PSORIASIS
What Is Psoriasis? Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes scaling and swelling. Skin cells grow deep in the skin and slowly rise to the surface. This process is called cell turnover, and it takes about a month. With psoriasis, it can happen in just a few days because the cells rise too fast and pile up on the surface. Most psoriasis causes patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. These patches can itch or feel sore. They are often found on the elbows, knees, other parts of the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet. But they can show up other places such as fingernails, toenails, genitals, and inside the mouth. Who Gets Psoriasis? Anyone can get psoriasis, but it occurs more often in adults. Sometimes there is a family history of psoriasis. Certain genes have been linked to the disease. Men and women get psoriasis at about the same rate. What Causes Psoriasis? Psoriasis begins in the immune system, mainly with a type of white blood cell called a T cell. T cells help protect the body against infection and disease. With psoriasis, T cells are put into action by mistake. They become so active that they set off other immune responses. This leads to swelling and fast turnover of skin cells. People with psoriasis may notice that sometimes the skin gets better and sometimes it gets worse. Things that can cause the skin to get worse include: # Infections # Stress # Changes in weather that dry the skin # Certain medicines. How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed? Psoriasis can be hard to diagnose because it can look like other skin diseases. The doctor might need to look at a small skin sample under a microscope. How Is Psoriasis Treated? Treatment depends on: # How serious the disease is # The size of the psoriasis patches # The type of psoriasis # How the patient reacts to certain treatments. All treatments don't work the same for everyone. Doctors may switch treatments if one doesn't work, if there is a bad reaction, or if the treatment stops working. Topical Treatment: Treatments applied right on the skin (creams, ointments) may help. Treatments can: # Help reduce swelling and skin cell turnover # Suppress the immune system # Help the skin peel and unclog pores. Bath solutions and lotions may feel good, but they rarely make the skin better. They are often used along with stronger treatments. Light Therapy: Natural ultraviolet light from the sun and artificial ultraviolet light are used to treat psoriasis. One treatment, called PUVA, uses a combination of a drug that makes skin more sensitive to light and ultraviolet A light. Systemic Treatment: If the psoriasis is severe, doctors might prescribe drugs or give medicine through a shot. This is called systemic treatment. Antibiotics are not used to treat psoriasis unless bacteria make the psoriasis worse. Combination Therapy: When you combine topical (put on the skin), light, and systemic treatments, you can often use lower doses of each. Combination therapy can also lead to better results. What Are Some Promising Areas of Psoriasis Research? Doctors are learning more about psoriasis by studying: # Genes # New treatments that help skin not react to the immune system # Laser light treatment on thick patches. For More Information on Psoriasis and Other Related Conditions: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) National Institutes of Health, 1 AMS Circle, Bethesda, MD 208923675 Phone: 3014954484 or 87722NIAMS (2264267) (free of charge) TTY: 3015652966 Fax: 3017186366 E-mail: NIAMSInfo@mail.nih.gov www.niams.nih.gov The information in this publication was summarized in easy-to-read format from information in a more detailed NIAMS publication. To order the Psoriasis Q&A full-text version, please contact NIAMS using the contact information above. To view the complete text or to order online, visit http://www.niams.nih.gov. Alternative Treatments: #Folic Acid ).5mg a day #Vitamin A 50,000 IU daily #Vitamin E 400 IU daily #Selenium 200mcg daily #Zinc (picolinate) 25mg daily #Flaxseed Oil 1-2 tablespoons daily or 1-2 1000mg capsules #10-12 grams of EPA in Omega 3 fish oil supplement or 1 tablespoon cod liver oil (grandma's favorite) #Bitter Melon, balsam pear 2-4 oz fresh juice #Sarsaparilla 250-500mg daily #Silymarin (milk thistle) 70-210mg daily A topical ointment containing comfrey, glycyrrhetinic acid and camomile. A unique topical treatment containing Zinc pyrithione can be tried. It has proven successful in numerous documented cases. If you cannot find Zinc pyrithione as an ointment, you can try a dandruff shampoo (such as "Head & Shoulders" or a generic equivalent) and leave the lotion on the psoriasis patches for a few minutes and then wash it off. You can do this a few times a day and see how this treatment works. Be patient and give it a least a few weeks to see if there is any improvement.
|
