There are several non-drug therapies offered at our Hong Kong clinic that can relieve the symptoms of psoriasis, or even put a stop to its reoccurrence. Also, in part 2 of this article, I’ll cover a few more tips on how you can help heal psoriasis at home. Of course, if prescription drugs are the best choice for you, we have qualified doctors on staff who can assist you.
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious autoimmune disease leading to skin inflammation (redness, irritation and swelling) with itching and thick, dry, scales on the skin. It can affect small areas of the body or be widespread. It is uncomfortable and may cause embarrassment for patients.
Psoriasis results from the white blood cells that normally fight infection, instead mistakenly attacking healthy cells. This creates patches of skin and lesions which are known as psoriatic lesions or plaque psoriasis. Psoriasis can affect roughly 2.2% of the population, and there are several different types or classifications of the disease.
It is often treated with prescription drugs and creams, many of which can have significant side effects. Depending on the type and severity of the disease, non-prescription treatments may be effective.
Non-Prescription Treatments For Psoriasis
In our Hong Kong clinic, we take a holistic approach, offering several treatments which have proven helpful with some autoimmune disorders including psoriasis. These include:
Identify Food Allergies With Testing
Food allergies can be a big trigger for Psoriasis. One way to see if this is an issue for you is to try an extremely restrictive diet where you completely avoid common triggers such as
- red meat
- dairy
- gluten (all wheat, rye, barley, malt and most oatmeal)
- eggs
- nightshades such as tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant
- processed foods
- alcohol, especially beer and wine
Many people find it easier to get food allergy testing. Here in Hong Kong, we can take care of this in our office quickly and painlessly.
Check Medications
Certain medications such as beta-blockers, lithium, drugs to prevent malaria or products containing potassium or sodium iodide can be psoriasis triggers. It’s wise to have a qualified doctor review your current medications if you are experiencing flareups.
Hypnotherapy Treatments
Hypnotherapy has provided relief for some patients with psoriasis and other skin issues. We have a talented hypnotherapist in our clinic.
Gut Heath Improvement And Nutritional Counselling
In our practice, we’ve learned that gut health is key to treating many autoimmune diseases. Resolving leaky gut can make a huge difference to your overall health. That’s why we launched the Hong Kong Gut Health Centre. We can help you understand how to improve your gut health, which will reduce inflammation throughout your body.
Acupuncture And Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture has been used to treat psoriasis and other skin issues such as eczema, dermatitis, dandruff and acne for centuries. It’s brought relief to many people suffering from various types of autoimmune diseases. If you’ve never tried treating your psoriasis with acupuncture and Chinese medicine, consider booking a session today.
If you’re looking for psoriasis treatment in Hong Kong, please call us at (+852) 2523 8044 today to make an appointment.