Psoriasis Treatment

The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with Psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a noncontagious, skin disease that has been diagnosed in 4.5 million adults in the United States. About 10 percent to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints.

No one knows exactly what causes psoriasis, but it is believed to be an auto immune disorder that also has a genetic component. The majority of researchers agree that the immune system is somehow triggered, which speeds up the growth and life cycle of skin cells. Normally, a skin cell matures and falls off the body's surface in 28 to 30 days. However, a psoriatic skin cell takes only three to four days to mature and move to the surface. Instead of falling off (shedding), the cells pile up and form the lesions.

Psoriasis occurs when faulty signals in the immune system cause skin cells to grow too quickly. Usually every three to four days instead of the usual 30-day cycle. Extra skin cells build up on the skin's surface. They then form "plaques," which are red, flaky and scaly patches that are often itchy and uncomfortable. Psoriasis generally appears on the joints, limbs and scalp, but it can appear anywhere on the body.

Recently, a team from the University of Michigan looked for the gene -- called PSORS1 -- in more than 2,700 people from 678 families in which at least one family member had psoriasis. According to the researchers, PSORS1 is the first genetic determinant of psoriasis to be definitively identified in a large clinical trial. The finding may help in the development of new, more effective treatments for the disfiguring inflammatory skin disease.

For those people who have a suppressed immune system, the symptoms of psoriasis can be extremely severe.

Dietary change can help with psoriasis, avoid alcohol, gluten which is found in wheat, barley and rye, avoid foods that are high in saturated fats, avoid red meats, dairy products, eggs, cheese and sugar and if you are a smoker, then it is best to quit.

Topical applications to the affected areas with aloe vera gel, Dead Sea mineral salts or mud, Zambesia Botanica, mahonia ointment and gotu kola can all improve psoriasis. Good supplements to take are fish oil, flax seed oil and borage oil. These oils are very good in hydrating the skin cells.

This is a topical cream combining natural moisturizers, coal tar, aloe Vera, blended in a unique formula to make this product extremely effective. It has been tested in the medical field, nursing homes and in the retail market with exciting and immediate results.

One important bit of knowledge is to stay away from alcohol and products that contain alcohol as it will dry the skin out even more.

At this time there is no cure for psoriasis but many effective treatments do exist. 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.

People often need to try out different treatments before they find one that works for them.

The unpredictable nature of psoriasis makes treatment challenging for many people. A wide range of treatments are available. No single psoriasis treatment works for everyone, but something will work for most people. It is hard to predict what will work for a particular individual; however, it is important to be open-minded and willing to work with your doctor to find a treatment that will work for you.

Researchers are studying psoriasis more than ever before. They understand much more about its genetic causes and how it involves the immune system. The National Psoriasis Foundation and the federal government are promoting and funding research to find the cause and cure for psoriasis.

By Fred Duckworth

Labels: arthritis psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, psoriasis, psoriasis arthritis, psoriasis cure, psoriasis guttate, psoriasis natural, psoriasis treatment, psoriatic, scalp psoriasis, skin psoriasis

Any damage to the skin is good enough a reason for a person’s self-esteem to take a nosedive. This happens most especially when the lesions have spread all over the body which no amount of clothing can conceal. The way the affected person looks at himself may not differ much from how the world sees him. This first, and probably the most important, step is to choose a doctor that is not only intellectually fully-equipped but can provide psychological guidance as well.

The patient must learn how to communicate with his doctor in order to be able to make educated treatment decisions. This will help a great deal in controlling one’s psoriasis. Another step is to accept the situation at hand. While it could prove to be really difficult to accept the fact that ones physical makeup will not be that of the norm anymore due to the lesions in his body, it is very crucial to embrace the situation. When he starts to recognize what is and what is not, that is when he will be able to assess the situation at hand and start figuring solutions out.

Aside from communication with the doctor, the patient should also communicate well with family and friends. It is important for one to feel that he is not isolated from the rest of the world just because of the difference his lesions have created in his look. Also, loved ones are the best people to provide a support system for the patient. Family members and friends, on the other hand, should learn to act towards the patient and make sure that he does not lose his sense of self-worth.

Finally, the patient should learn how to ignore reactions from the less discreet people who might react to the lesions appearing on his skin.

By Jason Herbert

Labels: arthritis psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, psoriasis cure, psoriasis guttate, psoriasis natural, skin psoriasis