Mailbag! 5 Ways to Soothe Your Psoriasis

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted June 7, 2022

I have psoriasis, and I was wondering what supplements or natural treatments there are out there.

–Bill from Riverside, CA

Bill,

As you probably know, psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body attacks the skin as if it were a foreign invader. Psoriasis affects about two percent of the U.S. population.

Normal, healthy skin takes about a month to turn over and be replaced by new skin. But when you have psoriasis, cell turnover happens much faster, and the cells often pile upon each other. This is what creates the rash you see.

There are a few things I tell my patients to do to help reduce the rash.

The thing I’ve seen work best can also be pretty difficult: an elimination diet. This is a diet where you remove all the common food allergies.

I generally suggest people eat ONLY meat and a few fruits and vegetable, like avocados, squash, and berries. This means no grains, seeds, nuts, beans (including coffee), dairy, and eggs. Then, slowly add foods back in. If folks go on this diet and don’t see any change within a few weeks, then that means it won’t work for them.

Here are a few other things to consider:

• Stress. Many studies have linked high stress to outbreaks of psoriasis. I find stress reduction to be very individualized. I advise my patients to try something like prayer, meditation, or hypnosis – anything soothing that works for them.
• Cream. There are several herbal creams out there that are pretty powerful. Look for salves and lotions that contain Oregon grape, aloe, and vitamin B12, all of which will work pretty well to soothe skin.
• Take care of your gut. While this may seem unrelated, the gut is where the immune system becomes activated to attack the skin. I like probiotic foods such as raw, cultured dairy like kefir and yogurt, and cultured vegetables which can give your body the bacteria it needs to be healthy.
• Vitamins. The best vitamins for skin health are vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc.

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Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

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