TLDR: go to Whole Foods / Sprouts / etc.
I'm not a specialist, but I've lived with the chronic autoimmune disorder psoriasis for most of my life. It presents mainly as a skin condition: our skin cells produce more quickly than the average person, so we get an accumulation of extra cells that can be itchy, red, and painful. It's genetic, there is no cure, and it can come and go, or "flare up", with people's ever-changing life and overall health conditions.
It's extremely stress-dependent, so when you are stressed, the next day your skin will be too. It's unfortunate at times, but also a very clear warning sign on when to slow down and take things back. This actually had a lot to do with why I quit a corporate job and starting teaching yoga, BUT that's another post - coming soon.
It can also be dependent on the environment, with weather and humidity playing a part. Ever feel your skin 'dry up' when you go to a desert or a climate with less humidity? It's like that but exaggerated.
Some people have found relief in the sun, in salt water, or with certain diets, but there are so many treatments out there and the success of treatments seem to vary greatly by person.
I did the usual: the dermatologists, the creams and medications, and then way-too-much Benadryl when that wasn't working. I even tried homeopathy which came with drinking tablespoons of water filtered with specific elements everyday. Hey, I was down to try it all.
I did the no-alcohol / gluten-free / dairy-free / don't even look at sugar diet, and that was actually pretty stressful. Turns out I really like gluten, and since it's stress-based, that wasn't a great call for me personally - I stressed and stopped eating (not really the goal).
The short of it is that nothing was really working. I even got prescribed methotrexate, but let it sit in my medicine cabinet just daunting me. I wasn't ready for those possible side effects: nausea and vomiting, possible hair loss, fever, chills, and I just saw a study linking it to increased risk of some cancers. It was also suggested to not try to conceive while on it, so it just wasn't something I wanted in my system.
What I found is that I needed a lifestyle change: reducing stress and harsh chemicals coming in contact with my skin. Hence the yoga, and I've found that natural skin products make a huge difference. These are some good, natural products that I've found to help combat the symptoms of psoriasis.
BATH / SHOWER
BODY SCRUBS: Usually not your first thought about shower item, but with psoriasis you want to gently remove skin without being too rough, so gentle and moisturizing body scrubs are key. They will usually leave my psoriasis 'spots' as I call them much smoother than when I don't use them, so I'll try to whenever I shower if my skin needs it.
The Frank Body Coffee Scrub was the first scrub I tried specifically for psoriasis, and they pack their products with 100% natural, vegan ingredients and come in really cute packaging. The caffeine and texture of the coffee help reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks, and uneven skin. Their products were actually the inspiration behind making my own scrubs, as their simple list of ingredients seemed possible to reproduce. But I haven't been able to reproduce the coffee in the way that they do - they definitely have the art of that down!
I do make my own coconut oil + brown sugar scrub with Shea butter and vitamin E, but if I get low on time or find something that looks good or on sale at Target, I'll try it. I'm currently liking the Shea Moisture's Coconut + Hibiscus Body Scrub because it smells like vacation and leaves my skin soft. I've used their Black African Soap Body Scrub + Tea Tree Oil) a few times and am liking that as well.
FACE: I've been using this Aveeno Positively Radient Face Wash for a few years and I really love it. It's both gentle and exfoliating which is perfect. Anything too intense will aggravate psoriasis, but you also want to gently remove any extra skin without being too rough. It's a fun balance to find, but this helps. I don't have a lot of psoriasis on my face so this isn't a specific product for it, it's just a gentle natural face wash.
BODY WASH: I've used a few over the years, but I'll tell you my favorites. I'm currently loving Alaffia's Everyday Shea line, and their Shea Butter + Neem Body Wash in Lavender is wonderful. It's good for all skin types and it's not too flowery, my husband actually made the switch and uses this too! Their products are all gentle and extremely moisturizing as they all include Shea butter, which has been known to reduce inflammation and eczema, boost collagen production, and fade the appearance of scars.
I also use Shea Moisture's African Black Soap Body Wash which I enjoy, and Black African soap has been known to help reduce eczema and psoriasis. I've also used their Raw Shea Body Wash which is really creamy and left my skin feeling moisturized.
SHAMPOO: I stick to the Yes To line for shampoo and conditioner, and I like the Yes To Tea Tree Oil Shampoo which is has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Tea tree oil is one of the suggested oils for psoriasis, so I also make a coconut oil and tea tree oil hair mask and try to use that a few times a month as well.
CONDITIONER: I use the Yes to Coconut + Argan Oil conditioner which is an extremely moisturizing cream and smells wonderful. It makes my hair super soft and isn't greasy like the time I tried to put straight coconut oil on my head (not a cute look).
LOTIONS, ETC.
Face: I was using Aveeno's Positively Radiant SPF 15 Face Lotion and I like it's light but moisturizing feel. It protects me from daily Las Vegas sun, and if I forget to put a major sunscreen on when I'm out for a bit longer it usually does the trick as well. I recently tried Target's version, Up&Up's Radiant SPF 15 Skin Lotion that's a few bucks cheaper and I've found it to be almost exactly the same. Especially going natural, I'm always looking to save a few bucks!
