7 Home Remedies for Psoriasis

Over-the-counter coal tar, fragrance-free moisturizers, and salicylic acid products can help relieve psoriasis symptoms at home, although they do not cure it.

These approaches can complement a treatment plan, but the right choice depends on where psoriasis appears and how sensitive your skin is. For a related look at hydration and diet, see the best drinks for psoriasis.

7 home remedies for psoriasis

An AI symptom analyzer may help you organize symptoms to discuss with a clinician, but it cannot diagnose psoriasis or determine whether a rash needs urgent care.

The first three options include established products for scaling or dryness. The remaining approaches may make skin more comfortable, but evidence that they improve psoriasis itself is limited.

1. Over-the-counter coal tar

Coal tar can help slow the buildup of skin cells and reduce scaling and itch. Some shampoos, creams, and other products containing coal tar are available without a prescription and are labeled for psoriasis.

How to use it: Choose a product labeled for the affected area and follow its directions. Coal tar can irritate skin, stain fabric, and make skin more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid applying it to broken or infected skin, and ask a clinician before using it on the face, genitals, or a large area.

Evidence: Coal tar is an established topical option for psoriasis, but the studies cited here did not evaluate over-the-counter coal tar products. Effects and tolerability can vary by formulation. Stop using a product that causes significant irritation and ask a clinician what to use instead.

2. Fragrance-free moisturizer

A thick, fragrance-free cream or ointment helps retain water in the skin. It can reduce dryness and make plaques feel less tight, although it does not address all the inflammation that drives psoriasis.

How to use it: Apply moisturizer after bathing or washing, while the skin is still slightly damp, and again when skin feels dry. Spread it gently rather than rubbing scales off. Choose a product without fragrance, and stop using it if it causes burning or a new rash.

Evidence: Moisturizers are standard supportive care for dry, uncomfortable psoriasis. The studies cited here did not test a particular moisturizer, so they cannot establish which brand or formulation works best. Ask your clinician or pharmacist how to fit moisturizer around any prescribed topical medicine.

3. Salicylic acid products

Salicylic acid is a scale-softening ingredient found in some psoriasis creams and shampoos. By helping loosen thick scale, it may make the affected skin more comfortable and make other topical products easier to apply.

How to use it: Select a product labeled for psoriasis and for the area you want to treat, then follow the package directions. Do not use it more often or over a larger area than directed. Avoid raw or severely irritated skin, and do not apply it to the face or genitals unless a clinician recommends it.

Evidence: Salicylic acid is an established ingredient for removing scale, but scale removal is not the same as treating the underlying inflammation. The studies cited here did not assess a particular over-the-counter salicylic acid product for psoriasis.

Ask a clinician before use for a child, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease or an aspirin or salicylate allergy. It can irritate skin, so stop if irritation develops.

4. Aloe vera gel

Aloe vera gel may feel soothing on dry or itchy skin. Its proposed anti-inflammatory effects have attracted research interest, but an ordinary store-bought gel should not be assumed to act like a tested preparation.

How to use it: If you want to try aloe vera, choose a simple topical gel without added fragrance. Try it on a small area first and stop if it stings, burns, or causes a rash. Do not apply it to skin that is broken or appears infected, and do not use it in place of prescribed treatment.

Evidence: A 2025 systematic review of 20 herbal trials included aloe vera among several herbal preparations studied for psoriasis. Results across the herbal remedies were mixed, and risk of bias varied. The review does not establish that a particular commercial aloe vera gel will improve psoriasis.

5. Lukewarm baths

A lukewarm bath can soften dry scale and temporarily ease the tight feeling of dry skin. Hot water and vigorous washing, by contrast, can irritate skin and leave it feeling drier.

How to use it: Use comfortably lukewarm water and a mild, fragrance-free cleanser where needed. Avoid scrubbing or pulling off loosened scale. Pat skin dry afterward and apply a fragrance-free moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp.

You do not need to add essential oils, vinegar, or strongly scented products; these may irritate sensitive skin. If bathing makes your skin sting or feel worse, keep your routine gentle and ask a clinician for advice.

Evidence: A review of climatotherapy describes research on spa and seawater treatments, which may involve several factors unlike an ordinary home bath. It does not establish that a bath at home treats psoriasis itself.

6. Cool compresses

A cool, damp cloth may provide temporary relief when an area feels itchy. Cooling can make the sensation less distracting, which may also make it easier to avoid scratching.

How to use it: Wet a clean, soft cloth with cool water, wring it out, and rest it gently on the itchy area. Do not rub the plaque, and avoid putting ice directly on your skin. Apply moisturizer afterward if the area feels dry.

Evidence: Cool compresses are a comfort measure, not a proven treatment for the inflammation or plaque buildup of psoriasis. Research has not tested this approach for psoriasis. If an area is increasingly painful, hot, swollen, or draining pus, seek medical advice rather than relying on a compress.

7. Gentle skin care and loose clothing

Friction and scratching can irritate psoriasis and injure the skin. In some people, skin injury can be followed by new psoriasis plaques in the affected area, so protecting the skin may help avoid an additional trigger.

How to use it: Wear soft, loose clothing over uncomfortable areas when possible. Wash gently, pat rather than scrub dry, and keep nails smooth so accidental scratching is less likely to break the skin. If itch is difficult to control, ask a clinician about treatment rather than trying to remove plaques by picking.

Evidence: Reducing friction is a practical way to limit irritation, but it is not a proven substitute for psoriasis treatment. The studies cited here do not measure whether loose clothing or a particular washing routine improves psoriasis severity.

When should you see a doctor for psoriasis?

See a clinician if you have a new or uncertain rash, if psoriasis is worsening, or if symptoms interfere with sleep or daily activities. Also seek advice for plaques on sensitive areas, including the face or genitals, or when products sting or do not provide enough relief. A clinician can help distinguish psoriasis from other conditions and discuss treatment options.

Contact a clinician promptly if you develop joint pain, swelling, or stiffness, especially alongside psoriasis. These symptoms need assessment; a home remedy cannot determine their cause.

Seek emergency care for rapidly spreading redness over much of the body, widespread pus-filled bumps, or severe skin symptoms with fever, chills, or feeling very unwell. Seek prompt medical attention for possible infection, such as increasing warmth, pain, swelling, or pus.

Children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should check with a clinician before using medicated or herbal products. Also ask about product safety if you have kidney disease, an aspirin or salicylate allergy, or take medicines that make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Do not stop prescribed psoriasis medicine without discussing it with your clinician, and avoid tanning beds or unsupervised sun exposure as a home treatment.