein says. "It’s unquestionably effective," he claims. "My only concern is that it’s a little tricky to use. In fact, if and when It’s approved for psoriasis, it will probably be a prescription product."

The theory is that Zostrix makes the body exhaust all its supplies of substance P, a chemical that’s believed to cause inflammation and is also found in psoriatic plaques. The cream then blocks the body from making more substance P, and it also may prevent proliferation of the blood vessels needed to feed the burgeoning skin cell population in a psoriatic plaque.

Zostrix can’t be used haphazardly, Dr. Bernstein cautions. "It won’t help unless it’s used frequently and continuously for at least three weeks." And here’s the tricky part: "This stuff burns, and you’d better be prepared for it," Dr. Miller says. It burns your fingers, it burns the plaque, and it will burn your face if you should happen to rub it without first washing off the Zostrix. But the burning lessens or vanishes if you keep up the treatments, Dr. Bernstein says.

Our advice: Use it only with your doctor’s approval and close supervision.

Lose weight if you’re overweight. While scientists can’t swear obesity worsens psoriasis, Dr. Anderson says, "it’s one of the most reliable connectors. Weight loss helps many people with psoriasis. If you lose weight and maintain normal weight, the psoriasis is almost always better."

De-stress yourself. "I say a 13-year-old girl break out in psoriasis from head to toe after her father died," Dr. Miller reports. There’s overwhelming evidence that stress can trigger psoriasis, agrees Eugene Farber, M.D., president of the Psoriasis Research Institute. "If you lie on the beach in Hawaii for a week, you get better. Even going into the hospital for surgery can make your psoriasis better. Although it’s stressful, you’re relaxing and being cared for. Any absence from your daily stresses, for any period of time, is helpful."

Go fishing. No, this isn’t stress relief. It’s a cute way to say try adding fish oil capsules containing the fatty acid EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) to your diet. Dermatology and biochemistry professor Vincent Ziboh, Ph.D., of the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, is encouraged by what he’s found. "About 60 percent of the people we studied responded well," he reports. The area and thickness of the plaques decreased, as did redness and itching.

But there are important cautions to consider. "A small number of people will not improve, and a small number will get worse," Dr. Ziboh says. "There’s no guarantee." His original study was small and short-term, "so the results are not conclusive. We saw no adverse effects, but over a longer period of time, there could be some." For example, fish oil can cut down on blood clotting, so it can amplify the blood-thinning effects of other medications you may be taking. "If you take it, have your doctor monitor you," he warns.

And, Dr. Ziboh notes, not all fish oil is the same. "We analyzed the fish oils we used and found the actual percentage of EPA in capsules varied from 1 percent to 10 percent" he says. "You should expect close to 17 percent."

Although the people in his study were taking 11 to 14 grams a day, he says, "I think you could do as well or better with half that dose." But make sure you check with your doctor first. While it’s a good idea to eat fatty fish, such as salmon or mackerel, he adds, you’d have to eat at least 1 or 2 pounds a day to get 5 grams of EPA.

Treat infections. There’s a well-documented but unexplained link between infections and the initial onset of psoriasis. Existing psoriasis is also known to worsen when an infection strikes. Mossman suffered a case of insect bites all over her lower legs. Soon afterward, she had her first outbreak of psoriasis—on her scalp, elbows, and knees.

"We see children walk in with psoriasis covering their bodies two weeks after a strep throat," Dr. Miller says. The key here, Dr. Anderson advises, is early and proper treatment of all infections, and extra attention to psoriasis when you have any type of infection

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Takeaways
Talk to your doctor before trying a home remedy for skin problems.
Regular bathing can help people with eczema, if they moisturize afterwards.
If you have eczema or other skin conditions, don’t use soap any more than you have to.
Did you know?
Some people find that fabric softeners in their clothing makes their skin problems worse. READ LATER E-MAIL COMMENT

Eczema, psoriasis and other chronic skin conditions can make life miserable for people who have them. The itching and burning is complicated by medications that are expensive and filled with potentially-dangerous steroids. There are some home remedies that can stop psoriasis and eczema in their tracks. Ask your doctor about trying some of these before you resort to costly crèmes and ointments.
Herbalists suggest that red clover can act as a home remedy for skin problems. It has a high mineral content and reportedly works by changing metabolism and tissue function. Red clover can be taken in teas, compresses, ointments and syrups.

