Can banana peel help alleviate symptoms of psoriasis?

You may already know that eating bananas has health benefits, but did you know that banana peels provide similar health benefits? Yes, bananas are delicious and healthy fruits high in potassium, vitamins, fibre, and minerals, however, banana peel is equally beneficial for you. Banana peels are a rich source of antioxidants, carotenoids, and polyphenols that can help eliminate harmful free radicals from your body and skin. As it turns out, it can even help with a skin condition called Psoriasis.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease where there is inflammation of the skin and the skin is characterised by red, scaly, raised, itchy plaques on certain areas of the body. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immunity is attacking itself, where there is an immune dysfunction. Psoriasis can be triggered by factors such as heredity, certain drugs, stress, and smoking.

Are bananas good or bad for psoriasis?

“As banana peel is not a substitute for clinical treatment of psoriasis, it can just be used to relieve the symptoms of psoriasis. It is suggested that the banana peel may offer cooling and moisturising effects for any irritation or pain related to the patch. There is insufficient evidence to conclude that bananas or their peels are an effective psoriasis treatment. However, banana peels might have certain advantages,” says Dermatologist Dr Ritika Shanmugam.

Itching is a symptom of psoriasis, and Dr Shanmugam says that it can help relieve these symptoms. Banana peel offers moisturising and anti-inflammatory properties that can help manage itching. Rubbing it over the affected area might relieve the symptoms.

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How to use banana peel for psoriasis treatment?

Eating bananas can help in psoriasis as they are very rich in antioxidants. Besides that, applying banana peel can also help as it provides moisture and helps in relieving itching which is generally associated with Psoriasis. Furthermore, research has indicated that the compounds present in banana peels may offer various health advantages upon extraction. Moreover, the banana peel has natural anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and cooling benefits that can help to relieve psoriasis symptoms. The easiest way to treat affected regions is to scrape off the inner skin of a banana peel, combine it with oatmeal, apply it, gently rub the area, and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.

However, they also point out that several variables influence how potent these substances are, such as:

• Variety of banana
• Cultivation conditions
• Banana type (ripe, overripe, or underripe)

Pretreatments to banana

Thus, while applying a banana peel straight to a psoriasis patch might not be harmful, it could not offer the desired relief or improvement. Therefore, one should consult their physician before putting a banana peel directly on an aggressive psoriasis spot.

Are there any side effects of using banana peel for psoriasis?

There are no side effects of applying banana peel for psoriasis, however, it is important to consult a dermatologist before applying anything to the skin lesions in psoriasis.

What are some other effective home remedies for psoriasis?

Several possible home remedies could be beneficial. Some options they note include:

• Turmeric
• Aloe vera
• Dead Sea salts
• Oat paste or bath
• Tea tree oil
• Apple cider vinegar
• Capsaicin
• Nutritional supplements

Further, omega-3 fatty acids can help as they have good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.