Just some things that have helped me. I use cetaphil cleanser to wash my body, glaxal base or Vaseline petroleum jelly as moisturizers. Organic virgin coconut oil for body and scalp, and I have even washed my scalp with olive oil natural bar soap. I hope this helps you.

Pine Bark extract pycnogenol is VERY effective at eliminating psoriasis. It worked very well for me and my brother. My last long stay in hospital (two months) resulted in the psoriasis coming back with a vengeance. After 30 days back on pycnogenol (100 mg twice a day) my psoriasis was all gone. Minimum effective dose is 150 mg.

This stuff is GREAT for MS. (lowers MMP-9s and Gamma Interferon levels)

jackD





1. Phytother Res. 2001 Feb;15(1):76-8.

From ancient remedies to modern therapeutics: pine bark uses in skin disorders revisited.

Rihn B1, Saliou C, Bottin MC, Keith G, Packer L.
Author information:
1Membrane Bioenergetics Group, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3200, USA.

Abstract
The effect of French maritime pine bark extract (PBE) on the gene expression profile of HaCaT human keratinocytes was studied using high density filter arrays. The expression profile of both control and PBE-treated cells was determined.

Interestingly, PBE was shown to downregulate both calgranulin A and B genes which are known to be upregulated in psoriasis and various dermatoses. Thus, PBE could be considered in human dermatoses.

Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID: 11180529 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]



Free Radic Biol Med. 2000 Jan 15;28(2):219-27.

Pine bark extract pycnogenol downregulates IFN-gamma-induced adhesion of T cells to human keratinocytes by inhibiting inducible ICAM-1 expression.
Bito T1, Roy S, Sen CK, Packer L.
Author information:
1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley 94720-3200, USA.

Abstract
Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is necessary for leukocyte/keratinocyte interactions. Upregulation of ICAM-1 expression in keratinocytes has been observed in several inflammatory dermatoses, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and lupus erythematosus. Inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), upregulate ICAM-1 expression in keratinocytes.

Because of potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol (Horphag Research, Geneva, Switzerland), its effects were investigated on the interaction of T cells with keratinocytes after activation with IFN-gamma and the molecular mechanisms involved in such interactions.

Studies were performed using a human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. Cell adhesion in the presence of IFN-gamma was studied using a coculture assay. Treatment of HaCaT cells with 20 U/ml IFN-gamma for 24 h markedly induced adherence of Jurkat T cells to HaCaT cells. PYC pretreatment (50 microg/ml, 12 h) significantly inhibited IFN-gamma induced adherence of T cells to HaCaT cells (p < .01). ICAM-1 plays a major role in the IFN-gamma-induced adherence of T cells to keratinocytes.

Thus, the effect of PYC on IFN-gamma-induced ICAM-1 expression was investigated as well. Pretreatment of HaCaT cells with PYC significantly inhibited IFN-gamma-induced expression of ICAM-1 expression in HaCaT cells. The downregulation of inducible ICAM-1 expression by PYC was both dose and time dependent. A 50 microg/ml dose of PYC and a 12 h pretreatment time (i.e., before activation with IFN-gamma) provided maximal (approximately 70%) inhibition of inducible ICAM-1 expression in HaCaT cells. Gamma-activated sequence present on the ICAM-1 gene confers IFN-gamma responsiveness in selected cells of epithelial origin (e.g., keratinocytes) that are known to express ICAM-1 on activation with IFN-gamma. Gel-shift assays revealed that PYC inhibits IFN-gamma-mediated activation of Stat1, thus suggesting a transcriptional regulation of inducible ICAM-1 expression by PYC.

These results indicate the therapeutic potential of PYC in patients with inflammatory skin disorders.
PMID: 11281289 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]