Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Skin Health
Key takeaways
- Complementary therapies work alongside your prescribed treatments — they’re not a replacement, but they can meaningfully support your skin’s healing when used as part of a broader care plan
- Stress management through practices like mindfulness, meditation, or cognitive behavioral therapy can make a difference — stress is one of the most common triggers for eczema and psoriasis flares
- Always let your care team know about any supplements or alternative therapies you’re exploring — some can interact with medications or affect how your treatments work
What Are Complementary Therapies?
Managing eczema or psoriasis often goes beyond prescription medications alone. Complementary therapies are approaches used alongside your standard medical treatment to support whole-person care — addressing stress, nutrition, and lifestyle factors that can influence how your skin behaves.
These aren’t replacements for your prescribed care. They’re additions to it — and when used thoughtfully, they can help reduce flares, improve comfort, and support your overall wellbeing.
Supplements That May Help
Several supplements have shown promise for skin health. Always talk to your care team before starting anything new, as some may interact with your medications:
Topical Options Worth Exploring
Some natural topicals may offer additional soothing or barrier-supporting benefits alongside your prescribed treatments:
- Coconut oil — Antibacterial and hydrating; may help reduce staph colonization on the skin. Apply once or twice daily.
- Sunflower seed oil — Supports barrier repair and has mild anti-inflammatory properties. Apply once or twice daily.
- Colloidal oatmeal — A well-established option for soothing itch and inflammation. Most effective in lukewarm baths for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Aloe vera — Generally well-tolerated and soothing for inflammation, burns, and psoriasis symptoms.
- Vitamin B12 topical cream — A 0.07% formulation used twice daily may help modulate skin inflammation for some people.
Mind-Body Practices
Stress is one of the most common triggers for skin flares — and managing it is a meaningful part of your overall care. Practices that may help include:
- Mindfulness meditation and yoga
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Acupuncture or acupressure
- Massage therapy
Natural and Traditional Remedies
Some people find additional support from traditional and plant-based remedies. Here’s a quick reference:
Anti-Inflammatory Eating
Diet can play a supporting role in managing inflammation. A few helpful principles:
- Focus on — Antioxidant-rich berries, oily fish like salmon and mackerel, flaxseeds, walnuts, dark leafy greens, dark chocolate (70%+ cocoa), whole grains, avocados, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.
- Limit — Processed foods, added sugars, and refined oils. If you have known gluten or fructose sensitivities, be mindful of whole grain choices.
Curious about which complementary therapies might work best for your specific situation? Your Zest care team is happy to talk through the options and help you build an integrated approach. Reach out anytime through your portal.
The Skin Deep Summary
Complementary and alternative therapies aren’t a replacement for your medical treatment — but they can be a meaningful part of the overall approach to skin health. From stress management and mindfulness to targeted supplements and natural topicals, there’s a wide range of supportive options worth exploring.
At Zest, we believe in whole-person care — which means looking at everything that affects your skin, not just what’s happening on the surface. Your care team can help you figure out which complementary approaches make sense for you, how to use them safely alongside your prescriptions, and how to build a plan that supports your skin from every angle.