Body: My go-to has been Vaseline's Intensive Care Essential Healing Body Lotion for probably the past 5+ years. Now, yes I've been using the same lotion and yes I still have psoriasis, but I'm no longer looking for the amazing "cure", just what will keep me and my skin as content as possible. What I've found is that this lightweight but rich lotion keeps me moisturized throughout the day when put on right after a shower. I'll usually put on some heavier creams on my psoriasis 'spots' for extra moisture (listed below), but this is the all over lotion I'll use from head to toe.
Heavier Creams: Vaseline has an Intensive Rescue Deep Moisture Lotion that is extra thick and rich, and I'll use this just where I have psoriasis, so my elbows, knees, and feet. Basically anywhere you want extra moisture, this is a long-lasting lotion that isn't greasy.
You're looking for anything that is creamy, rich, unscented and non-greasy. I find most scented lotions to be too much, but that just might be me personally. If I do go with a scent I'll try to make it lavender or something else natural, light, and relaxing.
COCONUT OIL
You've probably heard to put this on everything, and if you have any kind of dry skin, eczema, or psoriasis, go ahead and do that.
I like to whip up a kind of coconut oil cream with vitamin E, which is just coconut oil and vitamin E whisked together in a KitchenAid for awhile until it's light and fluffy. Sometimes I'll add Shea butter or an essential oil, and segment it out into little plastic containers to have in my bathroom, kitchen, nursery, etc.
I'll use this on my hands after washing, my face and skin right after showering and before my other lotions, on my son's scalp if it's dry and his whole body after a bath. Coconut oil is antibacterial, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, and is an anti-inflammatory, hence it's magical properties. I find that an extra layer on the soles of the feet before bed (plus a comfy pair of socks) is a great night time foot treatment. When my feet were so bad that the bottoms of my feet were cracking and falling away, I would slather coconut oil and Shea butter on and wrap my feet in ace bandages for the night and would find some relief.
OTHER PRODUCTS
Other things go on our skin, so I try to make sure that these are natural or gentle products as well. Deodorants, make-up, hair products, even dish soap and laundry detergents can all affect your skin and scalp, so it's important to read labels, test things out, and keep using what works for YOU, not what you read.
I use Dove's Shea or coconut deodorant, only mascara rarely, and I'll use a small amount of serum on my hair, keeping hair spray and other products off my scalp. We use Costco's dish their Boulder Clean laundry detergent.
BRANDS + INGREDIENTS
I like to support companies that do good and produce well-made products, so I'm listing the brands that I've talked about above here for a quick guide on what to look for in any store.
BRANDS
Alaffia. A wonderful natural, fair-trade company that supports women, education, and strong African communities. They've funded over 4,000 births and have built schools, benches, and distributed bikes for transportation in West Africa. Look for their products at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Amazon. I only use their Body Wash, but they have many great products which are all made without "known behavioral toxins, carcinogens, developmental toxins, endocrine disruptors, fire retardants, GMOs, heavy metals, neurotoxins, pesticides, synthetic fragrances, reproductive toxins, toxic solvents, or harmful VOCs." They use Shea butter and coconut oil in all of their products, and notes that with continual use of coconut oil you can "keep skin smoother and more evenly textured by removing the outer layer of dead skin cells." That's incredible for us psoriasis warriors.
Shea Moisture. They are a great company creating "natural, organic, sustainably-produced goodness". Their products exclude parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, DEA, petroleum, formaldehyde, and propylene. They support women-led business and use original recipes that have been tried and tested true since 1912. I've used their lotions, body washes, body oils, and their 100% pure oils like Argan oil for my scalp. They're a little easier to find at Target, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, or even your local grocery store.
Yes To. This bright, fun, brand is a favorite at Target, and they make great products that you can feel good about buying. They are free of parabens and made with recyclable and renewable materials, containing 95% natural ingredients and spanning a wide range of fruit and vegetable based products. I love their Yes to Coconut line (Conditioner w/Argan Oil, Restoring Balm, Body Scrub, Hand + Cuticle Cream) and I use their Yes to Tea Tree Oil Shampoo. But they have a great Cucumber line and some products that use Charcoal as well.
Aveeno. A regular at most stores, this natural brand is a nice easy to find choice. I've been using their face wash and facial lotion for almost a decade, and since then I haven't had any bad breakouts or psoriasis on my face. They work to create natural products that work packed up using recycled materials. They focus on less packaging and more effective products.
Up + Up. This is that not-so-generic Target brand that has been making waves since 2014. They focus on making good products that are affordable and compete against nationally known brands. They are at the front lines of making sustainable products - they were one of the first companies to remove plastic micro-beads from their beauty products when it was found that they were polluting oceans. I love their Aveeno knock-offs (sorry Aveeno!) and any of their cleaning products.
These are what I've found to be great natural products to help combat the symptoms of psoriasis, not treat psoriasis itself. Since there is no cure, I've found a helpful thing to be to accept where you are with it, because the more you stress, the worse it becomes. Of course my husband will slightly roll his eyes if/when he reads this because he has to constantly remind me of this, but the first step is admitting, right?
I'm also trying something new which I'm kinda excited about, but I'm still doing the initial research on it. If you've heard or seen anything about a semi-new celery juice thing, then you know what I'm talking about. I'm writing a post dedicated to that right now, so I'll let you know!
What products have you found success with? Have you tried anything else specific for psoriasis or another autoimmune (or other health issue) that worked for you?
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