The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Sela (Huntsville, Alabama) on 07/25/2008
★★★★★
My Psoriasis started 8 years ago after working a highly stressfull job (where I also got many other stress related ailments as well). The Psoriasis started on my scalp then a few years later migrated to my forhead and then to my cheeks near my nose and finally to the sides of my face near the hairline. Everytime I'd go through major stress, the Psoriasis would spread. It has been a really bad case to where I won't go out in public and can't cook because my skin is constantly flaking and literally falling off. I tried medicated shampoos which hurt, dried out my face and left me a flaky mess from then on. It's like dandruff on your face!
I came across this site and decided to try ACV and it has worked to keep my scalp and face clear.
What I do:
If I'm having a flare up and I'm all flaky, red and uncomfortable:
1) Cleanse my face. 2) Pour some ACV on a cotton ball. 3) Stand in front of a fan and swipe the affected areas with the ACV reapeatedly (the fan is because the ACV stings a lot when the skin is raw from the condition). 4) Apply thick moisterizer or vaseline (vaseline works best for me) over the affected areas. I repeat this for 4-6 nights in a row and apply moisturizer during the day. You can tell it's working as your skin clears up the ACV no longer stings.
To maintain the flare-ups from starting again, I follow the above steps at least once to twice a week even if the skin is clear but use regular moisturizer instead of vaseline. The ACV does not sting at all at that point.
If I forget to use the follow-up ACV, my skin will start to feel tight and dry. At that point I follow all the steps and am fine just doing it for 2 days.
Added Skin Benefits:
Clean pores, rosey complextion, evened skin tone and no scars from the Psoriasis anymore after flare ups.
I've also used internally for allergies recently, which I will post about in that section.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Enzymes
Posted by Kathy (Macon, Georgia) on 07/05/2008
★★★★★
Psoriasis first started at a location on my leg where I had been bitten by a dog a few weeks earlier. It quickly spread to virtually all parts of my body. Over a 2 month period there were 9 doctor visits, 13 prescriptions, and 4 biopsies...none of which were helping! A Registered Nutritionist recommend I try drinking 2 Tbls. Organic, unfiltered (with the mother) Apple Cider Vinegar mixed into about a half cup of water twice a day. Additionally she suggested I begin using a good systemic enzyme. (Like digestive enzymes, but coated so they don't dissolve in your stomach) which I also took twice daily (following mfg's instructions).
The psoriasis began clearing almost immediately and was completely gone within a few weeks. Three years have now passed since the psoriasis episode with no recurrence of the problem. Hope this helps someone else because it sure was a nasty problem
Sunshine
Posted by K.A. (New Jersey, USA) on 07/01/2008
★★★★★
Ailment: Psoriasis.
Remedy: Throw away your sunblock and take a walk in the sun!
The insides of my ears have itched like crazy since I was about 16, though I never knew it was psoriasis until almost a decade later. I just recently figured out that that was the age when I started to avoid direct sunlight and also wear sunblock constantly to prevent future wrinkles on my very fair skin--a practice I continued up until this year.
Avoiding the sun and living in an area with a far angle from the sun during winter months causes Vitamin D deficiency, which I am certain I had. Getting more sunlight by exercising outside in the morning has helped tremendously. Vitamin D apparently decreases cell turnover, including in the skin.
Avoiding a pro-inflammatory lifestyle and stress should also help, since autoimmune disorders such as psoriasis are modulated by inflammatory cytokines; in the case of psoriasis, interleukin-17 seems to be the problem.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Andrea (Ontario, Canada) on 06/25/2008
★★★★★
Coconut Oil for Psoriasis.
I developed plaque psoriasis on 1 knee and 2 elbows and guttate psoriasis on my legs 18 months ago. I tried every suggestion under dermatitis and eczema and psoriasis that I could do, applying topically, ACV, Oregano oil, Tea Tree oil, honey, coconut oil, GSE, etc. I have to say all topical remedies did not work for me at all. All the red spots just stayed red and never healed while moisturizing and treating with the above.
