Conditions

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is often hereditary and is linked to a rapid growth of cells in the skin's outer layer. Whereas a normal skin cell matures and passes from the bottom layer of the skin to the epidermis in about twenty-eight days, psoriatic cells form in about eight days, causing scaly patches that spread to cover larger and larger areas. The result of this disorder is the production of excessive numbers of skin cells in a very short time.

Psoriasis generally follows a pattern of periodic flare-ups alternating with periods of remission, most commonly beginning between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. Among other things, attacks can be triggered by nervous tension, stress, illness, injury, surgery, cuts, poison ivy, viral or bacterial infection, sunburn, overuse of drugs or alcohol, NSAIDs, lithium, chloroquine, beta-blockers, and high blood pressure.

Signs and Symptoms:
Psoriasis appears as patches of skin on the legs, knees, arms, elbows, scalp, ears, and back that are red to brown in color and covered with silvery-white scales. Toes and fingernails can lose their luster and develop ridges and pits. Some people experience an associated arthritis that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis and difficult to treat.

Diagnosis:
Most doctors can diagnose psoriasis after a short physical examination and symptom review. He or she may order a biopsy, but in most cases this is not necessary.

Treatment Options:
Psoriasis is not considered to be conventionally curable but it can be managed effectively in most cases with:

• Topical medications
• Systemic drugs
• Light therapy-solar and ultraviolet radiation
• Dietary modification - avoid triggers, lose weight
• Vitamin/mineral supplementation
• Exercise
• Eliminating certain medications and acidic foods

Traditional Treatments:

• Acute flare-ups are usually treated with high-strength topical steroids. These can include clobetasol or halobetasol.
• Blocking the site off from air and water by means of a plastic dressing for over a week may sometimes help, if repeated for several weeks.
• A coal-tar product such as Fototar or Zetar may be helpful. These are sometimes used together with controlled ultraviolet-light treatment.
• Anthralin is a chemical that inhibits cell division, thereby slowing the growth of psoriatic lesions. It is applied topically and appropriate only for chronic disease; if used for acute cases, it can cause irritation.
• Calcipotriene has shown promise in the treatment of psoriatic plaques. Unfortunately, it does not work in all cases, and can make some outbreaks of psoriasis worse.
• Ultraviolet light is often used to treat psoriasis.
• Etretinate can be very helpful for some cases of severe psoriasis. However, it also has potentially serious side effects, including liver damage.
• For severe, body-wide cases of psoriasis that respond to no other treatment, a doctor may prescribe a kind of drug normally used for cancer chemotherapy or an immune-suppressing drug designed to prevent rejection after organ transplantation. These can be dramatically successful for some people, but they are extremely powerful drugs that can have other very serious, even life-threatening effects. Be sure to discuss these drugs with your doctor and read all the inserts before taking them.

Complementary and Alternative Therapies:
Complementary and alternative therapies are aimed at detoxifying the entire body and regulating cGMP/cAMP ratios.

Nutritional Supplementation:

• Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement that provides trace minerals daily.
• Flaxseed or primrose oils supply essential fatty acids that are important for all skin disorders. Follow the label directions.
• Vitamin A protects the skin tissue. Take 25,000 IU daily.
  Warning: If you are pregnant, intend to get pregnant, or if you have liver disease, consult your doctor before taking supplemental vitamin A.
• Digestive enzymes enhance the utilization of the nutrients in your food.
  Warning: Long-term supplementation with pancreatin is not advised, as it can cause your pancreas to reduce its own production of this important enzyme.
• Glutathione is an amino-acid compound that slows the runaway growth of underlying skin cells. Take 500 mg twice a day, between meals.
• An adequate intake of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids can improve psoriasis in many cases. Take 1,000 to 2,000 mg of fish oil and 500 mg of black currant seed, borage, evening primrose, or flaxseed oil three times daily.
  Warning: If you have diabetes, consult your doctor before taking supplemental fish oil.
• The B vitamins help in the healing and repair of skin cells. Take a good B-complex formula supplying 25 mg of each of the major B vitamins.
• Vitamin C is important for the formation of collagen and healthy skin. Take 500 mg of vitamin C with and equal amount of mixed bioflavonoids two or three times daily.

Alternative Therapies:

• Coleus forskohlii is an Ayurvedic herb that can slow down the high rate of cell division that characterizes psoriasis.
• Gotu kola reduces inflammation and speeds wound healing.
• Milk thistle contains silymarin, which acts to correct the abnormal cell replication involved in psoriasis.
• Burdock root and red clover cleanse the blood.
• Poultices made from chaparral, dandelion, and yellow dock can help psoriasis.
• Add 2 teaspoons of ginger to bath water.
• To reduce redness and swelling, lightly brush off scales with a loofah and apply alcohol-free goldenseal extract.
• Lavender is good to use in a sauna or steam bath. It fights inflammation and soothes and heals irritated skin.
• Constitutional remedies can be extremely effective in clearing psoriasis, see a qualified homeopath for more information.

General Recommendations:

• Apply seawater to the affected area with cotton several times a day.
• Use cold-pressed flaxseed, sesame, or soybean oils.
• Expose the affected areas to direct sunlight for fifteen to thirty minutes each day to reduce scaling and inflammation.
• Wear loose clothing made of a natural, breathable fiber such as cotton.
• Install a filter to remove chlorine from bath and shower water.
• Avoid stress as much as possible.

Warnings:

• If you are pregnant, intend to get pregnant, or if you have liver disease, consult your doctor before taking supplemental vitamin A.
• Long-term supplementation with pancreatin is not advised, as it can cause your pancreas to reduce its own production of this important enzyme.