It might not be just the red, scaly plaques from psoriasis that drive you nuts. The itchy sensation that goes along with psoriasis can even bother you in places that are lesion-free.
Eighty percent of people with psoriasis experience itchiness, and up to 90 percent of them say it impacts their quality of life. Feeling itchy can interfere with your sleep, increase your stress, and even take a toll on your sex life.
“It’s not always a pure itch,” says Gil Yosipovitch, MD, a professor of dermatology at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine in Florida. You might also feel a burning or pinching sensation. And though the urge to scratch can be hard to resist, giving in to it can just make psoriasis symptoms worse. Scratching can damage your skin, leading to an infection or skin injury that can trigger a psoriasis flare.
Following your psoriasis treatment plan is the best way to prevent bothersome itching. But there are other steps you can take to find relief when itchiness strikes.
What Are Common Signs and Symptoms of Psoriasis?
Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, a dermatologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine, provides insight into symptoms that may signify psoriasis.
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1. Moisturize to the Max
Keeping your skin moist is extremely important, says Dr. Yosipovitch, because moisture reduces redness and allows your skin to heal. For itch relief, thick moisturizers containing oils or petroleum jelly are better than thin, watery lotions. Cooking oil or shortening can also sub for drugstore moisturizers, at a much lower price. Apply prescription topicals, then moisturizer, right after your bath or shower to lock in natural skin oils. Bonus tip: Keep your creams in the fridge for a cooling effect.
2. Soften Stubborn Scales
“Minimizing scaling and flaking can have an anti-itch effect as well,” Yosipovitch says. Salicylic acid is a good keratolytic, or peeling agent, to try. As a topical applied to skin, it softens and lifts the scales that can cause lesions to feel itchy. But beware of products that contain high concentrations of salicylic acid. Current guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology and the National Psoriasis Foundation recommend a 6 percent formulation; anything higher may be too irritating for psoriasis. Other keratolytic ingredients to look for in skin-care products include lactic acid and urea.
3. Soothe With Apple Cider Vinegar
Psoriasis lesions on your scalp can cause intense itchiness. To find relief, mix equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water. Dab the solution on your scalp, two to three times a week. Rinse after a few minutes to keep your scalp from becoming irritated by the vinegar. And don’t try this one if the skin on your scalp is cracked or bleeding.
4. Consider Hot and Cold for Itch Relief
Many people with psoriasis find that cold-water baths or cold compresses help relieve their itch. That’s because the nerves responsible for triggering the sensation of itchiness are less sensitive when they’re cold. Most dermatologists recommend that people with psoriasis avoid hot showers, since hot water can dry the skin — and dry skin itches. But Yosipovitch’s own research suggests that for many people, hot showers offer more itch relief than cold ones. His theory: Hot water activates nerve fibers that inhibit itch. Yosipovitch’s ultimate recommendation is to do what works best for you. If you find hot showers help relieve itch, keep them short to avoid drying out your skin too much. And don’t forget to apply moisturizer when you’re done.
5. Assess Acupuncture
Acupuncture works for some types of itchiness, and psoriasis seems to be one of them, according to Yosipovitch. That said, more scientific evidence is needed before dermatologists can say for sure that acupuncture is an effective treatment.
Preliminary research conducted on mice is promising, although it’s unclear if the results will apply to humans: One study found that electroacupuncture, which involves passing a weak electrical current through needles in the skin, helped relieve pain in inflamed skin tissue (psoriasis symptoms can include skin pain and inflammation). Acupuncture can also provide stress relief, which Yosipovitch believes can be good because “any aspect of stress reduction can also help reduce psoriasis itch.”
6. Say Yes to Yoga
Because relieving stress is a key component of treating psoriasis symptoms, it helps to try a variety of stress-relief strategies. Among yoga’s many benefits — including greater flexibility and lower blood pressure — it is also a great stress reducer, says Yosipovitch, because it combines breathing and relaxation techniques with movement. You’ll get the most out of yoga if you do it regularly for at least 15 to 20 minutes per day.
7. Opt for Occlusion Therapy
Occlusion therapy involves slathering on skin products, such as moisturizers or prescription topicals, and holding them in place for long periods of time by wrapping each area you treat with plastic wrap or large adhesive bandages. This can help lock in moisture and allow medication to penetrate more deeply, providing more itch relief.
Some people do this while they sleep because it can feel uncomfortable and hot when you’re out and about during the day. Talk with your doctor before using a steroid or any prescription medication as part of occlusion therapy, and ask for pointers to get the most from this approach.
The Takeaway
Itchiness affects 80 percent of people with psoriasis, and up to 90 percent of them say it negatively affects their quality of life — but you can reduce its impact using certain proven treatments.
Keeping your skin moisturized, softening plaque scales, and using hot and cold therapies to dampen nerve signaling can all lessen the itch.
Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and yoga, may indirectly improve symptoms as well.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Jaworecka K et al. Characteristics of Pruritus in Various Clinical Variants of Psoriasis: Results of the Multinational, Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study. Life. June 27, 2021.
Elmets CA et al. Joint AAD–NPF Guidelines of Care for the Management and Treatment of Psoriasis With Topical Therapy and Alternative Medicine Modalities for Psoriasis Severity Measures. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. February 2021.
Lan Y et al. Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Inflammatory Pain Through CB2 Receptor-Dependent Activation of the AMPK Signaling Pathway. Chinese Medicine. December 24, 2024.
Susan Bard, MD, is a clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine and an adjunct clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai in New York City. Her professional interests include Mohs micrographic surgery, cosmetic and laser procedures, and immunodermatology.
She is a procedural dermatologist with the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Bard has written numerous book chapters and articles for many prominent peer-reviewed journals, and authored the textbook The Laser Treatment of Vascular Lesions.
Beth W. Orenstein is a freelance writer for HealthDay, Radiology Today, the Living Well section of TheAmerican Legion Magazine, St. Luke’s University Health Network, and others. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Tufts University (1978), where she majored in English and was editor of the student newspaper for three years.
No matter the weather around her eastern Pennsylvania home, Orenstein either bikes 25 to 30 miles or walks at least 6 miles every day. Her one indulgence is blueberry pancakes — but only after biking a long distance.