Other vitamins and herbal home remedies that can treat psoriasis and other skin problems include devil’s claw root, fish oils, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc and milk thistle. Selenium and zinc are common ingredients in over-the-counter skin and dandruff preprations.

Eczema and psoriasis sufferers also swear by dead sea salt baths. You can purchase dead sea salts at your local bath or health food store and prepare a bath at home containing the salts.

Speaking of baths, regular bathing can help people with eczema. Make sure to moisturize afterwards while your body is still damp, to seal in the water. Keep the water lukewarm, since that is less drying than hot water. Soak for at least 10 to 20 minutes, and don’t get out until your skin starts to look like a prune. That means your skin is soaking in water and becoming hydrated.

Don’t use soap any more than you have to. Use mild soaps with glycerine, or superfatted soaps, on important body parts. When you do dishes or clean house, wear rubber gloves to keep the cleaning products off your skin. Another home remedy to stop psoriasis and eczema is to put cotton gloves inside your rubber gloves, to absorb any sweat that the rubber gloves can produce.

Another home remedy is to use mild laundry detergents and rinse clothing twice to make sure all the soap is out. Some people also find that fabric softeners contribute to their psoriasis and eczema symptoms.

Your refrigerator can contain many helpful home remedies for eczema and psoriasis. Try mayonnaise as a moisturizer, and cucumber slices to ease itching. Try an oatmeal bath to reduce itching, or add olive oil to your bath water for extra moisturizer.

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By Shawn Grover
How To Prevent Scratching Open Your Old Wounds
By James Mirijanian
How To Make Popsicles Out of Apple Juice
By Shawn Grover
Smoothelicious Breakfast Smoothie
By Andrea Hermitt
Vinyasa Yoga with Seane Corn
By Everett Sizemore
Gaiam Prenatal Yoga DVD
By Everett Sizemore
The Horse and Drop Stances
By Anne-Marie Kim
Kung-Fu Techniques
By Anne-Marie Kim
Do You Eat Food
By John Fucile
Still Images of Lower Manhattan Come to Life
By John Fucile
Special sections
Acupuncture | AIDS Awareness | All Things Alcohol | Alzheimer’s Awareness Month | American Diabetes Month | Asthma | Athletes | Barbeque | Bee’s | Boston
Articles more articles
Bee Stings:Natural Treatments
Homemade Recipes for Facial Cl…
Keeping Skin Healthy and Treat…
Home Remedies: Aromatherapy Re…
Making a Homemade Bubble Bath …
Mustela: A More Gentle Way to …
Eczema in Babies: Symptoms, Ca…
How to Live With Psoriasis: Im…
Homemade Baby Wipes
Learn to Love the Skin You’re …
Chronic Itch? You Could Have …
A Parent’s Guide for a Child w…
Homemade Bath and Spa Products…
Skincare Basics
Dandruff Treatments
Natural Remedies for Anxiety
Skin Cancer Treatments
Personal Advice on Keeping Acn…
Herbal Remedies for Stress
Five Skincare Tips For Everyon…
Top Ten Herbs for Your Medicin…

More by Audrey Finkel
Buying and Testing a Smoke Det…
Tips for Avoiding Shopping Car…
Latex Allergy
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Children and Developmental Del…
The Gift Baskets Business: Cou…
Durable Medical Billing Among …
Best Home Business Ideas and O…
Installing and Using a Child C…
Teach Your Preschooler to Not …

Takeaways
Talk to your doctor before trying a home remedy for skin problems.
Regular bathing can help people with eczema, if they moisturize afterwards.
If you have eczema or other skin conditions, don’t use soap any more than you have to.
Did you know?
Some people find that fabric softeners in their clothing makes

Stress can be a big contributor to eczema and psoriasis. One simple home remedy is meditation, using scented candles or whatever else keeps you relaxed. Combine this with your soothing bath for double potency.
Home remedies will not always put a stop to more severe cases of psoriasis and eczema. In that case, you should see a doctor. You should also see a doctor if eczema is oozing, the itch keeps you awake, or over-the-counter products don’t give you relief.

