Psoriasis : what is it and how to improve it ?
For anyone who suffers from Psoriasis-prone skin, this blog delves into what this skin condition is, what causes it and what are the natural ways you can make it better.
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes red, itchy, and scaly patches on the skin that can form anywhere on the body, but typically occur on the inside of the elbows, knees, and scalp.
Like other auto-inflammatory diseases, psoriasis occurs when your immune system – which normally stops infectious germs – begins to attack healthy cells instead.
It's not clear what causes the immune system to attack healthy cells, but scientists believe that most people with psoriasis inherit one or more of certain genes that can affect the immune system in a way that makes it prone to psoriasis.
People carrying theses genes might experience flare-ups that often occur when certain triggers start the psoriasis process.
One big trigger is stress : it can cause the body to release chemicals that boost the inflammatory response, leading to flare-ups. Check out our Psychodermatology blog about how your mental health can affect your skin and about how you can boost your mental well-being.
Other factors like weight gain, or certain medications can also trigger psoriasis flare-ups. Once the psoriasis has cleared up, it can stay away for months or even years, and then suddenly reappear.
How can you improve psoriasis-prone skin ?
Although you can’t 100% avoid flare-ups, you can minimise the risk for recurring with medicated creams or ointments, but also with soothing creams or mists with anti-inflammatory actives, such as Ginger, Bisabolol and Lavender. These are excellent at calming redness and flare-ups, soothing skin inflammation and restoring the skin’s natural balance for a healthy complexion.
When looking for skincare products that can help soothe psoriasis-prone skin, the most important thing is opting for alcohol free products, as well as brands that steer clear of the use of « nasties » that could make your skin worse.
Nourish London stays clear of ethanol (alcohol), synthetic colours, TEA (triethanolamine), DEA (diethanolamine), parabens, phenoxyetol, sulfates, mineral oils, PEGs (polyethylene glycol) and silicones. Through constant innovation, we aim to create the most effective, 100% natural skincare that improves the health of your skin.
Our Relax Soothing Toning Mist would be a good option to soothe psoriasis-prone skin as it’s a calming toner to refresh sensitive skin without drying, to balance the skin's pH and soothe skin prone to stress response.
You should also consider our Relax Calming Moisturiser, that is rich in Omega Oils and balancing ingredients to calm stressed and sensitive skin.
Plus, the calming Lavender scent in both product is ideal to relax the mind as it works as an anxiolytic (a natural anxiety reliever).
When it comes to nourishing the skin, some of you might like our Argan Skin Rescue Face Oil , as it provides the necessary Vitamin C and contains potent anti-inflammatory Ginger extract to help soothe the damage caused by the free radicals released in response to stress.
Keep in mind that psoriasis is a chronic condition, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Finding a treatment plan that works for you may take time, but with persistence and patience, you can manage your psoriasis symptoms and improve your quality of life.