Psoriasis is a skin disease that affects around 125 million people worldwide. It is an autoimmune condition where the skin cells reproduce rapidly, causing it to thicken and blister, which eventually forms scaly plaques on the skin. The cause of psoriasis is unknown, but doctors believe it has something to do with the immune system becoming overactive or dysfunctional during cell turnover. As the cells at the top of the epidermis die and flake off, they turn into scales.
What are the main symptoms of psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic skin inflammation disorder that causes dry, red plaques to form on the skin. These plaques are often accompanied by severe itching and irritation. The most common areas where psoriasis develops are in the elbows, knees, and scalp. In some cases, the skin can start to crack, and fissures can form. Furthermore, psoriasis symptoms may also be accompanied by joint pain in the knees, ankles, and feet.
What causes psoriasis?
Psoriasis occurs when a person’s immune system malfunctions and produces too many cells. These new cells reach the surface of the skin before they mature fully and die off. The dead cells clump together to form thick scales that resemble fish scales or an alligator’s skin. Psoriasis is not contagious, and there are no age factors to it. Additionally, people with other autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, lupus, or diabetes tend to develop more severe cases of psoriasis than people without these conditions.
Complications of psoriasis may include:
- Skin cancer: Psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) due to the exaggerated response by the immune system.
- Infections: Patients with psoriasis often have decreased immunity, leading to an increased risk of infection.
- Depression and anxiety: It is very common for people with psoriasis to suffer from psychological problems due to embarrassment or the stress in coping with the disease.
- Joint problems: The extra thickened skin may also fold over and trap fluid, which causes stiffness in the joints. This is called psoriatic arthritis.
- Heart attacks: If the plaques are thick, they can restrict blood flow to the heart and cause angina (chest pain). Sometimes, psoriasis is also associated with inflammation of the coronary arteries, leading to a heart attack or stroke.
What is dead sea salt?
Dead sea salts are made from evaporating seawater in the Dead Sea. They are rich in magnesium, potassium, calcium, and sodium chloride. The minerals found within these salts can be absorbed directly through the skin or ingested orally to promote good health. Dead sea salts provide lots of therapeutic benefits without any additives, including healing psoriasis, treating acne, improving circulation, and preventing aging skin.
Can dead sea salt treat psoriasis?
Dead sea salt baths have been found to benefit conditions like arthritis and psoriasis by reducing inflammation of the joints and stimulating blood flow to sore areas. When applied on the skin’s surface, they act as an antibacterial agent that helps prevent infections.
Dead sea salt is one of the most powerful natural exfoliators among beauty products. The high concentration of magnesium chloride found in the Dead Sea water can penetrate deep into damaged skin cells. Magnesium is known to help relax the muscles and promote blood flow.
Does sea salt help? What does it do?
The main active ingredient in sea salt is magnesium. Magnesium acts as a relaxant for muscle tissue, which explains why it can treat conditions like restless leg syndrome and insomnia. This vital mineral also helps activate over 325 different enzymes responsible for DNA synthesis, energy production, and protein formation.
What are the ways to use dead sea salt for psoriasis?
There are many ways to use dead sea salt for psoriasis treatment. Some of the most effective methods include bath salts, ointments, creams, and scrubs.
1. Dead Sea Salt Bath Treatments
- Relaxing in deep heat is one of the most popular treatments for psoriasis flare-ups.
- The mineral content found in Dead Sea salts helps relax muscles due to their properties as magnesium chloride.
- A warm bath will also promote blood flow to the area, which speeds up healing time for skin lesions caused by psoriasis.
2. Poultices with Dead Sea Salts (Ointment)
When applying topically, raw unprocessed sea salt can be used, which has more benefits than the processed salts.
- A mixture of raw sea salt and water can be applied directly to skin lesions which are then covered with gauze or a bandage. This method is beneficial for psoriasis that covers more significant areas of the body.
- The minerals in raw sea salt have antibacterial properties, so they help prevent infections during the healing process. Dead Sea Salt Ointment can also be used alone as a moisturizer if psoriasis is not present on the skin.
3. Dead Sea Salt Creams
- Shea butter combined with Dead Sea salt is an excellent remedy for dry or cracked hands and feet because it works as both a moisturizing agent and natural exfoliator.
- Most psoriasis creams contain salicylic acid to penetrate the skin and fight the root cause of the problem.
- For chronic or severe psoriasis, a dermatologist might prescribe topical steroids, which come with side effects such as thinning of the skin. Dead Sea salt cream might be better for you if you don’t want to go down that route.
What are Dead Sea salt scrubs?
Whether made at home or bought from a store, scrubs work by physically exfoliating skin on top of affected areas. This helps remove excess scales that have formed over inflamed lesions, which speeds up healing time. The sea salts also promote blood flow to those areas, further enhancing results from treatments like bath salts and ointments.
How often should you use dead sea salts?
- Bath salt treatments are usually performed once or twice daily for up to thirty minutes each time.
- Rubbing ointment into affected areas can be done one to two times per day after showering.
- Scrubs should not be used on open lesions because they can aggravate the condition and cause infection if it gets in the wound area. For those with severe psoriasis, scrubs might need to be applied less frequently. Many people only do this treatment a couple of times a week to maintain bath salts and ointments used daily before the scrub.
