Healing Eczema and Psoriasis Naturally

When those painful, itchy patches of eczema and psoriasis erupt, doctors of natural medicine ask, 'what is causing this condition to present at this time?' The Greek translation of eczema means "to boil out," so the question makes sense: holistic physicians look for the underlying root causes that bring about these skin eruptions. Although they create similar discomforts for the people afflicted, psoriasis and eczema are different in important ways.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that results in an overproduction of skin cells. As the dead skin cells build-up, they form thick, scaly white patches that are visible on the skin's surface. The skin itches terribly and is inflamed.

Eczema (aka atopic dermatitis) also can be chronic, but it tends to come and go in response to certain triggers (e.g., stress, weather changes, irritating skin or household products, or an allergic reaction). Eczema is common in infants and children, and may even go dormant for a time. Some people, however, suffer terribly throughout their lifetime. When eczema is active, skin is inflamed, dry, peeling and may blister.

From the natural medicine perspective, root causes of eczema and psoriasis include:

• Food sensitivity/ allergy

• Deficiency in one or more minerals

• Low-quality diet (high in inflammatory foods, processed foods, sugar, etc.)

• Poor gut health/ Leaky Gut (aka intestinal permeability

• Emotional/ Mental Stress

• Exposure to toxins and/or inadequate ability to detoxify

Conventional treatment plans typically use steroids to simply manage symptoms (i.e., itching); however, there are harmful side effects, such as suppressing overall immunity, that must be considered. Natural therapies, on the other hand, work to correct the underlying imbalance that caused the body to react in the first place, offering relief without the unwanted side effects of steroid treatments. One or more of the following natural therapies may be part of an individualized holistic treatment plan:

• Dietary changes to include more nutrient dense, clean foods

• Remove foods from the diet that cause inflammation (most commonly gluten, dairy and sugar)

• Nutritional supplements to restore balance or deficiency (e.g., zinc, vitamin D/ E/ A)

• Balance gut flora using probiotic foods, probiotic supplements and other approaches

• Increase intake of high quality Essential Fatty Acids, which are important to skin health

• Provide support for mental/emotional stress

• Identify and minimize toxin exposure (ditch the toxic skin care and household products for organic, unscented alternatives)

• Support liver function, the body's detox organ

Additionally, to temporarily soothe symptoms, holistic physicians may recommend nourishing the skin with herbal salves and essential oil baths specific to individual needs. Some common botanical ingredients are calendula, lavender, chamomile, rose, Manuka honey (my personal fave!), tea tree and neem among many others.

Psoriasis and Eczema can quickly become chronic and severe and the wrong treatments can make things far worse. Consult with a holistic health practitioner or functional medicine doctor to identify the appropriate therapies for you or your loved one. I can also help guide you with an anti-inflammatory diet protocol that has been extremely effective for my clients. You can click here to schedule a complimentary 50-minute Coffee Talk session.