Skin Therapies

Psoriasis

          Imagine having an unwanted guest show up on your doorstep. No one knows who invited him, and no one really wants him there. He’s one of the most annoying people you have ever met. And his personality is so abrasive, you are embarrassed to take him anywhere. If you have psoriasis or know anyone with this frustrating skin condition, you know that its much like that uninvited guest. It shows up in the form of dry, inflamed, red, scaly patches of skin. Not only are psoriasis flare-ups aggravating, they make people with the condition so self-conscious about their appearance that they are reluctant to go to the grocery store without ample covering. Probably most frustrating of all is that there is no magic formula to kick this guest out of town indefinitely. You have to learn how to deal with flare-ups as they come, and take good care of yourself and your skin. With psoriasis, that means taking precautions to prevent outbreaks, such as using heavy moisturizers and leading an overall healthy lifestyle, and, if psoriasis does cause your skin to breakout into dry, red patches, treating it quickly.

       We will discuss 28 home remedies — some consisting of simple ingredients found in your kitchen — to help treat psoriasis discomfort, and simple everyday changes you can make to help prevent outbreaks. Lets start by discussing what psoriasis does to skin.surface of the skin. Thankfully, this quickening of skin cells usually happens in patches, mostly on the scalp, lower back, elbows, knees, and knuckles. The technical term for these dry, irritating, scaly patches is plaques.

No one really knows what psoriasis is — an allergy? An infection? And even with all the advanced medical knowledge in the world today, the causes of the condition remain a mystery. In about 32 percent of psoriasis cases, there is a family history of the condition, which means there is a significant genetic link. Doctors do know that there are specific lifestyle factors that can trigger psoriasis or make symptoms worse.

Drinking alcohol, being overweight, stress, a lingering case of strep throat anxiety, some medicines, and sunburn all tend to make psoriasis even more unbearable. Psoriasis is not contagious, though it looks like it might be. Some people end up with mild cases of the condition that produce small patches of red scales. Others are plagued by psoriasis — it covers large areas of their body with thick scales.

Some people even get psoriasis in their nails, which causes the nails to become pitted and malformed and even to break away from the skin. And in some rare cases, a type of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis develops. new cells are formed deep within the skin and over a period of about 28 to 30 days they make their way out to the top of skin. by that time the old skin cells die and are sloughed off by everyday routines such as showering and toweling off. the skin cells of the patient build mass of dead cells within 3-4 days.

Types:

• Plaque psoriasis - Patches of raised, reddish skin covered by silvery-white scale
• Psoriatic arthritis - Which causes inflammation of the joints.
• Guttate psoriasis - Small, red spots on the skin
• Pustular psoriasis - White pustules surrounded by red skin
• Inverse psoriasis - Smooth, red lesions form in skin folds
• Erythrodermic psoriasis - widespread redness, severe itching, and pain

Causes:

• Psoriasis occurs when the immune system overreacts, causing inflammation and flaking of skin.
• Abnormality in the mechanism in which the skin grows and replaces itself causes psoriasis.
• Psoriasis develops when the immune system tells the body to over-react and accelerate the growth of skin cells.
• Heredity also plays a role in the development of psoriasis
• Environmental factors such as trauma, sunlight, infection, emotional stress, climatic changes etc also causes.

Symptoms:

• Raised, red patches of skin topped with loose, silvery scales, usually on the knees or elbows
• Thick, red patches known as plaques, and dry, silvery scales appearing on the scalp, face, elbows, knees, palms, and soles of the feet.
• Dry, cracked skin that may bleed
• Joint swelling, tenderness, and pain
• Thickened, pitted or ridged nails

Treatment:

• The use of curd in the form of buttermilk has proved useful in psoriasis and the patient should drink it in liberal quantities.
• Do not control natural urges like vomiting, urination, bowel emptying etc.
• Avoid taking spicy food and consume only easily digestible food.
• Do not eat too much of salty, sour or acidic foods
• Avoid consuming opposite foods
• Include more fruits, vegetable, fruit juices in your diet. Bitter gourd, curd, boiled vegetables, pumpkin etc... are good psoriasis diet.
• Avoid animal fats, eggs, processed canned foods from your diet.
• Application of avocado oil gently on the effected part is found to be an effective treatment.
• Cod liver oil, lecithin, linseed oil, vitamin E, and zinc fasten the healing process.
• Apply moisturizing cream or gel at regular intervals to maintain the moisture level of the skin.
• Avoid using soap while taking bath instead use gram flour and use a herbal scrubber.
• Avoid pricking, peeling and scratching skin
• Use separate, clean clothes and towel for your use.
• Taking bath in sea water is found to be very effective in psoriasis treatment.
• Drinking fresh bitter gourd juice mixed with one teaspoon of lime juice on an empty stomach is an effective psoriasis treatment
• Applying aloe-Vera cream thinly to irritated skin and rubbing lightly is effective.
• Mental health is absolutely necessary for an effective treatment of psoriasis. Try deep breathing and relaxation exercise to reduce stress.
• Exposing to mild sunlight daily for 30 minutes will improve the texture of the affected area of the skin.

