Essential oils used to alleviate psoriasis?

Essential oils are concentrates of active ingredients that possess numerous virtues. Certain essential oils have properties that can help alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis. It is important to clarify that the use of essential oils is not intended to "cure" psoriasis. They only serve to "relieve" the symptoms of the disease.

However, it is recommended to seek the advice of a professional before starting to use essential oils to alleviate psoriasis, as each individual reacts differently when using this type of oil.Some essential oils have interesting properties that can alleviate the effects of psoriasis. We have decided to present a few of them to you below.

The essential oils of chamomile and yarrow are composed of a hydrocarbon, chamazulene, which is an anti-inflammatory compound. Additionally, they contain γ-linolenic acids which have been shown to play a role in inhibiting the generation of leukotriene B4, a significant pro-inflammatory metabolite of arachidonic acid known to accumulate in psoriasis lesions. Therefore, these essential oils have proven interesting for conducting further research to understand their effectiveness in relieving psoriasis.

A study on psoriasis lesions induced by imiquimod (IMQ) in mice has shown that the essential oil of Perilla frutescens downregulates immune cytokines IL-17, IL-22, IL-23, IFN-α, IFN-γ and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-1. However, clinical studies on psoriatic skin would allow conclusions to be drawn on the real effectiveness of this essential oil.

Thetea tree essential oil is derived from the leaves of the tea tree. Terpinen-4-ol is the primary component of this essential oil and it exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties. Indeed, it is capable of reducing the production of TNF-, IL-1, IL-8 and PGE 2. PGE2 is a prostaglandin that plays a role in the inflammatory process and it has been demonstrated that its presence was higher in patients suffering from psoriasis. Furthermore, terpinen-4-ol can modulate vasodilation and plasma extravasation, helping to soothe inflammation.

The essential oil of cade can aid in alleviating the symptoms of psoriasis due to its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiseptic properties. Cade essential oil contains a high percentage of cadinene, a sesquiterpene, which can be utilised in the case of psoriasis. However, there are still too few studies that have been conducted to demonstrate the benefits and effectiveness of this oil on psoriasis.

Theessential oil of lavender, due to its analgesic, healing and anti-inflammatory properties, presents an interesting alternative for alleviating the symptoms of psoriasis. Notably, a study has shown that thelinalyl acetate and linalool and linalool, compounds found in this essential oil, have been observed to significantly reduce the levels of TNF-α and IL-6, inflammatory molecules that are present in higher quantities in individuals suffering from psoriasis.

• BENSOUILAH J. Psoriasis and aromatherapy. Elsevier Science Ltd (2003).

• PAZYAR N. & al. Tea tree oil as a novel antipsoriasis weapon. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology (2012).

• RAI V. K. & al. Anti-psoriatic effect of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil and its major components linalool and linalyl acetate. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2020).

• XU Y. & al. The essential oil derived from Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. attenuates imiquimod–induced psoriasis-like skin lesions in BALB/c mice. Molecules (2022).