- Fill the tub with warm, rather than hot, water and settle in for a soak. Tepid water is a natural remedy for dry, flaking skin. Choose unscented soaps and shampoos formulated for sensitive skin to help prevent further aggravation. To relieve the urge to itch, try adding a half cup of baking soda to the water once you've washed or toss in two cups of old fashioned oats or cornmeal. The alkaline properties of the baking soda help to neutralize the pH of the skin while adding starches to your bathwater helps to soothe itchiness by reducing surface inflammation. If that doesn't seem to help, try adding a handful of Epsom salts. Once the crystals dissolve in the water, the chemicals in the salt will help to reduce the swelling of irritated tissues.
- Even if you don't have psoriasis, it is important to keep your skin moist. Scratching itchy dry skin can lead to open sores, reducing the skin's natural ability to protect the body from harmful microbes. For those with psoriasis, it is even more important as dry skin is rigid and can form scale-like plaques that can impede movement. To help prevent this, massage any affected areas with warm olive oil, vegetable oil, mayonnaise or even shortening. Apply the moisturizer immediately after showering and before getting dressed, and before going to sleep at night.
- For an effective moisturizing mask that can be applied to any part of the body, combine one avocado, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of honey. Mix all of the ingredients until they are well blended. Smear a generous coat of the mask over any dry or itchy areas of skin and allow it to dry for one hour. Rinse away with cool water and pat dry with a lint free towel. The avocado and olive oil moisturize while the antibacterial properties of the honey help the skin to heal. To enhance the effect of this and all other moisturizers, cover all treated areas with plastic cling film to prevent surface evaporation.