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Real members of MyPsoriasisTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Ibuprofen for itching

A MyPsoriasisTeam Member asked a question 💭
Fort Worth, TX

I've been reading about all the people suffering from the horrible itching and wanted to tell you what helped me tremendously. I am fairly new to the psoriasis family and I was misdiagnosed for a couple of months. Anyway, I took ibuprofen and it helped so much. My plaque on my scalp was so thick it felt like my scalp was encased in concrete and the ibuprofen helped with the irritation from that. I never exceeded the RDA of two 400mg tablets 3 times per day. I would be itching so badly… read more

March 10
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A MyPsoriasisTeam Member

From the feedback I see it could help with the inflammation maybe but usually antihistamines are what works for itching over the counter. It seems to help not be so responsive then.

If it brought you relief that's a wonderful thing. Everybody's different but I'm glad it worked for you. Be careful though things that you put into your gut maybe not so beneficial if you use it long-term. That can do some intestinal effect.

March 11
MyPsoriasisTeam

Can ibuprofen help with psoriasis itching?

Thank you for sharing what's worked for you! It's wonderful that you found relief from that unbearable itching, especially at night.

Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medication, and since psoriasis itching is largely caused by inflammation, it makes sense that reducing inflammation Show Full Answer

Can ibuprofen help with psoriasis itching?

Thank you for sharing what's worked for you! It's wonderful that you found relief from that unbearable itching, especially at night.

Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medication, and since psoriasis itching is largely caused by inflammation, it makes sense that reducing inflammation could help ease the itch. Your experience highlights an important point—managing the underlying inflammation can sometimes provide relief alongside topical treatments.

That said, while ibuprofen may help some people, it's not typically a first-line treatment specifically for psoriasis itching. Most dermatologists recommend:

* Topical corticosteroids to reduce inflammation directly on the skin
* Moisturizers to keep skin hydrated and reduce dryness
* Antihistamines, particularly at bedtime for nighttime itching
* Prescription treatments like calcipotriene or coal tar

Your reminder about not exceeding recommended doses is crucial. Long-term use of ibuprofen can have side effects, so anyone considering this approach should discuss it with their doctor first.

Many MyPsoriasisTeam members have found that combining different approaches—like you did with timing your doses around when itching was worst—can be really effective. Others have shared success with antihistamines at night or natural remedies like coconut oil for immediate relief.

Have you found any topical treatments that work well alongside the ibuprofen?

March 10

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