Your skin is a key barometer of your health and when it speaks the language of the body you should listen. Instead of silencing skin symptoms through suppressive lotions and drugs find the root cause and facilitate the body to really help manage symptoms and improve quality of life from within.
Root causes of psoriasis
The exact cause of this chronic autoimmune condition is still not fully understood, but it’s believed to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and immune system factors. Common root causes include:
- Genetic Predisposition: Psoriasis often runs in families and if one or both parents have psoriasis, you may be at a higher risk of developing it.
- Immune System Dysfunction: Psoriasis is where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, triggering an inflammatory response and excessive skin cell growth.
- Diet and Lifestyle: Diet high in processed foods, alcohol consumption, smoking, and obesity can worsen psoriasis symptoms
- Environmental Triggers:
- Stress: Stress can exacerbate psoriasis or trigger flare-ups.
- Infections: Certain infections, especially strep throat, can trigger or worsen psoriasis.
- Injuries to the Skin: Injured or traumatised skin may trigger psoriasis in that area, a phenomenon called the Koebner response.
Diet and lifestyle approaches to managing psoriasis
It is important to consult a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle or natural remedies to ensure they are appropriate and safe for you, especially if you have any underlying health conditions or are taking medications.
These may be areas where you can make small changes yourself:
Dietary Changes:
- Anti-inflammatory Diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats to reduce inflammation.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Incorporate sources like fatty fish, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts, as they may help reduce inflammation.
Maintain a Healthy Weight:
- Losing excess weight may help improve psoriasis symptoms and reduce the severity of flare-ups.
Regular Exercise:
- Engage in regular physical activity to maintain a healthy weight and reduce stress, which can improve psoriasis symptoms.
Stress Management:
- Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, or mindfulness to manage stress and reduce the risk of psoriasis flare-ups.
Sunlight Exposure:
- Limited exposure to natural sunlight can help improve psoriasis symptoms, as sunlight helps reduce inflammation and slows the rapid growth of skin cells.
Before using any new remedy, natural or otherwise, always consult with a trusted healthcare professional.
Natural Remedies:
- Aloe vera, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and turmeric may provide relief for some individuals.
Moisturise and Hydrate:
- Use natural, organic moisturisers to keep the skin hydrated, which can help reduce itching and irritation.
Listen to your skin and treat it with personalised care.
Optimal Health can provide personalised advice and treatment options tailored to your specific psoriasis condition.
How Optimal Health Can Help
If you have painful psoriasis, or any other limiting skin condition, then we recommend starting with an Initial Health Consultation for new patients. We connect online, listen clearly to your health concerns and priorities, ensure our philosophy meets your needs, and recommend the best starting point for an Optimal Health Treatment Pathway©