What are the overall benefits of using dead sea salts?
- Dead sea salts help soothe and relax muscles which enhances blood flow to the affected areas.
- They also have antibacterial properties, making them helpful in fighting infection during the healing time.
- Because the minerals in dead sea salts are absorbed into the skin; they can also moisturize dry or cracked areas.
- When doing bath treatments, it is essential to use warm water because overly hot water can burn sensitive lesions on your body.
- The minerals found in unprocessed sea salt improve the skin’s overall complexion while increasing cell regeneration.
What are some common side effects of using dead sea salts?
Side effects will be primarily cosmetic such as dry skin and minor itching. Still, it is possible for those with psoriasis to experience an allergic reaction, including swelling or puffiness of the affected area. If you begin to see any signs of infection, such as fever, chills, or increased pain within 24 hours of your treatment, you must stop and consult a doctor before continuing any further treatments.
Why should psoriasis patients use dead sea salts?
- Dead sea salts are known for their skin healing properties.
- They can be used to treat active or inactive psoriasis, so it’s an excellent addition to your home remedies kit even if you don’t have the condition.
- Psoriasis often goes hand in hand with stress, so using something like bath salts can help relax and soothe tense muscles.
- Dead Sea salts help improve the appearance and texture of the skin by physically exfoliating any dead cells away from lesions caused by psoriasis.
- They also fight off infection during healing time because they have antibacterial properties in raw unprocessed sea salt.
- These minerals are absorbed into the body, increasing blood flow to the affected areas and being used as an all-natural moisturizer for psoriasis.
Is there a difference between sea salt and dead sea salts in psoriasis treatment?
There is a difference in that Dead Sea Salts have more benefits for overall skin conditioning when compared to sea salt. But overall, both types of salts, when combined with bath treatments, will improve your skin’s appearance, texture, and tone while reducing flaking, redness, and itching from psoriasis lesions.
How does one get dead sea salts? Are they expensive?
You can find countless brands selling different types of bath salts, ointments, and scrubs made with raw and processed natural sea salts online or at health food stores. Such products are usually affordable because no artificial ingredients are added like perfumes typically found in store-bought creams.
What are the other natural treatments for psoriasis?
Dead Sea salts are not the only natural treatment for psoriasis. There are also many types of foods that can help improve symptoms, such as:
- Vitamin D from dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs.
- Green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, which contain amino acids that help skin restoration.
- Nuts and seeds found in walnuts, Brazil nuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds are rich in fatty acids helping to maintain healthy skin.
- Lean meat that is free of saturated fat can also improve circulation while providing essential proteins.
- Eating lots of fruits that are rich in vitamins and minerals.
- Increasing fiber intake through eating more dark leafy greens, broccoli, beans, whole grains, etc.
- Omega 3 fatty acids found in fish such as salmon, herring, and tuna contain high concentrations of proteins known to reduce inflammation caused by psoriasis.
- Drinking green tea daily because it is high in antioxidants which fight off free radicals which lead to tissue damage.
- Using topical creams and oils made with natural plant extracts like tea tree oil, aloe vera extract, argan oil, or almond oil.
- Exercising at least 4-5 times a week for at least 30 minutes each time to increase blood flow throughout the body.
- Taking hot baths with Epsom salt to relax the muscles and enhance blood flow to reduce pain and break down plaque that builds upon and between the skin folds.
- Using homeopathic remedies like calendula, which speeds up the healing time of lesions caused by psoriasis.
How is a homeopathic treatment for psoriasis beneficial?
- Homeopathic remedy stimulates the formation of new skin cells to speed up healing time by enhancing blood circulation around lesions which causes less pain and flaking during recovery.
- Homeopathic remedies made from natural ingredients such as arnica, Bellis perennis, and sulfur combined with other homeopathic ingredients work to reduce inflammation by relieving any soreness you may feel.
- Homeopathic treatment for psoriasis can also be taken orally or applied topically to remove any red, inflamed skin patches.
- Homeopathic treatment for psoriasis reduces plaque buildup on and between skin folds by eliminating the need for constant itching.
- Homeopathy doctors treat the root cause of any disorder to help rid the body of disease for good instead of masking or suppressing symptoms.
How dead sea salts and homeopathy can be beneficial together?
- Dead Sea salt baths combined with homeopathic remedies work in synergy by keeping the skin moisturized while speeding up healing time, which allows you to reduce psoriasis symptoms such as flaking, redness, and itching.
- Combining homeopathy remedies with dead sea salt baths enhance the healing process by removing any patches of psoriasis plaque on and between skin folds while minimizing soreness and itchiness.
- Dead sea salts remove psoriasis symptoms such as scaling, crusting, and thick plaques from the skin, while homeopathy remedies treat psoriasis at the source.
There is no cure for psoriasis, but many natural treatments can reduce flaking, redness, and itching caused by lesions. If you would like to learn more about natural homeopathic medicines that are effective in dealing with psoriasis symptoms, contact your doctor for advice on which remedies may work best for you. You can also book an appointment with homeopathy doctor through OHO Homeopathy now!