It seems like there are a billion home treatments available for skin conditions like psoriasis. How do you know which ones are going to work? And which ones are just hoaxes? In this edition of PsoriasisTalk, Dr. Jerry Bagel answers your questions about psoriasis remedies. Also, hear tips from our listeners on what they found helpful for managing their psoriasis

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Real People Connecting with the Experts for Better Health
You may not reproduce this material fo r commercial purposes without express written consent
from HealthTalkÔ. Please consult your own physician for medical advice most appropriate for
you.
PsoriasisTalk 12
"Psoriasis Home Remedies: Do They Work?"
June 6, 2003
Hosts: Rick Turner, medical broadcaster
Dr. Jerry Bagel, dermatologist
Cleansing agents
Rick: Hello and welcome to PsoriasisTalk. I’m Rick Turner.
It seems like there are a billion treatments out there for skin conditions, like
psoriasis, that people are trying at home. How do you know which ones are going
to work? Could some be harmful? And which ones are just hoaxes?
[In this program], we’re going to hear from you, our listeners, about what you
have found to help your psoriasis, and we will answer questions about treatments
that you have heard about or may be tempted to try yourself.
I’d like to introduce my cohost, Dr. Jerry Bagel, the director of the Psoriasis
Treatment Center of Central New Jersey. Jerry, welcome.
Dr. Bagel: Thank you very much.
Rick: Jerry, do many of your patients come into your office with home remedies that
they’re heard about for psoriasis treatment, and do any of them work?
Dr. Bagel: Fortunately, most people do not come in with home remedies. However, I live in
a very heterogeneous part of the world, namely central New Jersey. Many people
that live here who came from Asia come in with Chinese herbal medicines that
they either take by mouth or topically, and I have no idea what these medications
are. And usually when they come to me, it’s because they don’t work.
Rick: We’ve got a lot more to cover, but first I’d like to tell you that this program is
produced in partnership with the National Psoriasis Foundation and has been
sponsored through an unrestricted educational grant from Amgen and Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals. We thank the NPF, Amgen and Wyeth for their support and
commitment to patient education.
Also, I’d like to remind you that the opinions expressed on this program are solely
the views of our guests and not necessarily the views of HealthTalk Interactive™,
Ó 2003 HealthTalk Interactive, Inc.
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Real People Connecting with the Experts for Better Health
You may not reproduce this material fo r commercial purposes without express written consent
from HealthTalkÔ. Please consult your own physician for medical advice most appropriate for
you.
2
our sponsor, or any outside organization. Please consult your own doctor for
medical advice most appropriate to you.
Rick: We have plenty of e- mails that we’ve received about home remedies. Let’s start
with cleansing agents. Here’s an e-mail from Diane in Sydney, Australia, and
Diane writes, "I have had psoriasis for more than 30 years and have had various
treatments, but it never totally cleared. I’ve noticed that I have to change soaps on
a regular basis because soap would irritate my psoriasis. Recently I was in the
shower and felt that the soap was burning my skin. I saw a bottle of non-soap
shower gel on the shelf, so I used it. My psoriasis stopped burning immediately
after use and after a week has started healing. It is amazing. Has anyone ever
experienced this?" Jerry, what do you think?
“Psoriatic skin is erythematous, i.e., red. There’s an increased amount of
vascularization.”
Dr. Bagel: Psoriatic skin is erythematous, i.e., red. There’s an increased amount of
vascularization. There’s an increased amount of blood flow, and there’s also
cracking in the skin. There’s increased scaling, and a harsh soap will irritate the
skin, resulting in more inflammation and possibly resulting in more psoriasis.
So, using a milder soap that’s less harsh would be beneficial.
Rick: Now, is any research being done on the effects of soap products on psoriasis
patients?
“The only soap product that I’ve used in my practice that’s been beneficial is
Polytar soap, which is a soap that has tar in it.”
Dr. Bagel: The only soap product that I’ve used in my practice that’s been beneficial is
Polytar soap, which is a soap that has tar in it. Tar is beneficial in treatment of
psoriasis by getting involved in the replication of epidermal cells, and therefore
there is some effectiveness, but I don’t know of any soap controlled studies that
have been done.
Rick: Could psoriasis be exacerbated by allergens in soaps, cosmetics and other skin
products? Is that a possibility?
Dr. Bagel: I think that irritating substances can make psoriasis redder and more irritable. It’s
possible that it can make it somewhat worse but it’s not the culprit. It’s not the
primary cause of the psoriasis. I think there can be some irritation, but I wouldn’t
