Alternatives to Prednisone for Psoriasis

If you’re taking prednisone for psoriasis and wondering whether there are natural alternatives worth trying, I completely understand. Prednisone causes more side effects than almost any other drug, and it makes sense to look for other options. I went through the Natural Medicines Database, an evidence-based resource that ranks natural treatments by the quality of research behind them, to find out exactly what’s supported for psoriasis specifically.

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The Most Effective Option: Light Therapy

Light therapy is rated as effective for psoriasis, a designation the Natural Medicines Database rarely gives since it’s essentially on par with an FDA-approved treatment.

UVB light therapy is effective for treating psoriasis
UVA (ultraviolet A) is also effective
Can be delivered through a light box at your dermatologist’s office or through carefully managed natural sunlight exposure
Getting the right balance and frequency matters for results

Likely Effective: Topical Vitamin D

Vitamin D shows up here, but not in the form most people expect.

Topical vitamin D creams and ointments, along with vitamin D analogues, are rated likely effective for improving psoriasis symptoms
Oral vitamin D pills have not been shown to be effective for psoriasis specifically
If you’re considering vitamin D for your skin, the topical form is where the evidence actually points

Three Possibly Effective Natural Substitutes

These three options show promise but currently have less high-quality evidence behind them than light therapy or topical vitamin D.

Aloe

Aloe cream applied to psoriasis lesions may reduce redness, scaling, and improve plaques
Aloe gel has not shown the same results, specifically the cream formulation is what the evidence supports
Evidence is still considered emerging

Isatis (topical leaf extract)

Clinical research suggests topical isatis leaf extract may reduce the severity of nail psoriasis specifically
Worth considering if your psoriasis primarily affects your fingernails

Oregon Grape Extract

May modestly decrease psoriasis severity and improve quality of life compared to placebo
Some formulations have shown effectiveness comparable to calcitriol or tazarotene cream for certain patients

Weighing the Benefits and Risks of Prednisone

If none of these alternatives are enough and you’re left with prednisone or another steroid as your only tolerable option, it comes down to weighing benefits against risks. If your psoriasis involves bleeding plaques or is otherwise severe, the benefit of treatment may genuinely outweigh the risk of side effects. But there’s a way to shift that balance further in your favor by minimizing the risks themselves.

What Prednisone Actually Does to Your Body

When I took prednisone for eight months, I learned that a lot of the misery it causes comes from the nutrients it steals from your body, not just the drug itself. Replenishing those nutrients can help you feel more like yourself, even while treatment continues.

This is where Nutranize Zone comes in as educational and nutritional support, not as a treatment or cure for psoriasis or any other condition.

Nutranize Zone is a two-bottle morning and bedtime system built around 17 ingredients designed to replenish exactly what prednisone depletes, including calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, magnesium, melatonin, chromium picolinate, B vitamins, vitamin C, and zinc, along with additional ingredients aimed at counteracting other common side effects. The morning capsules are taken alongside your prednisone dose, and the bedtime capsules are formulated to support restful sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most effective natural treatment for psoriasis?

Light therapy, specifically UVB and UVA, is rated as effective, the highest evidence rating in the Natural Medicines Database.

Does vitamin D help with psoriasis?

Topical vitamin D creams and analogues are rated likely effective, but oral vitamin D pills have not shown the same benefit for psoriasis symptoms.

Can aloe vera help psoriasis?

Aloe cream, specifically, may reduce redness, scaling, and plaque severity. Aloe gel has not shown the same results in studies.

Is there a natural treatment for nail psoriasis?

Topical isatis leaf extract has shown some evidence of reducing severity specifically in nail psoriasis.

Should I stop taking prednisone and rely on natural alternatives instead?

This is a decision to make with your dermatologist. These natural options may offer supportive benefit, but they are not established replacements for prednisone when it’s medically necessary.

How can I make prednisone more tolerable if I have no other option?

Replenishing the nutrients prednisone depletes, including calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, and chromium, can help reduce how harsh the side effects feel while you’re on treatment.

Disclaimer: Nutranize Zone does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not a substitute for medical care or your doctor’s guidance.

References:
Elmets C, Lim H, Stoff B …Joint American Academy of Dermatology–National Psoriasis Foundation guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with phototherapy Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2019; 81, 775-804
Formisano E, Proietti E, Borgarelli C, Pisciotta L. Psoriasis and Vitamin D: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2023 Jul 30;15(15):3387. doi: 10.3390/nu15153387. PMID: 37571324; PMCID: PMC10421389.
Elmets C, Korman N, Prater E … Joint AAD–NPF Guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with topical therapy and alternative medicine modalities for psoriasis severity measures Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2020; 84, 432-470
Lin YK, See LC, Huang YH, Chang YC, Tsou TC, Lin TY, Lin NL. Efficacy and safety of Indigo naturalis extract in oil (Lindioil) in treating nail psoriasis: a randomized, observer-blind, vehicle-controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2014 Jun 15;21(7):1015-20. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2014.02.013. Epub 2014 Mar 26. PMID: 24680615.
Bernstein S, Donsky H, Gulliver W, Hamilton D, Nobel S, Norman R. Treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis with Reliéva, a Mahonia aquifolium extract–a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Am J Ther. 2006 Mar-Apr;13(2):121-6. doi: 10.1097/00045391-200603000-00007. PMID: 16645428.