by Kay Von Kavanagh

Created on: February 20, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

I have lived with psoriasis nearly all of my life - since I was 4 years old. Sometimes I feel like I know more about the condition than any dermatologist. Sometimes.

What can be said about it? It's annoying, it's itchy, sometimes painful. You need to be a patient person to live with it, and to try to treat it.

I think the main complaint is that it is itchy. One thing that I have learned is that the itching seems to come with diet, as if it were some food allergy. If you have a lot of itching with your psoriasis, I highly recommend a food journal! Write down what you eat every day. What does each day have in common? High dairy intake? High wheat, high nut content? If so, start eliminating those foods.

This is where you need patience. You won't necessarily notice a decline in itching the first day, or maybe even the first couple of days. Your body NEEDS to cleanse itself of the toxins.

Here are a few other tips to keep in mind while trying to treat your psoriasis.

Keep your skin happy. If you have a water softener, use it! If you don't, add salt to your bath. I have noticed that dead sea salts seem to work the best, but water softener salt does the trick as well.

Moisturize! But use a non irritating lotion. Highly scented lotions will not make your skin happy. Look for a non scented, or even a lavender and oatmeal type. These are soothing for the skin.

Most people with psoriasis have a yeast affliction. Avoid foods high in sugar, and yeasty breads. Try sugar alternatives, like stevia. You can also purchase an over the counter anti yeast treatment. It is an oral supplement, that you can take with your daily vitamins (one of these should be high levels of vitamin C).

Finally. Try a colon cleanser, or an acidophilus treatment. Some need to be refrigerated, so read your labels. These treatments help your body rid itself of the toxins that are already making it so irritable.

It may sound like a long and tedious road, but I think your skin will be so much happier in the meantime. Keep in mind, you are reading this article from someone living with the condition. There is no magic cure for psoriasis. All treatments take time. I wish you the best of luck!

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