4 of the Best Essential Oils for Psoriasis (and Why You Should Never Apply Them Straight From the Bottle)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines psoriasis as an autoimmune skin disease that is chronic in nature. Simply put, it causes skin cells to grow at a faster rate than normal, leaving patches on the skin that can appear scaly, red and inflamed. If left untreated, psoriasis can lead to psoriatic arthritis due to inflammation.
There is currently no cure for psoriasis, but treatment options are available to help manage and relieve symptoms—because there’s no question that symptoms can be annoying at best.
“It is commonly understood to be an autoimmune condition and as such is not truly a skin condition,” explains Stacy Haase, CEO of EiR NYC. “Rather, it is the external manifestation of an internal systemic problem. However, you can help ease the symptoms and calm the presentation.”
If you prefer holistic medicine, you may have used essential oils to treat other ailments; but can it work for psoriasis? Again, nothing can cure the condition—and you should always talk to your doctor before trying any new treatments—but there is some evidence that specific essential oils can help relieve psoriasis. The catch? Not every essential oil that is said to work for skincare actually has been confirmed by experts. But if you want to give them a shot, there’s no harm in that—so here are the essential oils that have been found to work for psoriasis and how to use them.
Related: Everything You Should Know About Psoriasis
Can You Use Essential Oils for Psoriasis?
Dr. Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD of Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC is quick to point out the biggest myth about essential oils: “that they can cure anything and everything.” When it comes to using essential oils to alleviate skin problems, some have been proven, such as the use of tea tree oil to treat acne. Because of a lack of research and evidence of efficacy, it is important to note that there aren’t many essential oils actually proven to help with psoriasis.
“Essential oils are highly concentrated botanical oils that may provide naturally derived benefits when applied topically,” explains Dr. Nazarian. “Some have been shown to have anti-acne activity, such as tea tree oil, clary sage and juniper oil. Although about 90 different essential oils are ‘recommended’ for use in dermatologic disease, these have not all been studied and are not science-backed.”
This doesn’t mean you can’t and shouldn’t use essential oils; it simply means you need to do research to see if the essential oil you want to use has in fact been studied and proven to work. Additionally, it is important to know how to use essential oils, as in some cases, it can be dangerous to apply directly from a tube onto your skin.
What Essential Oils Help Psoriasis?
If you are hoping to use essential oil for psoriasis, there are some that have been proven to work and are recommended by experts.
Lavender oil
“Lavender oil has evidence that it can be used to treat psoriasis by targeting the cytokines (or inflammatory markers) that are increased in psoriasis,” confirms Dr. Nazarian.
Related: The Best Essential Oils for Anxiety
Carrot seed oil
“Carrot Seed oil can be wonderfully helpful as it is cytophylactic meaning it promotes healing, stimulates healthy regrowth of damaged skin tissue and has antiseptic qualities,” notes Haase.
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East Indian Sandalwood oil
“[This] has also been shown in clinical studies to decrease the inflammation and thickness in psoriasis plaques of the skin,” shares Dr. Nazarian, “and decreases inflammatory reactions and aspects of the hyperactive cell cycle.”
Related: Best Essential Oils for Allergies
Tea tree oil
“Naturally anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, [this can be used for] decreasing skin surface bacteria, fungus, and viruses,” notes Dr. Nazarian, “and has been theoretically presumed to help with psoriasis because of its anti-inflammatory properties as well.”
How should you apply essential oils for psoriasis?
“Many essential oils can be harmful if used in too high of a concentration, if mixed together improperly, or if used at the wrong time,” explains Kim Walls, founder of BEB Organic. “The ‘wrong’ time could be a time of day given light exposure, or time of month given hormonal balance. Expertise in the use of essential oils for healing is a specialty and expertise that people can spend an entire lifetime learning because there is so much to learn. If you are buying skincare products made by brands that leverage knowledgeable aromatherapists, chemists, and formulators, you are probably in good hands.”
Essential oils should be treated with care, especially when using them topically. They should be diluted, but Dr. Nazarian cautions that you should not do this yourself and should instead make sure they come diluted and are listed as safe for use on skin (some essential oils—especially citrus—can irritate the skin).
Related: Are Essential Oils Safe to Diffuse?
“Essential oils should usually be in what is called a carrier oil,” adds Haase. “This creates a base and dilutes the essential oil to a level that is effective but won’t irritate your skin. Most carrier oils have benefits in themselves for softening, healing, etc., so the carrier oil supports the benefits of the essential oils.”
What are Other At-home Treatment Options for Psoriasis?
If you have psoriasis, a good first step for treatment is to go through the products you already own and make sure they are free of irritants that may be making your symptoms worse. “For people who suffer from psoriasis, it is especially important to avoid ingredients that can be irritating to sensitive skin, like harsh cleansing agents, synthetic fragrances and colorants,” explains Walls.
Related: What is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Besides essential oils, there are other treatment options depending on where your psoriasis is located. Of course, if you do have psoriasis, it is good to see a specialist as it can develop into psoriatic arthritis. Haase stresses that because psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder, you want to treat it from the inside-out and modify things such as diet and hydration. However, if you are looking for something more topical that can be done at home, she recommends soaking as an option.
“Occasional baths with oatmeal—you’d want to find colloidal oatmeal if possible but can also finely grind up plain, organic oatmeal and put it in the bathwater—can help soothe your skin,” notes Haase. “Oatmeal has been proven to reduce skin swelling and itching. It contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that are healthy for your skin. Rice water can have a similar effect…it contains natural antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin-A, and flavonoid compounds, which in nature help plants grow and defend against plaques.”
Next up, read up on these 5 home remedies for psoriasis.
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