Health Conditions A-Z Skin, Hair & Nail Conditions Psoriasis Can You Use Essential Oils for Psoriasis? By Lambeth Hochwald Lambeth Hochwald Lambeth Hochwald is a believer that everyone has a story to tell. As a New York City-based journalist, she has been busily covering COVID-19 and its effects on everyone from college students and their parents to restaurant workers and ER doctors. Over the last few decades, she's written for the New York Post, CNN, Parade, WebMD, Millie, Reside, the Food Network, Delish, and Architectural Digest, always with the same mandate to be compassionate, hence the hashtag #compassionatejournalism that she includes in her email auto-signature. When she's not juggling assignments, she's helping to teach the next generation of journalists in her role as an adjunct professor of journalism at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. health's editorial guidelines Updated on July 9, 2024 Medically reviewed by Brendan Camp, MD Medically reviewed by Brendan Camp, MD Brendan Camp, MD, FAAD, is a double board-certified dermatologist. learn more Deepak Sethi / Getty Images Some evidence suggests that essential oils like bergamot, lavender, rose, and tea tree oil might be helpful for psoriasis, which causes dry, scaly skin patches. These oils can relieve stress, a common trigger for psoriasis. Keep in mind that there has been little evidence or randomized clinical trials that essential oils can entirely relieve psoriasis symptoms. Your goal may instead be to look for essential oils that calm the skin and help with discoloration, or hyperpigmentation. A healthcare provider may advise using these oils in addition to conventional treatments, such as corticosteroids or light therapy. Read on to learn what essential oils might help manage psoriasis. The 13 Best Shampoos for Psoriasis, According to a Dermatologist What's the Link Between Essential Oils and Psoriasis? Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that causes skin cells to multiply quickly, causing them to build up. This causes symptoms like silvery scales and thick, red patches. Research has shown that essential oils might alleviate psoriasis symptoms if you apply them topically, or to the skin. Essential oils have also been shown to reduce stress. Stress commonly triggers flares of psoriasis symptoms. Essential oils might cause an allergic reaction or skin irritation in some people, especially if they are not diluted. Many essential oils should be applied with a carrier oil like jojoba, sunflower seed, avocado, or almond oil. Keep in mind that psoriasis can affect the skin barrier, which can affect how the body absorbs and reacts to essential oils. It's possible that people with psoriasis may have an adverse reaction to essential oils. Essential Oils To Try Speak to a healthcare provider before using essential oils in your regimen to make sure they are safe and don't interact with other medications. You may also test the essential oil on a small patch of your skin first. Some essential oils can cause allergic reactions or irritate the skin. Bergamot The effectiveness of bergamot oil appears to be due to 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP). This plant-based chemical compound may have anti-inflammatory properties. 5-MOP is used during psoralen plus ultraviolet-A (PUVA) phototherapy, another psoriasis treatment. 5-MOP makes skin more sun-sensitive, so you should use it with caution and avoid spending time outdoors after application. Lavender Lavender oil is commonly promoted for topical use. This essential oil has certain properties that help condition the skin, providing calming and hydrating benefits that improve the appearance of new or old scars. Lavender's anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties can also expedite healing. Rose Oil Rose oil contains anti-inflammatory properties that can calm redness and relieve sensitive skin. It's very emollient, meaning it's good for locking in moisture and hydration. Rose oil also has antibacterial properties, which may help protect skin from infection. Tea Tree Oil Research has shown that tea tree oil may be helpful in treating psoriasis. Tea tree oil can be helpful due to its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It may also help reduce scaling. Other Natural Remedies Coconut oil could also help those who have psoriasis. This gentle oil is not technically an essential oil, but it can help relieve painful scales. Coconut oil has been shown to be good for moisturizing the skin. Another natural remedy that might offer psoriasis relief is Mahonia aquifolium, also known as berberine. Research has shown that berberine reduces inflammation, which has led to its use for