Nik
I have quite severe psoriasis (for over 10 years) and have recently started taking Omega 3,6,9 supplements - alongside fish oil.
This is (literally) the first time that I have seen any proper improvement in the condition of my skin - helped by using a moisturiser like Aqueous cream at least 3 times a day.
I strongly believe that psoriasis need to be treated both internally and externally and that topical creams on their own are not enough to lead to any real, long term improvement.
I've been buying the supplements from Holland and Barratt (I live in UK) and they are about £10 for large bottle. They contain flaxseed, and starflower - Linseed (used on cereal) may also be a good thing to consider because it is full of oils which are good for the skin.
I think you can use different moisturisers, but the acqueous cream is cheap and available in larg tubs. Alternatively, would try more of a natural based moisturiser from somewhere like The Body Shop.
Good luck.
I have had mild psoriasis for years. I recently had a huge blowup. Total skin coverage of about 70%. Giuttate, plaque and erythrodermic. Well, the erythro started as guttate and kept getting larger until they joined into one large mass of very red, angry skin. Fron just above my knees to nearly my shoulders. I had hot flashes and chills. Very bad case.
I had one shot of prednisone from a dermatologist. The next step was methotrexate and I wanted to avoid that big time. Nor did I want to suffer from the effects of corticosteriods.
The regimen I found that is showing wonders for me is:
Fish oil, flaxseed oil, borage oil in a combo gel cap of 1 gram, evening primrose oil also 1 gr gelcap, milk thistle in a 1 gr gelcap and vitamin d3 taken twice a day. Once in the morning and then at night before bed.
In addition, in the morning I take 1 multivitamin (One a day plus) and in the night, 1 tab of allegra 180.
I am into this for 4 weeks now. The erythro-dermic portion is gone. The plaque portions, mostly on my knees and lower legs, which were anywhere from the size of a half dollar to palm sized and raised about a 1/4" above the rest of the skin has lost all of the inflammation, the angry red color is now reduced to mild pink. Most of the plaque lessions are now looking like flowers with red rings around where they were and the center portions near normal skin. The very thick skin on the soles of my feet have dropped off and my hands are entirely normal.
I believe the key effects are that the omega oils help reduce inflammations and the blood pooling. It has been noted that milk thistle is a moderator of T-cells plus improves liver function. Of course vitamin d3 helps reduce excess skin production. And the allegra 180 is a strong antihistimine.
I point out that evening primrose oil had been a recommended treatment for eczema. There are those who recommend it for psoriasis as well.
I had so much skin involved that about the only thing I found that would work as a topical is good old Vaseline. Now that the amount is reduced and the amount of skin being shed is minimal, I use a good lotion with vitamin E.
Give this a try. It truly worked a near miracle for me.
