Psoriasis: Causes, Symptoms, Types and Treatment, Including Chinese Herbal Options
Psoriasis guide
Psoriasis is a long-term, immune-driven skin condition that causes raised, red or darker patches covered in silvery scale, most often on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back. It is not contagious. It affects up to about 2% of adults in Western countries and fewer in East Asia (Parisi et al., 2020), tends to come and go in flares, and can be well controlled with the right mix of medical treatment, gentle daily skin care and trigger management, which many people combine with traditional Chinese herbal approaches.
- Cause: an overactive immune response (the IL-23/IL-17 pathway) speeds up skin-cell turnover.
- Common triggers: stress, infections, skin injury, cold dry weather, smoking, alcohol and some medicines.
- Itch is very common: up to 100% of people in some psoriasis types report it.
- Herbal research is growing: a 2026 meta-analysis of 3,675 patients found benefits from several Chinese herbal formulas.
What causes psoriasis?
Psoriasis develops when genes, the immune system and environmental triggers interact. Immune signals, especially the IL-23/IL-17 pathway, drive inflammation and push skin cells to mature in days instead of weeks. The cells pile up on the surface as thick, scaly plaques (Armstrong and Read, 2020).
Common flare triggers include:
- Stress and poor sleep
- Infections, especially strep throat (linked to guttate psoriasis)
- Skin injury such as cuts, scratches or sunburn (the Koebner effect)
- Cold, dry weather
- Smoking and heavy alcohol use
- Some medicines, such as lithium and beta-blockers
What are the symptoms of psoriasis?
- Well-defined, raised plaques with silvery-white scale
- Itch, burning or soreness. In a large study, itch was reported across every type of psoriasis, reaching 100% in scalp and some other forms (Jaworecka et al., 2023).
- Dry, cracked skin that may bleed
- Pitted, thickened or lifting nails
- Joint pain, stiffness or swollen fingers or toes, which can signal psoriatic arthritis
Joint symptoms matter: about 1 in 5 people with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis (19.7% across 266 studies), so mention any joint pain to your doctor (Alinaghi et al., 2019).
For itch relief, see how to stop itching naturally, and for psoriasis in skin folds, inverse psoriasis.
What are the types of psoriasis?
| Type | What it looks like | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Plaque (most common) | Raised, scaly plaques | Elbows, knees, scalp, lower back |
| Scalp | Thick scale, often past the hairline | Scalp, ears, neck |
| Guttate | Small drop-shaped spots, often after strep throat | Trunk and limbs |
| Inverse | Smooth, red, shiny patches without much scale | Armpits, groin, under the breasts |
| Pustular | Pus-filled bumps on red skin | Palms, soles or widespread |
| Erythrodermic (rare) | Widespread redness and shedding | Most of the body; needs urgent care |
Inverse psoriasis needs gentler care; see inverse psoriasis in skin folds. Scalp flaking can also be seborrhoeic dermatitis; compare in scalp itching and dandruff.
How is psoriasis treated?
Treatment is matched to severity, body site and joint involvement. Joint US guidelines recommend topical steroids for most plaque psoriasis, with steroid-sparing options such as vitamin D analogues, tazarotene and calcineurin inhibitors used alone or in combination (Elmets et al., 2021). Phototherapy, oral medicines and biologics are used for more extensive disease. Psoriasis is chronic, but modern treatment can achieve clear or nearly clear skin for long periods.
Can Chinese herbal medicine help psoriasis?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) describes psoriasis through patterns such as Blood Heat (red, active plaques), Blood Dryness (chronic dry, scaly skin) and Blood Stasis (long-standing, thick plaques). Modern research is building a real evidence base:
- A 2026 meta-analysis of 47 studies and 3,675 patients found Chinese herbal formulas improved PASI scores, quality of life and TCM symptom scores across several psoriasis types (Zhou et al., 2026).
- A meta-analysis of topical multi-herbal formulas found improvements in PASI scores with no serious adverse events. Ku Shen (Sophora root) was one of the most used herbs (Deng et al., 2014).
- Indigo naturalis ointment reduced PASI scores by up to 69% in a 20-week randomised trial (Lin et al., 2018).
- A 2025 systematic review found promising results for selected herbal treatments and recommended shared decision-making with your clinician (Anheyer et al., 2025).
At ingredient level, Ku Shen compounds reduced inflammation and improved psoriasis-like skin changes in laboratory models (Lin et al., 2024), and osthole from She Chuang Zi blocked the TRPV3 itch channel (Sun et al., 2018). Both herbs are in QICAOGANGMU. Read more in herbal remedies for psoriasis and steroid-free treatment options.
Steroid-free daily care for itchy plaques. QICAOGANGMU pairs Ku Shen and She Chuang Zi with cooling borneol and menthol, tested steroid-free by TÜV SÜD PSB. Rated 4.5 to 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon. See the formula
What daily skin care helps psoriasis?
