Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system causes the skin to grow too fast. The rapid skin growth can cause raised, discolored, and scaly patches to form. The resulting patches can cause a person to feel pain, itchiness, or burning.

Treatments often focus on treating the itchy patches or other symptoms, slowing the progression of the disease, and helping prevent flare-ups.

A person should always follow the advice of their clinical team, but they may also have an interest in finding other solutions to help alleviate the itchy, painful patches, such as bananas and banana peels.

Though limited research and no foundations support the use of bananas, some evidence suggests that some of the chemicals and nutrients found in banana fruit and peels may help with inflammation.

This article looks at whether bananas and their peels can help with psoriasis symptoms, and the research behind this.

Some people claim that eating a banana and applying the peel to a psoriasis patch may help relieve symptoms. They propose that the peel could provide moisture and cooling relief to the itch or pain associated with the patch.

No definitive proof exists that suggests bananas, or their peels, would make a good treatment for psoriasis. But some related evidence suggests that they may have some positive effects.

For example, researchers noted that banana peels contain several beneficial chemicals in unripe, ripe, and overripe peels. They suggest the chemicals may provide an antioxidant and anticarcinogenic effect.

That treating psoriasis with antioxidants may have a positive effect on the condition. As a result, it is possible that applying a banana peel to a psoriasis lesion may help.

In a 2012 study, researchers examined the anti-inflammatory effects of banana fruit and peels. They concluded that the use of bananas in traditional medicine can provide an anti-inflammatory effect from both the peels and fruit.

But it is important to note that the researchers used different methods to extract the potentially beneficial chemicals from the bananas. In other words, just laying a banana peel on the skin may not produce the desired results.

Finally, in a 2018 review, researchers noted that banana peels contain over 40 compounds, and one in particular, known as phenolics, has strong antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. The researchers recommended the extraction of these chemicals from the peel for use in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

While bananas may or may not provide any direct relief from psoriasis, eating them can be beneficial for a person’s overall health. Bananas contain many nutrients such as Vitamin C, Potassium, and fiber, so adding them to a balanced diet can be beneficial for most people.

Can banana peels treat psoriasis?

It is possible that banana peels may provide some relief when applied to a psoriasis patch or lesion. But researchers have not studied this phenomenon, so there is no conclusive proof that it is an effective treatment.

Studieshave suggested that the chemicals found in the peels of bananas may provide several health benefits when extracted. But they also note that various factors affect the potency of these compounds, including:

• variety
• cultivation conditions
• maturity (ripe, underripe, overripe)
• pretreatments

Though placing a banana peel directly on a psoriasis patch may not have negative effects, it also may not provide the relief or benefit a person is hoping for.

Before placing a banana peel directly on an active psoriasis patch, a person should talk with their doctor. They may recommend avoiding using anything on a patch other than prescribed or recommended over-the-counter creams and ointments.

Other psoriasis treatment tips

Before starting an alternative treatment, a person should talk with their doctor. They may be able to make recommendations for additional steps to help either alleviate the symptoms or reduce the severity of the patches.

The National Psoriasis Foundation notes there are several potential natural therapeutic treatments that a person may find helpful. Some options they note include:

• turmeric
• aloe vera
• capsaicin
• Dead Sea salts
• oat paste or bath
• tea tree oil
• apple cider vinegar
• nutritional supplements

In addition, a person may find that alternative therapies may also help with their psoriasis. Some potential options include:

• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Yoga
• Exercise

Summary

Bananas and their peels may be beneficial to people living with psoriasis.

Applying the peels to the skin may provide some benefits, such as antioxidants, moisture, and an anti-inflammatory effect. But research has not looked directly at using bananas to treat psoriasis.

A person should talk with their doctor before applying bananas directly to their psoriasis lesions, though they should be able to eat bananas as part of a balanced diet without any issues.