Psoriasis is a dermatology inflammation (inherited) that causes cells to grow too quickly. Dermatology textbooks describe psoriasis as skin producing thick red patches often covered with silvery scales. These can occur on most parts of the body but are commonest on knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, or lower back (dermatology hotspots). Affected fingernails become thickened and pitted.

Dermatology data shows Psoriasis afflicts between 5 and 7 million people in the U.S. Psoriasis can’t be cured but episodes can be controlled. Here are some options dermatology experts cite:

•Corticosteroids or Calcipotriene (a vitamin-D derivative) Creams and Ointments can reduce inflammation.

•Ultraviolet Light Treatments applied three times a week for 3 months, they can temporarily clear-up psoriasis by slowing down the cell turnover process, hence, normalizing the skin’s appearance.

•Methotrexate (developed to fight cancer), Cyclosporine (an immune-suppressing drug), or Acitretin (a retinoid similar to isotretinoin, a powerful acne medication) – These are reserved for severe cases. All can heal psoriasis outbreaks in days to weeks but carry potentially serious side effects.

•Biologics – This new approach, in which patients inject themselves with drugs, targets the immune system and blocks inflammation. Biologics carry fewer side effects than traditional dermatology psoriasis treatments and can be used for longer periods of time.

Over-the-counter products aren’t as effective on thick, red psoriatic patches as dermatology treatments but they still offer relief. Start with a 15-minute soak with mineral-rich bath salts, which are soothing, and cover with rich creams and ointments that help seal moisture to the skin.

Please share the content of these articles with your friends, family and colleagues. Reprint rights granted. All reprints must include a link to www.ihdistribution.com. Content may not be altered and articles must be used as distributed by IH Distribution, LLC

Copyright © IH Distribution LLC 2004

I hope this psoriasis article helps

In a healthy human, the skin is created from the inside out. This entire process, which takes the new skin cells and moves them through to the outer layers where they eventually flake off typically, takes several months to accomplish. There are times; however, what a person has a problem such as psoriasis, and this entire process is sped up to where it occurs in just a few days. When this is the case, it causes an inflammatory condition in which the skin comes to the surface quickly and causes red, scaly patches to occur. According to medical science, there is no cure for psoriasis.

Fortunately, many people do not take this particular disease lying down. Even though medicine may not be able to offer you anything more than anti-inflammatory drugs, such as cortisone or prednisone, natural medicine offers you solutions that may help to treat the disease at its very root. If you are able to successfully treat the cause of the psoriasis and not simply attempt to remove the outward symptoms, you may just be successful at removing the disease from your body for good. Here are some things that have helped others in the past.

One of the most common things that you will read about psoriasis is that it is directly related to toxicity in the blood. This can be caused by such things as leaky gut syndrome. It may also be the result of deficiencies in the body, such as with certain vitamins or the lack of omega-3 fatty acids in your system. In order to begin the healing, you’re going to have to supply your body with the nutrients that it has been missing all of these years. In doing so, you will be able to help your body to combat this problem from the inside where it is actually occurring.

Although there are many different things that you can take in order to help you along with this disease, some of the most important include strong antioxidants, such as certain teas and flax seed oil. There are also many different types of herbal supplements that you could be taking which could aid in your recovery from psoriasis. Even though all of this seems overwhelming, persistence is really necessary if you are ever going to see any long-term results.

Another way that you can combat psoriasis naturally is through the use of an all-in-one herbal supplement. There are several benefits to taking one of the supplements over taking all of the herbs and vitamins individually. The first benefit is that they are measured out proportionate to each other. What this does is it gives you the amount that you need of each of these herbs in a single dose. The most notable benefit, however, comes as a form of convenience. It is much easier to take one dosage of a single supplement that to take several different herbs and oils throughout the day.

Even though it may take some time, many people have reported that they were able to completely cure their psoriasis by being persistent with these natural remedies. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to try these remedies and to stick with them long enough to allow them to do their work. Just remember, your body did not become toxic overnight so you can’t expect it to be cleaned overnight either. Even though it may take some time to completely clean your body for toxins, you should begin to see some results before too much time passes.