focus a lot of attention on this. I think this is a detail.
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Real People Connecting with the Experts for Better Health
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from HealthTalkÔ. Please consult your own physician for medical advice most appropriate for
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3
Water effects: salt, hard vs. soft, pH
Rick: What about water? Barbara from Kansas wants to know, "Does salt water help in
healing psoriasis?"
Dr. Bagel: The Dead Sea, which is the highest concentration of salt water in the world, is a
premier place for psoriatics to go to clear their skin. Now, there definitely are
beneficial effects of people going to the beach with salt water and the sun, but
there’s also the effect of relaxing, getting away from work, getting away from the
stresses of your regular day.
So, yes, salt water and the ocean are beneficial. [It’s also beneficial] to psoriasis
because it allows for an increase in the reflection of all the rays that get into your
skin.
“Salt water and the ocean are beneficial.”
Rick: Jerry, that makes me wonder about bathing water in general. We know that some
water is hard and some is soft. Is that a factor in how it affects your psoriasis?
Dr. Bagel: I believe that if people have psoriasis and they soak in water – lukewarm water -
that will soften up their skin. When you moisturize afterwards, that will increase
the amount of moisturization and softness, so to speak, of your psoriasis so there’s
not as much cracking and there’s not as much inflammation.
“If people have psoriasis and they soak in water – lukewarm water – that will
soften up their skin.”
Rick: And what about the issue of pH? Would you explain what pH is, first of all, and
how it might impact psoriasis?
Dr. Bagel: pH is a measure of acidity and base in a fluid. Normal water has a pH of seven.
Our blood has a pH of 7.3. And I would believe that having water as close to a
pH of seven is beneficial.
“pH is a measure of acidity and base in a fluid. Normal water has a pH of
seven.”
Rick: Seven on a scale of what?
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Real People Connecting with the Experts for Better Health
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4
Dr. Bagel: It’s zero to 14.
Rick: So, it’s right in the middle.
Dr. Bagel: Right in the middle.
Moisturizers: Bag Balm, emollients, aloe vera, oil
Rick: Chad from Boise, Idaho, has another skin tip. He writes, "I’ve had psoriasis since
I could remember, and it has varied in severity. I’ve been using Bag Balm on my
psoriasis. Have you heard of Bag Balm? It seems to be helping me feel better
and has helped the patches on my elbows. When I did not use it for a few days,
my psoriasis seemed to get worse than ever before."
So, what is Bag Balm, and does it help?
“Bag Balm is an ointment that is used on the udders of cows to keep them soft and
smooth. Bag Balm is a very effective emollient.”
Dr. Bagel: Bag Balm is an ointment that is used on the udders of cows to keep them soft and
smooth. Bag Balm is a very effective emollient. It’s not very expensive, and it is
probably one of the best moisturizing agents there are. It has no specific
medication in it. It’s not therapeutic from a medicinal standpoint, but it works as
an excellent moisturizer.
Rick: We have another moisturizing tip from Sandra in South Carolina. Sandra, what is
your tip about moisturizing?
“You have to be creative in what you do to try to improve your quality of your life
when living with psoriasis.”
Sandra: I’ve learned that for anybody that lives with any form of psoriasis, you need to
moisturize. [Moisturizing is a] very important thing. You have to be creative in
what you do to try to improve your quality of your life when living with psoriasis.
I had a tip from somebody that I tried, and it worked. And [the tip is], after
bathing with oatmeal and low pH cleansing agents, I apply any kind of good
emollient. It could eve n be something like thick cocoa butter, something like that.
I put it on my skin, and I am diligent in making sure that I rub it in well. Then I
wrap my skin with layers of cellophane wrap. You can buy it affordably, and I
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Real People Connecting with the Experts for Better Health
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from HealthTalkÔ. Please consult your own physician for medical advice most appropriate for
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5
buy it by the pound. During the winter months we know that it’s the worst time to
live with psoriasis, so then I put on tights over that.
Basically, I’m doing two good things for myself. I’m purging myself of excess
liquid because you sweat. In that process, these moisturizers get into the different
layers of your skin. I have woken up the next morning, when I release these layers
that I’ve put on me, to skin that feels like a baby’s, and oftentimes my lesions have
disappeared overnight. So, it’s the heat that is allowing it to penetrate into the
different layers of your skin.