The psoriasis patient can contact for FREE TREATMENT to:

www.srinipharmacy.com 

For free job (guide and help)

S Srinivasan, M Pharm, PhD
Professor of Pharmaceutics
In-Charge Placement Cell
East point College of Pharmacy
Bangalore 560035
 +91-9535307023
srinipharmacy@yahoo.com

Wrinkles:

Castor oil has been used for thousands of years for massage purposes. Castor oil can help in reducing the skin wrinkles and gives the rejuvenating appearance to the skin. Castor oil draws the blood circulation and increases the biological energy of the applied area. It acts as anti-oxidant and removes the toxins accumulated in the skin; the toxins may be present due to various factors like, diet, exposure to pollution, antibodies antigen reaction, etc.A daily gentle massage of castor oil maintains the skin tone and prevents wrinkle formation.

Coconut Oil: The key point in the prevention of wrinkles is to keep the skin soft and moist. Dry skin is more prone to premature wrinkling. Recently it has been discovered that Virgin Coconut oil has a molecular structure that helps in its easy absorption into the skin. It contains vitamin E in rich amount which reduces oxidant present in the body; oxidants are poison to the skin. Therefore, VCO when massaged to the skin makes it soft and supple as well as helps in rejuvenation. Regular use of coconut oil for face massage before going to bed prevents the wrinkle formations and also keeps the skin glowing and fresh. If you have an extra dry skin you can also drink virgin coconut oil to maintain the skin moisture.

Aloe Vera a miraculous plant used as a natural treatment for a number of ailments all over the world. For wrinkles, apply aloe gel to the whole face at least two times a week. You can also use the fresh lump of the plant just cut the leaf, scoop the lump and apply to the wrinkle prone areas. This also cures any acne or age spots and gives a glowing beautiful complexion.

Baking Soda Exfoliation is a very important step towards the prevention of wrinkles. It helps to remove any dead cells from facial skin thus promotes radiant, glowing skin and maximizes moisturizing effectiveness. Using a handful of baking soda with some warm water as a natural and possibly cheapest facial scrub prevents dryness and removes dead cells. Long term use keeps skin youthful and free from wrinkles. You can also use it as full body scrub.

Sesame Oil Sesame oil is an effective antioxidant rich in vitamins and minerals and helps to restore the elasticity of skin. Its molecular structure helps its penetration deep into the skin, so that it can nourish and detoxify our skin at a deeper level. For the prevention and cure of wrinkles sesame oil can be used either alone as night facial massage but preferably it can be mixed with olive oil or sweet almond oil to enhance its anti-aging effects.

Vitamin E is well known all over the world due to its anti-aging properties. As an easy home remedy for wrinkles, you can simply prick a Vitamin E capsule and empty its contents on your face. Just spread and gently massage. Repeat once a week. This promotes skin rejuvenation and hence not only prevents premature wrinkles but also cures age induced wrinkling.

Sea Buckthorn Oil This is relatively expansive oil that has been used from ancient Greek times for the treatments of skin diseases and digestive disorders. Nowadays it is getting popular due to its role in combating wrinkles.

Clinical trials and recent studies have shown that Sea Buckthorn oil when applied externally is effective in the healing of skin damage from radiation or the sun, promote tissue regeneration, and reduce age-induced skin wrinkling and premature skin aging due to malnourishment. Antioxidants present in Sea Buckthorn effectively fight against wrinkles, dryness, and other symptoms of aging or of neglected skin. When applied on the oil is properly absorbed and quickly assimilated into the skin. If you can get pure oil at home, a regular facial massage would be the best home remedy to prevent and cure wrinkles.

Sunburn

         Frequent exposure to the sun increases production of melanin (the skin's pigment that gives color to the skin). Melanin helps protect the skin from sun's radiation. As melanin is dark in color, the skin becomes dark in color, or tanned on sun-exposure. Apart from tanning, the skin is also exposed to harmful ultraviolet radiation that leaves a long-term damage on the skin. Hence, it is important to avoid direct sun-exposure as much as possible, particularly during noon till about 3pm. Hence, the skin needs to be protected from effects of sun-exposure through daily care routine that helps in tackling these effects. Also, remember to apply sunscreen while swimming, of while holidaying by the sea, as water, being a reflective surface, increases the effects of UV radiation.

