August is Psoriasis Awareness Month! If you don’t know what Psoriasis, it’s this: a chronic skin condition caused by an overactive immune system. Symptoms include flaking, inflammation, and thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin. Scales typically develop on joints, such elbows and knees. They may develop anywhere on the body, including the:
- hands
- feet
- neck
- scalp
- face
Statistics vary all over the internet, but most sources report that nearly 7.5 million Americans suffer with Psoriasis. Psoriasis symptoms differ from person to person and depend on the type of psoriasis. The most common symptoms of psoriasis include:
- red, raised, inflamed patches of skin
- whitish-silver scales or plaques on the red patches
- dry skin that may crack and bleed
- soreness around patches
- itching and burning sensations around patches
- thick, pitted nails
- painful, swollen joints
Not every person will experience these symptoms. Some people will experience entirely different symptoms if they have a less common type of psoriasis. There are 5 types of Psoriasis:
- Plaque
- Guttate
- Pustular
- Inverse
- Erythrodermic.
If you didn’t know, Psoriasis is not contagious. The most common triggers for psoriasis include:
- Stress
- Alcohol
- Injury
Psoriasis has no cure. Treatments available aim to reduce inflammation and scales, slow the growth of skin cells, and remove plaques. Psoriasis treatments fall into three categories:
- Light Therapy
- This psoriasis treatment uses ultraviolet (UV) or natural light. Sunlight kills the overactive white blood cells that are attacking healthy skin cells and causing the rapid cell growth.
- Systemic Medications
- People with moderate to severe psoriasis, and those who haven’t responded well to other treatment types, may need to use oral or injected medications. These medications include:
- Methotrexate
- Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
- Biologics
- Retinoids
- Topical treatments
- Creams and ointments applied directly to the skin can be helpful for reducing mild to moderate psoriasis.
Topical psoriasis treatments include:
- Topical corticosteroids
- Topical retinoids
- Vitamin D analogues
- Salicylic acid
- Moisturizer
- Light therapy
How can Dr. Doug’s help you if you suffer from Psoriasis? The most recommended treatment is topical creams, ointments, or balms that are applied directly to the skin. Our best product for you to use would be our Original Miracle Balm">Original Miracle Balm. This balm is made with 100% certified organic ingredients and has no preservatives. It’s fortified with essential oils for anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and counter irritant effects. The all-natural ingredients provide a soothing moisture barrier. It can also calm the fires of cuts, cracks, and insect bites. The Original Miracle Balm was dubbed for its quick-relief, healing, and long-lasting qualities. Dr. Doug hand-makes the balm with organic beeswax and organic extra virgin coconut oil. Both of these ingredients have incredible moisturizing properties. When applied to the skin, it’s non-greasy and has a no-residue finish. Just apply to your trouble areas of skin daily.
You can learn more in-depth about our Original Miracle Balm in our recent blog post “An everywhere, no matter-what problem, “Go to Balm”. If you haven’t found a good treatment for your Psoriasis, try out Dr. Doug’s Miracle Balm today! Even if you don’t have Psoriasis and are just searching for the best daily moisturizer out there, then this is the product for you!
Have you had any great experiences with our Dr. Doug’s Original Miracle Balm? We’d love to hear from you! Check out Dr. Doug’s Original Miracle Balm and our other products!