Rick: That’s interesting. Thanks very much for that tip, Sandra. Now, Jerry, have some
of your patients tried anything like that?
“I have my patients go into a bathtub with lukewarm water and use Aveeno
powder, an oatmeal powder, and make sure they soak in there for 20 to 30
minutes.”
Dr. Bagel: Many times, I have my patients go into a bathtub with lukewarm water, and I
have them use Aveeno powder, an oatmeal powder, and make sure they soak in
there for 20 to 30 minutes. Then I have them put on Aquaphor, and sometimes
we use what’s known as like a steroid suit. Now, sometimes we use topical
steroids, but in this case we don’t use any medication. It’s almost like a sweat suit,
and they wear a sweat suit overnight, and then they take a shower in the morning,
and most of the scales come right off, so their skin is very smooth.
Rick: Interesting. Now, how important is it to keep the psoriasis plaques themselves
moisturized?
“If [psoriasis plaques] are moisturized, they crack less, they tend to bleed less,
and it feels better.”
Dr. Bagel: It’s important from two points. If [psoriasis plaques are] moisturized, they crack
less, they tend to bleed less, and it feels better.
Secondly, if you’re using phototherapy to improve your psoriasis, by getting rid of
the scales, the ultraviolet light can penetrate their plaques better, and it becomes
more therapeutic.
Rick: What other products have you found to help with this?
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Dr. Bagel: I’ve used Eucerin cream. I’ve used Cetaphil cream. Sometimes I’ve used Crisco.
Sometimes, in the scalp, I’ve used olive oil. But moisturizer creams tend to work
better than lotions. They’re thicker. And they tend to hydrate the skin better.
“Moisturizer creams tend to work better than lotions.”
Rick: Lakshmi, in Wyoming, writes, "How can aloe vera gel help psoriasis?"
Dr. Bagel: Aloe vera is soothing and moisturizing, but I don’t think it’s going to have a
dramatic effect any more than a good moisturizer will.
Rick: Molly in Connecticut writes, "I have terrible psoriasis on my scalp. I use an oil at
night, but it’s very difficult to do, and it’s very time consuming as well. Will flax
seed oil in a pill form help in any way?"
“Fortunately, the new biologic agents help scalp psoriasis just as much as they
help psoriasis on the body.”
Dr. Bagel: It won’t help your scalp that much. That’s the big problem with scalp psoriasis.
You need to use the medication on the scalp, if it’s topical.
Fortunately, with the new biologic agents, they do help scalp psoriasis just as
much as they help psoriasis on the body. So, that’s a big breakthrough, because
even when we use phototherapy on the body for psoriasis, it didn’t help people’s
scalp psoriasis because the hair got in the way of the light.
So, the biologic agents are a breakthrough for scalp psoriasis as well as nail
psoriasis.
Sunbathing and light therapy
Rick: Speaking of phototherapy, we’ve gotten a lot of e-mails about sunbathing at home.
Does this work for people?
“Tanning booths don’t tend to work because they only administer UVA light.”
Dr. Bagel: Well, tanning booths don’t tend to work if you go out into tanning salons because
they only administer UVA light. For a therapeutic benefit, you need UVB light.
You can get UVB light in a physician’s office. Some physicians will write
prescriptions for UVB phototherapy machines. But UVA light in and of itself is
ineffective for treatment of psoriasis.
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7
Skin Zinc, Skin Cap, Loma Psoriasis
Rick: We have a question about a skin product. Sharon from St. Louis, Mo., writes, "I
have chronic psoriasis and have been on methotrexate and was recently on
Soriatane. [The medications] didn’t calm my psoriasis down very well without all
the side effects associated with taking them, like dryness of the mouth. I tried
Skin Zinc, and right now, I am in much better control. Skin Zinc seems to give a
lot of relief and stops the itching and the scaling. Because I am also a diabetic, is
this why it may take longer for my psoriasis to get cleared up?" So, what about
Skin Zinc first of all, Jerry?
Dr. Bagel: I have a lot of problems with this question to begin with.
First of all, if you’re a diabetic, having been on methotrexate is a relative
contraindication, so I’m not so sure why you were on methotrexate.
Secondly, Soriatane in and of itself does not work very well for psoriasis. It
works for plaque psoriasis. It works very well in conjunction with UVB light or
phototherapy, PUVA, but in and of itself as a monotherapy, it’s ineffective.
As far as Skin Zinc, in and of itself, if it works, it probably has steroids in it. If it
has steroids in it and you’re a diabetic, you’d better get off it because if you’re
absorbing that amount of steroids, it’s going to make your blood sugar go up.
Rick: What about diabetes in general? Can that interfere with the clearing of the
psoriasis?
Dr. Bagel: No. There is no real indication there that diabetes interferes with clearing of
psoriasis. However, if your diabetes is out of control and your sugar levels are
higher, I would think that it would be more difficult for your body to deal with