What did work was reading a couple of posts stating to do nothing to them, just wash them with a warm cloth. This made sense as I had a couple of spots on my back that I could not reach to treat and they healed on their own. So I also took the idea from the person who was taking coconut oil internally and it had healed his psoriasis. I stopped treating it externally with everything and started taking 1 TBLS of Coconut oil on Oatmeal each morning and another TBLS in a cup of hot chocolate at night. I believed the post that moisturizing from the inside would likely be the proper way to go. So taking the coconut oil internally each day, also 1 Vitamin B complex per day, 1 Vit. C 500mg. per day and 2 capsules of Essential Health Oil per day, (contains flax seed oil,black currant seed oil, Pumpkin seed oil & safflower oil) this all or maybe just the coconut oil? has healed one elbow completely, the other is almost healed, the knee plaque only has a tiny spot left and keeps shrinking and all the bright redness to the flat spots has disappeared. The backs of my legs and sides up my thighs are healed and all that is left is very light pink pigmentation spots on my shins. These are still healing and looking so much better that I can now wear shorts again with no concerns. I continue daily to just wipe them down with a warm wet thick cloth, (just water) and am having great success. The dry lines on my legs have disappeared and I am NOT moisturizing externally! Spots on my hands have completely healed as well. I was putting so much time into daily treatment topically, getting frustrated and I just wanted to say thank you to all the posters who try to help anyone with their suggestions. Those 2 posts were a hit for me and I wanted to share as well with others suffering. As a previous poster said "do nothing" to your psoriasis, they also stated it would take time, yes it does be patient, it's been 2 months for me to get to this stage.
Also I would like to add that I broke out with perioral dermatitis after using contact cement. I used your site and immediately applied ACV to the rash for a couple of days and applied Calendula cream after the ACV dried for a week and within days it healed and in one week completely gone! Thank you so much for this site and to all the wonderful people who take the time to help others!
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by C.L. (Bellingham, Washington) on 06/05/2008
There are huge differences between psoriasis and eczema. If you are not sure what you have, you should be correctly diagnosed. They are not at all the same thing.
Honey
Posted by Trina (St. Helens, OR) on 04/26/2008
★★★★★
My mother has psoriasis on her feet - i talked her into using Honey to stop the bad itch. I worked instantly. the itch was gone. She reports that she dont like the sticky tacky feel of the honey but it worx. And she will use it more in the future when in a pinch.
Aloe Vera
Posted by Joe (Worcester, MA) on 04/26/2008
★★★★★
I've been suffering from Psoriasis for several years now, don't know where it came from but I couldn't get rid of it. I got some creams from my docotor, but they didn't really work. I started using aloe vera gel for my skin during sun exposure and found that it started curbing my psoriasis, so I continued using it and it completely cleared it up!!! I applied it twice per day in the affected areas and more. I've also found my skin is in much better condition. I don't know if this will work for everyone, but it's cheap to try out. I used the Aloe-gator because there's no alocohol and few to no added chemicals. I hope this helps someone out there.
Cold Showers
Posted by Katrina (Sterling, VA) on 08/28/2006
★★★★★
After the death of two very close friends and a lot of stress, I ended up with stress induced psoriasis all over my head, neck and shoulder. I tried EVERYTHING OTC and nothing worked so finally, I gave up, and started saving money to go to the doctor. I came across the cold water therapy on this site and although I did not intend to use it to treat this issue, it sure cured it. I started taking cold water showers in the hottest months here in Virginia. Immediately I noticed the increase in energy and my hair is SUPER SOFT even after months of harsh psoriasis shampoos that had my hair turning to straw. Call me crazy, but it seems my shower doesn't get as grimy as it did before when I was using hot water. My complexion has improved, and there is an obvious difference in my pores. Basically, I have nothing bad to say about cold showers. After 2 months of them, I can't even STAND a hot shower now.
Eliminate Wheat
Posted by Amiee (Eastern Passage, NS) on 08/04/2006
★★★★★
I had been wheat-free for 7 months and my gas, acid-reflux and psoriasis went away. When you are on a wheat-free diet, it can cause other problems like constipation if you do not watch your fiber intake. I am now off the wheat-free diet and all has returned. I will be going back on the wheat-free diet ASAP.
Vinegar and Olive Oil
Posted by Tom (Sunnyvale, CA) on 05/09/2007
★★★★★
vinegar and olive oil Ailment: psoriasis
When I was in elementary school, I had psoriasis on my elbows and knees, and all over the side of my face! It got behind my ears so bad I used to dream that my ears were falling off.
None of the doctor's remedies helped. Then my parents found this old home-remedy book from around the 1700s. It had what I call the salad dressing cure.
You soak the affected skin with vinegar for a few minutes, then you cover it with warmed olive oil (make sure it isn't too hot).
