Itching Irritated Lesions
It is difficult not to scratch and pick at sore lesions. Even if you do not actively itch your lesions; be careful not to wear clothing that irritates your skin. Many people who have psoriasis wear long sleeved shirts or other garments which hide the lesions, but it is much more important to let the lesions be exposed to air and not become irritated than to worry about how your skin looks. While at first you may feel uncomfortable by having others see the psoriatic plaques, you may be surprised when other people notice the lesions and remark, “Oh, I didn’t know that you have psoriasis. I do too.”
When you itch your skin, your body releases chemical compounds known as histamines. Histamines accelerate the inflammatory response. The more that you itch, the more histamines are released. You initiate a vicious cycle of elevated levels of itchiness, histamines, and damage to your skin.
In addition to irritating your skin and possibly opening it up to infection, you are exposing your entire body to the effects of histamine. Other effects of histamine include general increases in irritability, anxiety, congestion, and discomfort. All of these effects reduce the ability of your immune system to prevent and heal psoriatic lesions.
Instead of itching your skin, use topical and internal remedies to reduce irritation and itchiness. Try drinking herbal teas which have relaxant properties. Iced peppermint tea is soothing and cooling when consumed as a beverage or applied topically to irritated areas. Skullcap, lemon balm, chamomile, and calendula are relaxing herbs which reduce inflammation and comfort irritated nerves which occur when itchiness is present.
Topical remedies that reduce itchiness and enhance healing include products made with chickweed, plantain, calendula, and evening primrose oil. Evening primrose oil is especially helpful as it contains compounds which lower levels of prostaglandin formation. Prostaglandins are involved in the inflammatory processes which precipitate the formation of psoriatic lesions. Evening primrose oil may be taken internally as well as applied externally to lesions.
Check with your health care provider about topical prescription remedies which aid the healing of lesions and relieve itchiness. Over the past few years, much has been learned about allergic and inflammatory responses, such as psoriasis. It is now recognized that allergic responses do not follow just one chemical pathway. Newer medications have been developed, based upon the recent discoveries. Medications are available which reduce itchiness without causing drowsiness.