utilizing the normal treatments of psoriasis.
Rick: Some questions have come in about treating scalp psoriasis. Dennis from Cork,
Ala., writes, "There was a spray can called Skin Cap. I found it works very well.
Is there anything out there like that now?" Have you heard of this, Jerry?
Dr. Bagel: Yes. Skin Cap was found to have very high doses of clobetasol, which is a very
potent steroid like Temovate, and there are people who have gotten sick,
supposedly, from using Skin Cap.
“There are topical medicines that help in the treatment of scalp psoriasis.”
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There are topical medicines that help in the treatment of scalp psoriasis. We have
a scalp debridement machine in our office where people come in, and we use tar
and salicylic acid, which is safe, on the scalp for 20 minutes, and then we have a
special liquid jet of tar solution that gets rid of the scale. Once you do that and
get rid of the scales, you can use topical steroids. You can use DermaSmooth,
which is a cortisone and a peanut oil that helps with psoriasis. There are certain
tar shampoos can help with psoriasis of the scalp as well.
Rick: We have another question from Alice in Alabama. Alice says, "My boyfriend has
a cream that he puts on his psoriasis. I was wondering if you know anything about
Loma Psoriasis, a liquid homeopathic aid, and whether it would be a good
investment?"
Dr. Bagel: Because there haven’t been great treatments for psoriasis in the past, just as there
has not been great treatments for hair regrowth in men who have gone bald, there
are lots of treatments out there that are being promoted that are ineffective.
Colon cleanses, Pagano diet
Rick: We have another question about detoxification. Carol from Wisconsin writes, "I
am 62 years old, and I’ve had plaque psoriasis since I was 10. I’ve noticed that
when I do a colon cleanse that my psoriasis greatly improves. It almost goes
away. I think this would be worth a study. Why do you think an herbal colon
cleanse would clear psoriasis?"
Dr. Bagel: I have heard of this in the past. I’ve given this some thought. There could be
some bacteria in certain people that could be harboring in the colon that could be
giving it a super antigen response that could result in an exacerbation of psoriasis.
So, that could be a cleansing out of a certain bacteria that could be resulting in
psoriasis being eradicated.
Rick: What about the concept of doing a colon cleanse in general? Something you need
to consult your doctor about first?
“I definitely would consult my doctor about [a colon cleanse] first.”
Dr. Bagel: I definitely would consult my doctor about it first. [Editor’s note: Any colon
cleansing, whether herbal or one done in preparation for a medical procedure like
a colonoscopy, can result in significant alterations of the body’s electrolytes
(sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc). All patients, particularly those with heart
disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or other chronic illnesses, need to fully
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9
discuss this with their physicians before proceeding.] I don’t know of any clinical
trials that say that this is effective in a certain percentage of time or not.
Rick: Now onto the question of diet and its effects on psoriasis. Many have written
about how a change in their eating habits has helped their psoriasis, and we have
an e- mail from Ron who writes, "I can put my life on it that 99 percent of
psoriasis is diet. A few years back, I went to Dr. Pagano. Ninety percent of my
body was covered. My left arm looked like a road map. I went for one colonic
and did what he said. In one week, my left arm was clear. I have not seen Dr.
Pagano in years, so this is not a trick to get anyone to see him, but you have no
idea how easy it can go away. No spices, no tomatoes, no pizza, no fried food, a
lot of raw veggies and fruits and water. Also, slippery elm tea, saffron tea,
omega-369, guta kola, milk thistle helps too."
Dr. Bagel: I wish it was that easy. It’s amazing to me how with all the clinical trials we’ve
done, it’s almost unheard of that people’s psoriasis goes away and doesn’t come
back ever because of its being a chronic, relapsing disease.
I think that someone should do some clinical trials on these ideas. I mean, it
seems safe enough. But until I see some data with 100 patients, 50 who have
been on this, 50 who have not have been on it, then I really can’t comment on this
process. I wish it was this simple.
Rick: What about Dr. Pagano’s diet guidelines in general? Have any of your patients
tried to follow them and had success?
Dr. Bagel: My patients, no. The ones that come to me tend to not have success with Dr.
Pagano’s diet, and I have heard maybe one patient, out of the 2,500 patients I have
with psoriasis, who said that they went on this diet and it worked for them. So
there is a relapsing nature to the disease. Some people get better for a long period
of time.
If one person went on this diet and did well, I can’t say it’s statistically significant.
