Inverse Psoriasis, psoriasis inversa or flexural psoriasis

Inverse psoriasis, also known as “Flexural Psoriasis,” affects the folding skin on the body. The areas affected are mostly the buttocks, groin, breast and under the arms. Flexural psoriasis also affects patients who have plaque psoriasis. This disease is often misdiagnosed because of its resemblance to yeast infection in the form of candida intertrigo. A trained eye will quickly understand the nature of the disease.

This skin condition comes with intense redness or rubor in sharply defined areas or plaques (but usually without the silvery scales seen in plaque psoriasis), itching, soreness and tenderness in the affected area. The rubor or redness of the lesions or plaques demarcates sharply against normal skin, just like plaque psoriasis.

Like other types of psoriasis, this type is also considered a hereditary disease with genetic components.

If it is in the groin area, it can be very uncomfortable and embarrassing. Skin perspiration can cause a flare up of inverse psoriasis. Too much scratching can worsen it and cause extreme inflammation.

The aggravating factors are: scratching, friction and sweating, harsh soaps and skin care products, and stress of all sorts.

The affected skin areas are susceptible to fungal infections.

There is no one treatment for this disease. Allopathic treatment is all about amelioration, whereas the alternative treatments to a greater extent is about healing. Steroid creams and ointments are considered very effective. Dovonex, coal tar, or anthralin, can be somewhat effective in treating this type of psoriasis, but they may also be irritating. They should be used with caution and under the direction of a doctor. Systemic medication may be requred in severe cases (Cyclosporine, Methotrexate, Soriatane or other systemics).

Protopic (tacrolimus) and Elidel (pimecrolimus) are two topical medications for eczema. They work well for psoriasis lesions in the skin folds as well.

Using herbal products will provide a milder way to treat inverse psoriasis. Natural herbal remedies do help alleviate most skin conditions, and inverse psoriasis is no exception.

Try using topical moisturizers that soothe the skin. Your best option will be Tamanu Oil. It has anti inflammatory and anti infectious action, as well as being a good moisturizer. It will soothe and greatly ameliorate the condition.

If the disease affects the genitalia, care should be added in terms of what products are used because that area of the body is thin-skinned and more sensitive than other areas.

Comfortable and loose fitting clothes help to keep your body dry and airy. Clothes with cotton fabric are the most comfortable. Wear as little items of clothing at home as you possibly can especially around the genital area.

Be very careful to clean the affected area and keep it dry and clean. Never use soap that is hard on your skin. An anti itch cream is useful to stop the itching and soreness (Tamanu Oil and steroid creams).

Coal tar is found in many ingredients that cater to skin disease and can help the handling of inverse psoriasis. Use this product at bedtime only because it carries an odor that you have to wash off in the mornings.

Natural methods of treatment are essential oils, tamanu oil and herbal remedies.

What treatment you select will depend on how severe the skin condition is and how sensitive your skin is to different medications. If the disease has spread to more than one area, the topical treatment may be impractical, as it will be difficult to cover the whole area. Herbal remedies and essential oils will then be very useful and get the condition under control.

Severe cases would call for all three strategies; tamanu oil providing topical treatment, and essential oils and herbal remedies representing the systemic treatment. Thus one may treate the disease both internally and externally with excellent, effective remedies.

The herbal medicine Skin Dr. is known to bring all psoriatic skin manifestations to silence for long periods.

If emotional symptoms of stress are predominant, and cause aggravations, consider Mind Soothe as well.