It got so I hated vinegar for years because of the smell (I think Apple Cider Vinegar would have been much more bearable), but it worked! The psoriasis went completely away, and I no longer felt like a freak at school.
Every few years I'll get a tiny patch on my knee or elbow. If it bothers me I'll use the treatment and it will go away.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Lynne (Dayton, Ohio) on 08/15/2007
★★★★★
ACV cured my psoriasis on my scalp. I have been aflicted with psoriasis on my scalp for twenty years. I have tried more "remedies" than I care to count with little or no success. After reading about how people were helped by putting ACV on dry spots on the body I decided to try it on my scalp. I put undiluted ACV in a spray bottle and sprayed it on my scalp before going to bed. Within a few days I could see that the scales were getting thinner. In two weeks they are practically all gone! Even if the scales never fully go away, the ACV has made the scales easier for me to live with. By the way, ACV is better at drying up acne that any treatment on the market.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Baking Soda
Posted by Ryan (Chicago, Illinois) on 10/03/2007
★★★★★
I have had EXCELLENT success with ACV (2tbs) and Baking Soda (1/4 tsp or so) in a glass of water three times per day especially upon waking. I also mix a small thermos with another two doses and sip it during the afternoon. I definitely find it energizing and the psoriasis/eczema (whatever it is -- apples/oranges) I've had on my elbows ever since an extended fast is clearing up PRONTO. I'm very excited. I think I'll be a lifelong devotee. Ted -- you're awesome. I'm also taking a bit of borax occasionally and experimenting with the sodium thiowhateveritis. Best of luck to everyone.
Oregano Leaf
Posted by Cathy (San Antonio, TX) on 11/06/2007
★★★★★
I noticed in your long list of ailments, psoriasis was not mentioned. Please let people know that Oregano Leaf absolutely gets rid of psoriasis in a big way. I have battled psoriasis since I was 10 yrs old (I'm now 48). I had heard that oregano leaf and olive leaf were good for infections so one day, I started taking them both. Within a week my skin was so clear my husband commented. I started wondering what I had done differently. I had taken olive leaf before with no visable result so I started investigating the oregano. There are MANY resources out there on psoriasis and oregano leaf, and also, that psoriasis is mainly caused by a fungus (which oregano goes after). I personally buy OregaMax since other oreganos have not worked for me. People should know about this!! It is wonderful. Three to five capsules a day (divided) should do it. I got my initial results simply taking 1 both am and pm.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Stephen (Cannelton, Indiana) on 03/11/2008
★★★★★
I decided to try Coconut Oil to see if it would help me lose some weight. It never, but I had another interesting side benefit. It has almost completely healed up my severe case of Psoriasis. It has at least taken it to the point that I can pay little to no attention to this ailment that has dogged me for almost 40 years now, since I was 7. I started off with two tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil, one in morning one late afternoon. After the short break that proved it was the coconut oil having an affect on my skin, I started using coconut oil capsules 1000mg twice a day, but had to up the dose to 2 1000mg twice a day. I have not experienced any flare ups yet and it has been more than a few months almost completely (old scars starting to fade)clear now.
Distilled White Vinegar
Posted by Jimness (Torrance, CA)
★★★★★
After I dampened a small sponge with water, I poured a small amount of distilled white vinegar onto the sponge, which I then used to lightly scrub away the unsightly white patches from my chin. Although this vinegar treatment does not STOP the appearance of white flaky patches (which I believe to be Psoriasis), it definitely slows-down the recurrence.
Vinegar and Olive Oil
Posted by Tom (Sunnyvale, CA) on 05/09/2007
★★★★★
vinegar and olive oil Ailment: psoriasis
When I was in elementary school, I had psoriasis on my elbows and knees, and all over the side of my face! It got behind my ears so bad I used to dream that my ears were falling off.
None of the doctor's remedies helped. Then my parents found this old home-remedy book from around the 1700s. It had what I call the salad dressing cure.
You soak the affected skin with vinegar for a few minutes, then you cover it with warmed olive oil (make sure it isn't too hot).
It got so I hated vinegar for years because of the smell (I think Apple Cider Vinegar would have been much more bearable), but it worked! The psoriasis went completely away, and I no longer felt like a freak at school.
Every few years I'll get a tiny patch on my knee or elbow. If it bothers me I'll use the treatment and it will go away.