- Moisturise twice a day with a thick cream or ointment, ideally after bathing.
- Bathe in lukewarm water for 10 to 15 minutes and pat dry.
- Soften scale gently with salicylic acid or urea products; do not pick plaques.
- Cool the itch with a menthol-containing cream rather than scratching, which can trigger new plaques.
- Manage triggers: stress, smoking, alcohol and skin injury.
When should you see a doctor?
- Plaques covering a large area or spreading quickly
- Pustules, widespread redness or fever: seek urgent care
- Joint pain, morning stiffness or swollen fingers or toes
- Psoriasis affecting sleep, work or mood
Where QICAOGANGMU fits
QICAOGANGMU Steroid-Free Herbal Cream
4.7/5 (243 ratings) and 4.5/5 (666 ratings) on Amazon. Read reviews
QICAOGANGMU is a steroid-free Chinese herbal cream with Ku Shen 1.5% and She Chuang Zi 3%, two of the most researched herbs for psoriatic skin, plus cooling borneol 2%, menthol 0.5% and Bai Bu 0.5% in a moisturising glycerin and petrolatum base. It is for daily comfort of itchy, dry, scaly skin and fits alongside your existing treatment plan.
- Steroid-free: TÜV SÜD PSB found none of 8 corticosteroids (lab reports)
- Fully declared formula: every active ingredient and its percentage on the label
- 100-day money-back guarantee
- US shipping in 2 to 6 business days, free over US$20
Patch test on a small area first, use a thin layer on intact skin and avoid the eyes, lips and genitals. Herbal remedies for psoriasis · Product details
Frequently asked questions
What is the main cause of psoriasis?
Psoriasis is caused by an overactive immune response, mainly through the IL-23/IL-17 pathway, in people with a genetic tendency. Triggers such as stress, infection and skin injury can set off flares.
Is psoriasis contagious?
No. Psoriasis is an immune condition and cannot be caught from or passed to another person.
Can psoriasis be cured?
Psoriasis is a chronic condition with no permanent cure, but treatment can achieve clear or nearly clear skin for long periods.
Does Chinese herbal medicine work for psoriasis?
A 2026 meta-analysis of 3,675 patients found several Chinese herbal formulas improved psoriasis severity and quality of life. Results vary by formula, so tell your clinician what you use.
Can I use QICAOGANGMU on psoriasis?
Yes, as a steroid-free daily cream for itchy, dry, scaly skin alongside your treatment plan. Patch test first and avoid open or weeping skin.
Related articles
References
- Armstrong AW, Read C. Pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of psoriasis: a review. JAMA. 2020;323(19):1945-1960. PMID 32427307
- Jaworecka K, Kwiatkowska D, Marek-Józefowicz L, et al. Characteristics of pruritus in various clinical variants of psoriasis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2023;37(4):787-795. PMID 36606568
- Elmets CA, Korman NJ, Prater EF, et al. Joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with topical therapy and alternative medicine modalities. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;84(2):432-470. PMID 32738429
- Zhou M, Sun Y, Xu T, et al. Efficacy and safety of common Chinese herbal medicines in treating psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2026;17:1718564. PMID 41800105
- Deng S, May BH, Zhang AL, et al. Topical herbal formulae in the management of psoriasis: systematic review with meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2014;28(4):480-497. PMID 23817996
- Lin YK, See LC, Huang YH, et al. Comparison of indirubin concentrations in indigo naturalis ointment for psoriasis treatment: a randomized, double-blind, dosage-controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2018;178(1):124-131. PMID 28815560
- Anheyer M, Cramer H, Ostermann T, et al. Herbal medicine for treating psoriasis: a systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2025;90:103173. PMID 40210174
- Lin CF, Lin MH, Hung CF, et al. The anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids and alkaloids from Sophora flavescens alleviates psoriasiform lesions. Phytother Res. 2024;38(4):1951-1970. PMID 38358770
- Sun XY, Sun LL, Qi H, et al. Antipruritic effect of natural coumarin osthole through selective inhibition of thermosensitive TRPV3 channel in the skin. Mol Pharmacol. 2018;94(4):1164-1173. PMID 30108138
- Parisi R, Iskandar IYK, Kontopantelis E, et al. National, regional, and worldwide epidemiology of psoriasis: systematic analysis and modelling study. BMJ. 2020;369:m1590. PMID 32467098
- Alinaghi F, Calov M, Kristensen LE, et al. Prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in patients with psoriasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational and clinical studies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(1):251-265. PMID 29928910
Product information. QICAOGANGMU is a topical herbal skin-care cream and does not replace psoriasis treatment prescribed by your doctor. Widespread, pustular or rapidly worsening psoriasis, or joint symptoms, should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