skin conditions. Berberine has been shown to be helpful in improving psoriasis symptoms in several studies. Conventional Treatment If you have psoriasis symptoms, it's important to see a healthcare provider. They can advise medical treatments that reduce symptoms and protect against infection. Some of the most common conventional ways to treat psoriasis include: Light therapy: This treatment uses ultraviolet (UV) light to alleviate symptoms. Pills or injections: A healthcare provider may advise these systemic (body-wide) treatments if you have moderate to severe symptoms. Pills or injections, such as biologics, target the body's immune response. Topical treatments: These include creams, ointments, skin lotions, and shampoos that you apply to the skin. A healthcare provider might prescribe treatments like coal tar, corticosteroids, retinoids, or synthetic vitamin D. When To See a Healthcare Provider Talk to a healthcare provider if you have psoriasis symptoms, including: Dry, itchy skinSilvery scalesThick, red patches Let a healthcare provider know if you have arthritis symptoms, such as joint pain or swelling, along with these symptoms. Get medical attention right away if you have severe symptoms that affect most of your skin. Foods That May Be Beneficial or Harmful In a Psoriasis Diet A Quick Review Essential oils, including bergamot, lavender, rose, and tea tree oil, may relieve psoriasis symptoms and reduce stress. However, more research is needed to determine how well these oils work for psoriasis. It might be worth talking to a healthcare provider if you're interested in trying natural remedies for psoriasis or want to know about more treatments. They can also prescribe conventional treatments like corticosteroids or light therapy. Frequently Asked Questions What clears psoriasis fast? It's best to consult a healthcare provider to figure out what treatment can clear your psoriasis symptoms fast. They may suggest options like biologics, corticosteroids, or phototherapy. These treatments can be highly effective at reducing symptoms.A healthcare provider can also advise ways to avoid triggers. Moisturizing your skin regularly and managing stress can clear psoriasis. What should you not to use on psoriasis? Avoid using irritants like fragranced detergent or soap if you have psoriasis. The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) also advises against tattoos or body art, which may worsen symptoms. What is the biggest trigger for psoriasis? Triggers for psoriasis are different for each person. Some of the most common ones include:Bacterial or viral infections Certain medications Dry air or skinInjuries like burns, cuts, burns, insect bites, or rashesStressToo little or too much sunlight Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 13 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Rousset L, Halioua B. Stress and psoriasis. Int J Dermatol. 2018;57(10):1165-1172. doi:10.1111/ijd.14032 MedlinePlus. Psoriasis. Kashyap N, Kumari A, Raina N, et al. Prospects of essential oil loaded nanosystems for skincare. Phytomedicine Plus. 2022;2(1):100198. doi:10.1016/j.phyplu.2021.100198 Alesci A, Lauriano ER, Fumia A, et al. Relationship between immune cells, depression, stress, and psoriasis: Could the use of natural products be helpful? Molecules. 2022;27(6):1953. doi:10.3390/molecules27061953 PubChem. Bergapten. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Lavender. de Melo Alves Silva LC, de Oliveira Mendes FC, de Castro Teixeira F, et al. Use of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil as a complementary therapy in adult health care: A scoping review. Heliyon. 2023;9(5):e15446. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15446 Sarkic A, Stappen I. Essential oils and their single compounds in cosmetics—a critical review. Cosmetics. 2018;5(1):11. doi:10.3390/cosmetics5010011 Kairey L, Agnew T, Bowles EJ, et al. Efficacy and safety of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil for human health-A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Front Pharmacol. 2023;14:1116077. doi:10.3389/fphar.2023.1116077 Varma SR, Sivaprakasam TO, Arumugam I, et al. In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of virgin coconut oil. J Tradit Complement Med. 2018;9(1):5-14. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2017.06.012 Janeczek M, Moy L, Lake EP, et al. Review of the efficacy and safety of topical Mahonia aquifolium for the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2018;11(12):42-47. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Medications and light treatments for psoriasis. American Academy of Dermatology Association. Are triggers causing your psoriasis flare-ups?