I really feel strongly that someone needs to do a good clinical study to see if this
does work or not. And that goes along with the colonics as well.
“There is a relapsing nature to the disease. Some people get better for a long
period of time.”
Rick: That’s the whole issue of correlation and causation. Just because something
happens after an event doesn’t mean that event caused it.
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10
Dr. Bagel: Right.
Rick: Exactly. For more information about diet and psoriasis, you can also refer to our
previous edition of PsoriasisTalk.
Decreasing alcohol consumption
Rick: And we have one more question. Richard from Mississippi writes, "I have heard
ingesting a large amount of alcohol on a regular basis can exacerbate psoriasis. Is
this true, and if so, will ceasing alcohol consumption improve psoriasis?"
“Alcohol is bad for psoriasis.”
Dr. Bagel: I can walk into a room with a patient that has psoriasis and pretty much tell you if
they’re a drinker or not because their psoriasis is going to look redder, oozier, and
more inflamed. Alcohol is bad for psoriasis. That’s not to say that you cannot
drink at all, like one or two drinks on a weekend or something.
Excessive alcohol consumption is bad for psoriasis, the ability to treat the
psoriasis, and it makes it worse.
Rick: Why do you think that is?
Dr. Bagel: I think it opens up the blood vessels and allows for more vascularization and more
of the white blood cells that are driving the plaques to ge t there.
Talking with your physician about home treatments
Rick: We’ve heard some promising home remedies today. Psoriasis can be such a
frustrating condition to treat, and I imagine that many are eager to try something
new they have heard about today. Should they consult their physician first?
Should you always inform your doctor of what you’re doing and what you’re
considering doing, Jerry?
“You have to be careful when something just sounds too good.”
Dr. Bagel: I think it’s important. I think if we’ve learned anything from Skin Cap is that
when people use this, it’s, "Oh, this is the greatest thing. It’s the cure for
psoriasis," and then you find out it has lots of topical steroids in it. You have to
be careful when something just sounds too good.
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11
You have a very complex disease here that is, in general, difficult to treat. And
it’s been around for thousands and thousands of years. If somebody says
something works all the time, don’t buy it. Believe me, everybody would be using
it if it does.
Rick: Also, a lot of information about home remedies is found on the Internet. If you’re
doing research on the internet, how do you know if something is reliable? What
should you look for?
Dr. Bagel: You don’t know if it’s reliable. The only thing you can look for if it’s in a “Journal
of the American Academy of Dermatology, ” “Archives of Dermatology,” or if it’s
supported by a journal that has reviewers that are credible. If something’s just
being written without any backup, that’s not reliable.
Rick: If a patient ’s current treatment is not working for them, if they just seem to have
tried everything and nothing’s working, what options do they have?
Dr. Bagel: You need to go to an individual, a doctor who specializes in psoriasis, who’s
interested in psoriasis, who knows all of the therapeutic modalities that are
available today.
Most patients with psoriasis can get significant improvement. The question is,
“How many risks are they willing to take in the medications that they use?” And
they need to know the risk-benefit ratio for every medication that they’re being
prescribed.
Rick: Thanks very much, Jerry, for that information. We’re almost out of time, and
we’d like to thank all of you who e-mailed us with your questions and your tips.
Jerry, any final thoughts you’d like to leave the listeners?
“You have to be aware that if something works well, it’s going to be used by a lot
of physicians because they would like to make psoriatic patients better.”
Dr. Bagel: I think you have to be aware that if something works well, it’s going to be used by
a lot of physicians because they would like to make psoriatic patients better.
If you see something on the Internet, if you’re reading something, you need some
documentation that there was a study done to substantiate the benefits of the
medicine and also to tell you what the potential adverse events are from that
medication.
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12
Rick: Thanks very much, Jerry. And to our listeners, if you’d like to join one of our
discussions or if you have any questions or comments, please contact us at the
Psoriasis Information Network. We do invite your input.
Dr. Bagel: Keep in touch with all the new programs on HealthTalk by signing up for the free
newsletter. Just follow the links on the top of the page. Until then, I’m Dr. Jerry
Bagel.
Rick: And I’m Rick Turner. If you’ve found this program helpful, please tell a friend.
From all of us at HealthTalk Interactive™ in Seattle, thanks for joining us for
PsoriasisTalk. We wish you the best of health.
References :