Here are a few simple easy-to-follow home remedies for sunburn:A scrub is often the first thing to set your hands upon after sun exposure, as it effectively removes sun tan. but scrubs should be avoided in cases of redness and rashes. After using scrub milk can help in soothing of skin.

•3 tablespoons of ground meals can be mixed with half a cup of yogurt. Apply on face and neck. Rub it gently all over face and neck and wash off.

•Mix two teaspoons of oatmeal with half a cup of ripe papaya and add a drop of honey. Apply the mask and wash off after twenty minutes.

•Honey and lime juice can be mixed in the ration of 2:1 and wash it off after twenty minutes.

•A pinch of turmeric can be added to yogurt and applied over face, neck and arms regularly for half-an-hour.

•Lime juice and cucumber could be mixed in equal proportions and applied regularly for 20 minutes. Cucumber pulp together with yogurt can also be applied over face regularly and washed off.For lightening skin tone:

•Mix a teaspoon each of milk powder, honey and lemon juice with half-a-teaspoon of almond oil. Apply regularly on face and wash off after 10 to 15 minutes. This apart from removing tan brings shine back on skin.

•Oatmeal, curd and tomato juice to be mixed and applied on face. Leave on for 20 minutes before washing off with cold water. This helps remove tan while also lightening the skin.

•A mixture of grated tomato together with 2-3 drops of lime juice, could be left on the face for 20 minutes prior to washing off. This could be done for 15-20 minutes twice a day for two weeks for best results.

•A tablespoon of gram flour should be mixed with 2 tsp of raw milk and 2-3 drops of lime juice. Apply this mixture and leave on for 15 minutes and wash off. Repeat for a month, and follow-up with once a week. •Apply a paste of freshly ground mint leaves and leave on for about 20 minutes. Wash with cold water. Continue the routine for 15 days.

•Soak 4 almonds overnight. Grind it into a fine paste with milk. Apply on neck and face, leave it overnight Wash with cold water in the morning. Continue this routine for two weeks, and twice a week thereafter.

Acne

There exist hundreds, if not thousands, of acne home treatments out there. We will discuss some of the most common remedies you can use at home, and how it works. This is meant as an introduction guide, and may be useful if you are currently looking for an acne home treatment.

Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar is made from the fermented juice of apples and has been touted as an effective topical mode of treating acne at home. The process of applying the apple cider vinegar is simple-mix 1 part apple cider vinegar and 3-4 parts water, and then applies the solution to the face and other problem areas with a clean cotton ball. It is important to leave the solution on the affected areas) for about 10 minutes and then gently rinse with warm water.

Depending on skin sensitivity and the severity of the acne, applying recommended. Apple cider vinegar contains natural anti-bacterial properties, which explains it's efficacy as an acne home treatment

Acne forms when pores become clogged with bacteria and dead skin cells. Apple cider vinegar removes excess oil, reduces redness and irritation, and can be purchased at a minimal cost Additionally, it has little to no unpleasant side effects; nevertheless, certain dermatologists have claimed the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar is usually short-lived and does not work as a long-term treatment method.

Tea Tree Oil Originating from the Melaleuca plant native to Australia, tea tree oil has numerous medicinal uses, including repelling insects, boosting the immune system, and preventing gingivitis when used as a mouthwash. Much like apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil has antibacterial properties that make it suitable as an acne home treatment; however, only minimal studies have been performed on tea tree oil as an acne remedy. Of the studies that have been conducted on tea tree oil, one study in Australia compared the effectiveness of benzoyl peroxide compared to tea tree oil, when used for treating acne. The tea tree oil took a little more time to work, but did so with significantly less side effects than benzoyl peroxide. The side effects of benzoyl peroxide are dryness, peeling, and irritation. The fact that a multitude of acne products currently contain tea tree oil as an active ingredient proves that it is a compelling and potent substance. It is imperative for consumers to note that tea tree oil must always be used minimally and diluted in water when being utilized as an acne home treatment. Tooth paste has been used as a spot-treatment for acne for quite some time. The reason for this is it contains an anti-bacterial ingredient called triclosan, as well as alcohol and menthol, which are known to have a drying effect on the skin. Toothpaste as an acne home treatment has definitely become so popular because of the fact that everyone has toothpaste at home.