According to Dutch researchers, home-based ultraviolet B (UVB) therapy for the chronic skin condition called psoriasis is as effective and safe as phototherapy at a hospital.
HealthDay, an industry news website, reported that the study, which looked at 196 psoriasis patients, found no evidence that the home method is inferior to the hospital procedure, contrary to what some dermatologists have suggested.
The results are also significant because most of the patients who participated in the study stressed the convenience of the home-based method which eliminated the need to go to a hospital three times a week.
The study was published in the British Medcial Journal, and the authors recommend updating the current guidelines to reflect the new findings.
Some health practitioners have also suggested using herbal supplements in the fight against the condition.
For example, extract of cats claw, a tropical vine found in the jungles and rainforests of South America and Asia, has been known to be effective against skin disorders, according to PsoriasisRx.com.
Similarly, sarsaparilla, which is used to flavor root beer, has significant medicinal properties, in particular when it comes to clearing up infections.
The website also recommends Dead Sea salts, rich in calcium, potassium and magnesium, which one study showed help reduce the itching, sleep disturbances and skin scaling associated with psoriasis. 