|
Psoriasis has its beginnings
far deeper than the skin's surface. It is often a symptom of
a problem from much deeper within.
Sometimes on a psychological
or emotional level. Therefore complementary therapy can be enhanced
significantly if the patient takes advice on lifestyle and persuasive
guidance away from factors which are known to affect this skin
condition.
Common causes of psoriasis are
wrong eating habits, addictions, chemical and environmental pollution,
excess alcohol, caffeine, previous illnesses, after-effects of
medications, immunisations, extensive dental work, hereditary
factors, injuries and psychological and emotional disturbances.
If you are a sufferer of psoriasis
it is very important to remember that a certain amount of your
recovery will be made through helping yourself.
You will be encouraged to follow
simple self-healing techniques that are easy to learn, can be
practiced in your own home and can become a way of life with
enough practice. Self-management, self-care, self-healing, self-help
- these are the key phrases a therapist instills into a person
with psoriasis - right from the first session.
Any remedy prescribed should
complement this self-help attitude to healing. The first step
towards healing however, is getting rid of excess toxins. De-toxifying
the physical body is the key to healing the skin and releasing
the your own ability to heal yourself. Before really effective
treatment can occur, you must be encouraged to turn your attention
to yourself, which can be very difficult. Comments like "I
can't find time to relax, time to have fun, time to treat myself
and take care of my needs" are all common from psoriasis
sufferers.
On many occasions, the patient
does not feel they deserve to take time out for themselves. They
can feel guilty or selfish. This can often lead to an over-compensated
urge to look after the people around them, leading to self-neglect.
You may feel inadequate, which again is a very common cause of
psoriasis
Here are a few
basic lifestyle changes recommended to psoriasis sufferers.
Learn to de-stress
yourself
A negative reaction to stress
over a period of time can take its toll on our systems of digestion
and elimination, resulting in a build-up of toxins, and in the
body's desperate attempt to stay healthy, the skin, another major
elimination organ, overflows with toxins as it starts to become
an alternative disposal system. So when you apply an external
cream or treatment to the psoriasis when the body is trying to
release the toxins via the skin it is a bit like putting a lid
on a pot that is boiling over.
Take care of
your skin
Check ingredients of any household
substances. Don't let these substances come into direct contact
with the lesions. You should avoid biological washing powders
and fabric conditioners. Toiletries are another important consideration.
Soaps with perfume and colouring can irritate. Soaps containing
aloe vera are recommended.
Most shampoos contain detergent
which take the grease out of the scalp. Conditioners can be very
abrasive. And remember - a visit to the hairdressers can cause
upset, so take along your own brand of shampoo and conditioner
to avoid unnecessary irritation. Most hairdressers are very sympathetic
to scalp irritations so don't feel embarrassed. Explain what
is wrong to the hairdresser.
Apply moisturiser before bathing,
use a non-detergent soap and avoid bubble baths that contain
detergents.
Wear natural
fabrics
Cotton, silk and wool are ideal
as they allow the skin to breathe and will help prevent irritation.
This also applies to bed linen - cotton sheets, pillowcases,
natural fibre blankets should be used. Avoid feather duvets and
pillows.
Get a good night's
sleep
Every effort must be made to
achieve a peaceful night's sleep. Sleep deprivation is one of
the greatest threats to our skin. Sleep is nature's healer, as
it gives the body and the mind time to relax and restore energy.
Listen to relaxing music, or the sound of the sea through headphones
at bedtime to help you drift off to sleep.
Eating should be avoided late
at night, or watching disturbing TV - these can stimulate hormone
production which keeps you awake. Catnaps can be very valuable,
and they are usually quite easy to achieve during the day - find
a quiet place during lunch hour to escape with a book and totally
remove yourself from the stresses of the day. Relaxation and
sleep are invaluable in protecting us from illness and helping
the immune system. Healing time will be quicker if a good, regular
nights sleep can be achieved.
Make Time for
Yourself and have fun
Blatantly planning to enjoy ourselves
without including others often leads to feelings of guilt. One
of the most valuable tools in life for maintaining health is
a sense of humour.
The ability to laugh at ourselves
often determines how we cope with the ups and downs of life.
Look on the bright side, be optimistic for the future and see
the funny side of life.
Choose a healthy
diet
The relationship between diet
and the skin is a close one. Suspect foods for psoriasis sufferers
are excess animal fats, acids, sugars, spices, salt and stimulants
like alcohol, tea, coffee, and soft drinks. We appreciate that
a complete diet change can be very difficult - don't feel guilty,
but convince yourself that a gradual change in eating habits
will do your skin the world of good. Small changes will bring
on bigger changes as you start to improve.
The time it takes for an improvement
in a patient's psoriasis condition varies according to the length
of the programme, but on average, a change is seen within 12
weeks. It must be realised though, that as many sufferers have
has their psoriasis for 10 or 20 years they cannot expect to
experience dramatic improvements in the first part of their holistic
healing programme. The body heals from the inside out so the
skin tends to heal last.
|