http://www.biolanyn.com/page_product.html
References :

Plaque psoriasis is characterized by raised inflamed lesions covered with a silvery white scale. The scale may be scraped away to reveal inflamed skin beneath. This is most common on the extensor surfaces of the knees, elbows, scalp, and trunk.
Guttate psoriasis presents as small red dots of psoriasis that usually appear on the trunk, arms, and legs; the lesions may have some scale. It frequently appears suddenly after an upper respiratory infection (URI).
Inverse psoriasis occurs on the flexural surfaces, armpit, groin, under the breast, and in the skin folds and is characterized by smooth, inflamed lesions without scaling.
Pustular psoriasis presents as sterile pustules appearing on the hands and feet or, at times, diffusely, and may cycle through erythema, pustules, and scaling.
Erythrodermic psoriasis presents as generalized erythema, pain, itching, and fine scaling.
Scalp psoriasis affects approximately 50% of patients, presenting as erythematous raised plaques with silvery white scales on the scalp.
Nail psoriasis may cause pits on the nails, which may develop yellowish color and become thickened. Nails may separate from the nail bed.
Psoriatic arthritis affects approximately 10% of those with skin symptoms. The arthritis is usually in the hands, feet, and, at times, in larger joints. It produces stiffness, pain, and progressive joint damage.
Oral psoriasis may present with whitish lesions on the oral mucosa, which may appear to change in severity from day to day. It may also present as severe cheilosis with extension onto the surrounding skin, crossing the vermillion border.
References :