Living with psoriasis can be tough, and many people try various remedies to feel better. From using creams to changing their diet, they’re willing to do whatever it takes for relief. Acupuncture, an ancient treatment from China, is one option that’s gaining attention. But does it really help with psoriasis? Let’s take a closer look.

Acupuncture may be beneficial for some people with psoriasis. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that affects more than 7.5 million people in the United States. Common symptoms of psoriasis include painful, scaly, itchy, inflamed patches of skin called plaques. Although there is no cure for psoriasis, it is manageable and treatable.

The treatment goals for psoriasis are usually to minimize symptom severity, reduce the frequency of flares, and increase periods of disease remission (when you don’t have symptoms). Standard treatment of psoriasis usually comprises a combination of medical approaches (such as topical creams, oral corticosteroids, biologics, or ultraviolet phototherapy) and lifestyle changes.

There’s also increasing interest in alternatives to Western medicine, such as acupuncture, natural remedies, or Chinese herbs, to complement standard psoriasis treatment. As one member of MyPsoriasisTeam commented, “I have had to do a wraparound approach including natural treatments to maintain positive results for my severe psoriasis.”

Clinical studies haven’t confirmed the direct benefits of acupuncture on psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA), but a growing body of evidence shows that alternative therapies like acupuncture therapy may be an effective part of holistic treatment for psoriasis symptoms.

What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an alternative treatment and a type of traditional Chinese medicine dating back more than 2,500 years. Acupuncture involves inserting very thin needles into the skin. It’s believed that the needles and their strategic placement at specific points on the body (called acupoints or acupuncture points) may help stimulate the nerves and reduce pain.

There are several types of acupuncture, including:

• Body acupuncture
• Electroacupuncture
• Auricular acupuncture

Acupuncture should be performed by licensed trained professionals called acupuncturists. If you decide to try acupuncture, make sure your acupuncture provider is board-certified. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine lists board-certified acupuncturists.

“Remember: In all things, there is ‘fair, good, better, and best,’ so persevere until you find the best practitioner,” encouraged a MyPsoriasisTeam member, “one who really gets you and listens to you and your needs.”

Acupuncture for Psoriasis Skin Clearance

For those asking, “Can acupuncture help psoriasis?” it’s important to know that acupuncture is unlikely to help you achieve complete skin clearance of psoriasis (when all evidence of psoriasis from the skin is gone). But some research suggests it may help. A meta-analysis of six studies (522 total participants) of people with plaque psoriasis showed acupuncture led to some improvement. Specifically, participants showed improved results on the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) and had a decreased rate of relapse.

Some people have reported improvements in their skin condition after trying acupuncture. One MyPsoriasisTeam member shared, “I have done 10 acupuncture treatments, and the change is amazing! My plaques are at least 50 percent gone, if not more!” Another member reported, “I’ve only had five acupuncture treatments and noticed the spots of psoriasis are less itchy and flaky, lighter in color, and starting to shrink in size.”

For some people with psoriasis, however, acupuncture didn’t help. “I tried acupuncture for 18 months and it didn’t work for me,” one member reported. “I have had acupuncture and it didn’t change my psoriasis,” said another.

For others, acupuncture seems to have made their symptoms worse: “I had acupuncture on two occasions for approximately two months. Both times, it was combined with Chinese herbs. It was a complete disaster!” said a MyPsoriasisTeam member, describing how their skin flared severely after the treatment.

Acupuncture for Other Psoriasis Symptoms

Research on acupuncture for psoriasis is limited. Still, studies have investigated the impact of acupuncture on common symptoms of psoriasis and psoriatic disease.

Acupuncture for Chronic Pain

Joint pain is a common symptom of PsA — a type of arthritis that can develop in people with skin psoriasis. In addition to PsA treatments, some people try methods like acupuncture for pain relief.

Some members of MyPsoriasisTeam have reported feeling better after receiving acupuncture. One said, “Today was my acupuncture/cupping day, and those are always really good days for me.” Another commented, “The pain in my back is unbearable this evening. I’m going for acupuncture tomorrow to ease it.”

In terms of research, a review of 29 studies comprising almost 18,000 people concluded that acupuncture was effective for treating chronic pain, reducing pain by about half.

There haven’t been many studies done to see if acupuncture helps pain from PsA specifically, especially in the long term. There are only a few case studies — studies of a single person — showing that acupuncture may help pain from PsA. These studies don’t prove that it would work for most people with PsA. Also, the people in these studies received acupuncture alongside other treatments, so it’s hard to tell which treatment helped them feel better.

More research is needed to determine whether acupuncture can really help people living with PsA and whether it’s most useful alone or combined with other treatments.

If you try acupuncture for PsA pain, you might need weekly acupuncture treatments until you start to experience any benefits. Pain relief may be short-lived at first. You might need repeated clusters of six to eight acupuncture treatments to keep the pain at bay.

Acupuncture for Chronic Itchiness

Chronic pruritus, or itching, is a common symptom of psoriasis. Eighty percent of people with psoriasis are reported to experience itching. Several studies from the journal BMJ Open have shown that acupuncture relieves itching.

The exact mechanism of acupuncture on psoriasis-related itching isn’t fully understood. Early studies in mice suggest that acupuncture might help reduce the inflammatory response that contributes to psoriasis symptoms.

At least one MyPsoriasisTeam member found relief from itching through acupuncture. They explained, “I went back again on Friday for acupuncture. I was itching when they started my session, and when I was done, the itching was gone.”

Acupuncture and Stress Relief

Stress is a common trigger for psoriasis flares, so reducing stress may have benefits for people with psoriasis. Acupuncture is known to help relieve stress, which could also help prevent psoriasis flares. Some MyPsoriasisTeam members support the stress-relieving and relaxation-promoting effects of acupuncture: “I go to acupuncture, which has worked the best for me, and also massage,” said one member. Another shared, “I did feel much more relaxed generally.”

Is Acupuncture Safe?

More than half of people with psoriasis are unsatisfied with their traditional treatment, often because it doesn’t work well or causes unpleasant side effects. However, all psoriasis treatments, including alternative medicine, come with some risk of adverse effects. Side effects reported from acupuncture in large-scale trials include localized pain, dizziness, and bruising or hematomas where the acupuncture needles were placed. More serious issues, such as spinal cord injury and organ puncture, are very rare. Overall, acupuncture is very safe when done by a trained professional.

Is Acupuncture Effective for Psoriasis?

There’s a lack of randomized controlled trials — the gold standard of research studies — to support acupuncture as a specific treatment for psoriasis. More stringent clinical trials are needed to better understand the practice and answer the question, “Can acupuncture help psoriasis?” That said, anecdotal evidence and current research findings support the idea that acupuncture could be a moderately effective adjunctive, or extra, treatment for some cases of psoriasis.

Work with your dermatologist and other health care providers to find the right balance of treatments for you.

Find Your Team

MyPsoriasisTeam is the social network for people with psoriasis and their loved ones. Here, more than 126,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with psoriasis.

Have you tried acupuncture as part of your symptom management routine? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.