Treatment Options

Alternative therapies can be very useful in the treatment of many common skin problems. They can also help combat the pain, nausea, fatigue, and headaches that frequently accompany conventional treatment of advanced skin cancer. However, the only acceptable treatment for cancer is conventional medical care. If you think you have skin cancer, see a doctor without delay.

Aromatherapy

Essential oils of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), jasmine, and German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) may help soothe allergy-related eczema when they are used to scent a room. Add a few drops of one of these oils to a bowl of hot water. (Do not apply the oils directly to the skin.)

Flower Remedy

Rescue Remedy is a cream that can be applied to a rash or other irritation as often as two or three times a day. It can help reduce inflammation and speed the healing process.

Herbal Therapies

Over the years, countless herbs have been used to treat skin ailments. Picking out what’s right for your condition can be difficult, so seek help from a trained practitioner. The following are some substances herbalists consistently recommend.

Herbal Beauty

Evidence suggests that evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) oil may effectively soothe itching associated with dermatitis and psoriasis. Some doctors believe it’s as effective as corticosteroid drugs with fewer side effects, although people with liver disease or high cholesterol should use it only under medical supervision; pregnant women should avoid evening primrose oil because it can affect hormone levels.

Burdock (Arctium lappa) root, which boosts the immune system and helps reduce inflammation, and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root may also help reduce symptoms of dermatitis and psoriasis. Simmer 1 tbsp of either of these dried herbs in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes; strain and drink hot, up to 3 cups a day. You may also take up to 1% tsp fluidextract of burdock or dandelion root daily.

Homeopathy

For benign, short-term skin problems, an over-the- counter Calendula cream may soothe the inflammation. Taking Rhus toxicodendron (12x) three or four times a day may relieve the itching associated with a number of skin disorders, including contact dermatitis and chickenpox.

Don’t try to choose homeopathic remedies on your own to treat a chronic, systemic condition such as psoriasis. Consult a qualified practitioner, who may recommend Sulfur, Graphites, Lycopodium, or Arsenicum album.

Light Therapy

Psoriasis and certain chronic types of dermatitis often respond to light therapy (also called photo- therapy), in which patients receive timed exposure to ultraviolet rays from an artificial light source. In nearly all cases, the skin clears considerably in a matter of weeks.

Despite its apparent effectiveness, light therapy has its drawbacks. At four to eight sittings a month, treatment can be time consuming and relatively expensive. Light therapy may cause premature aging of the skin and increase a person’s risk of developing skin cancer. In some instances, the skin condition can recur within a year.

Some people try to avoid the doctor’s office or the hospital by using a tanning salon as their source of UV radiation. They won’t find the healing rays they seek, however. Because of concerns about the risks of skin cancer, tanning salons must filter out the type of UV rays used in light therapy. Even patients who own a sunlamp should seek help from a healthcare professional. Only a qualified practitioner can tell you how much UV radiation you can tolerate without risking long-term damage to the skin.

Some light therapists recommend the use of indigo light to treat allergic hives and insect bites.

Nutrition and Diet

Fish oil high in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), from such fish as mackerel, herring, and salmon, may help reduce inflammation and itching. Because you would have to eat up to two pounds of fish a day to get enough EPA, try a 1,000-mg fish-oil capsule containing EPA four times a day; or try 1 tbsp cod-liver oil, also high in vitamin A, once a day; vitamin A plays a vital role in skin growth and maintenance.

Supplements of vitamin A (25,000 IU a day) and zinc (50 to 100 mg a day) may aid in skin healing, while vitamin E ointment or capsules (200 to 400 IU a day) can help relieve itching and dryness. Vitamin B complex containing vitamin B5 and vitamin B1 may also promote healthy skin: To help fight a case of psoriasis or dermatitis, the suggested dosage is 50 mg two or three times a day.

Home Remedies

For dermatitis and mild forms of psoriasis, try mixing over-the-counter oatmeal or cornstarch preparations into a warm bath. Follow with application of a topical ointment (such as petroleum jelly or vegetable shortening) that helps the skin retain water and soothes inflammation. Take care not to stay in the bath too long: Lengthy immersion can strip the skin of essential oils.

For scalp psoriasis, wash your hair with a coal-tar shampoo or with a mixture of cedar- wood and juniper or lemon oils.

Prevention

If you are susceptible to skin cancer, take the following precautions whenever possible:

Avoid intense sun exposure by staying out of it from late morning through early afternoon.

Outside, wear a hat, long sleeves, trousers, and sunglasses that block UV radiation.

Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher whenever you are outside.

Consider taking a B-complex vitamin; B vitamins contain a compound called PABA, the active ingredient in many sunscreens.

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