I hope this psoriasis article helps

When everything else fails, the person plagued with psoria­sis can turn to methotrexate. This drug, which can be taken either by mouth or by intramuscular injection, was initially used to treat certain cancers in the late 1940s.

Low doses of methotrexate were later found to be effective for other diseases as well. Since the early 1960s, it has been prescribed for severe and/or disabling psoriasis.

“Methotrexate is a drug that is used in low doses to treat the lesions of severe psoriasis that have not been responsive to conventional therapy. It is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis. It can restore function to those emotionally or physically disabled by psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis,” according to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) in Portland, Oregon.

The people who respond well to methotrexate are those suffering from extensive psoriasis involving at least 30 percent of their skin or those with acute pustular psoriasis which is characterized by deep seated lesions on the palms and soles surrounded by red patches.

Severe psoriatic arthritis, a crippling form of the disease marked by inflammation and stiffness in the joints, is another indication for methotrexate therapy.

This drug can be taken in three ways: as a single, weekly oral dose of three to 10 tablets ranging from seven to 20 milligrams; a weekly divided oral dose of three 2.5 to five milligram tablets over a 36-hour period; or a weekly intramuscular dose.

Improvement of symptoms can be seen in four to six weeks but may take as long as two to three months of starting methotrexate therapy. Once the lesions have cleared, the patient remains free of symptoms for a few weeks to a year after stopping therapy.

However, methotrexate is an extremely toxic drug even in small doses – the reason the patient should be closely monitored by a physician. Short-term side effects include nausea, insomnia, loss of appetite, fatigue, hair loss, and a reduction in white blood cell count which can make one susceptible to infection.

Other less common side effects which should be reported to a doctor are unusual sensitivity to the sun, acne, headache, drowsiness, fever, blurred vision, painful urination, reduced sperm count, convulsions, ringing in the ears, bloody urine, and breathing problems.

“Methotrexate can trigger a unique and dangerous form of lung disease anytime during your course of therapy. This reaction can occur at doses as low as 7.5 milligrams a week. Symptoms of this condition are cough, respiratory infection, difficulty breathing, abnormal chest X-ray, and low blood concentration oxygen. Any change in your breathing or lung states while taking methotrexate should be reported to your doctor,” warned Drs. Gilbert I. Simon and Harold M. Silverman in “The Pill Book.” (Next: Other side effects of methorexate for psoriasis.)

To strengthen your body, take Immunitril – your first line of defense in maintaining a healthy immune system. For details, visit http://www.bodestore.com/immunitril.html.

I hope this psoriasis article helps

Is psoriasis inherited? Can this disfiguring skin disease be helped by acupuncture?

While the exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, most patients appear to have a genetic predisposition to the disease even if this is not easily noticeable in relatives.

“Psoriasis seems to involve a strong hereditary factor although only one third of its victims can recall having a relative with the disease,” said the editors of Consumer Guide’s “Family Health & Medical Guide.”

Not all people, however, develop the silvery scales of psoriasis immediately. In some, the disease may start as a few small pimples or it may follow injury to the skin such as a cut or burn.

“Occasionally, psoriasis will begin as a group of little pimples instead of scaly patches. This is especially common when the onset is triggered by a sore throat or a similar streptococcal infection,” according to Dr. Robert Walther, associate clinical professor of dermatology, in “The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Complete Home Medical Guide.”

“In severe cases, the patches may spread and run together or the body may be vertically covered with a red bumpy rash,” he added.

Acupuncture won’t solve your problem since the disease has nothing to do with nerves but in the abnormal prolifera­tion of the top layer of the skin. Moreover, there is a danger of contracting hepatitis, AIDS and other infections from improperly sterilized needles – doing more harm than good to the patient.

While there is no cure for psoriasis, many modern therapies can make the disease less annoying and embarrassing. Consult a dermatologist for the right treatment.

More information is available from the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) located at 6443 S.W. Beaverton Highway, Suite 210 in Portland, Oregon.

To strengthen your body, take Immunitril – your first line of defense in maintaining a healthy immune system. For details, visit http://www.bodestore.com/immunitril.html.

I hope this psoriasis article helps

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that is characterised by scaling and inflammation of the skin. It most often occurs on the elbows, knees, other parts of the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet, but they can occur on skin anywhere on the body. The disease may also affect the fingernails, the toenails, and the soft tissues of the genitals and inside the mouth.

Psoriasis occurs when skin cells quickly rise from their origin below the surface of the skin and pile up on the surface before they have a chance to mature. In about one-third of the cases, there is a family history of psoriasis.

Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis experience joint inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.

My own battle with this condtion began when I was in my early twenties. The first signs were simply a reddening of the elbows and knees. Of course, I took little notice of this. However, it didn’t take long before the scaly patches appeared and began to spread to my knuckles, ankles and some small areas on my lower legs. I tried several moisturising lotions but nothing seemed to work. I then sought the advice of my physician who diagnosed my condition as Psoriasis.

So began a lifetime of applying corticosteroid creams and coaltar lotions to the affected areas of my body. This is usually the first type of treatment prescribed for the condition.

At times, I experienced significant physical discomfort. Itching and pain interfered with basic functions, such as sleep. This in turn left me feeling constantly tired and unable to cope with day-to-day chores, thus putting a strain on my family relationships. I began to feel self-conscious about my appearance and had a poor self-image that stemmed from fear of public rejection. Psychological distresses in turn lead to significant depression and social isolation.

I noticed that there were times when my skin worsened, then improveed. I found that several things caused flareups including infections, stress, and changes in climate that dry the skin. Also, certain medicines seemed to trigger an outbreak or worsen the disease.

As the years progressed, so too did the disease. I eventually had psoriasis on my knuckles, elbows, finger joints, knees, lower legs, feet, and even the webbing of my toes. I also had it in my scalp and a large area of my lower back. I was miserable most of the time because of the constant itching and discomfort.

I had tried every treatment that I heard of and had found only minimal relief. By this time, I had virtually given up hope that I would ever lead a normal life without this affliction.

However, a few years ago, a friend convinced me to see a naturopath. I didn’t expect much from him but he surprised me. He advised me to try emu oil, something I hadn’t yet tried. I took his advice and bought a bottle of emu oil capsules which I took religiously. Within weeks, the scaly patches had all but disappeared from my knuckles and lower legs. By a couple of months, I had no outward signs of the disease and, for the first time in many years, I felt comfortable with my appearance. Because I was no longer itching all of the time, my sleep patterns improved and so did my ability to cope with life in general.

I took the full dose for about six months and then started taking just one capsule per day as a maintenance dose. I still take that every day and will do so for the rest of my life.

So, for all of those who suffer from psoriasis or eczema, take my advice. Give the emu oil a try. It certainly improved my quality of life and I believe that the advice given to me by that naturopath is the best advice I was ever given.

Psoriasis is an incurable disease and, once you have it, you will always have it. The point is that you don’t have to let it rule your life. You can live relatively free of this condition just by taking that one step.

I hope this psoriasis article helps

Systemic treatments are applied severe psoriasis cases. When topical treatments can no longer treat the affected areas, medical attention has to go beyond skin-deep. These medications affect the whole body and are often taken by mouth or by injection. These treatments are more complicated and more expensive as well.

The term biologics was coined from the word “bio” which pertains to living sources such as cells. These types of medicines are unlike traditional drugs which are derived from chemical. Their function is to block or eliminate several immune system cells which contribute to the worsening of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Another systemic treatment is cyclosporine. Originally, it was used on transplant patients in order to avoid organ rejection.

Methotrexate was initially used to treat cancer. During the 1950’s, though, it was discovered to be effective when it comes to treating psoriasis as well. Soriatane, meanwhile, is an oral retinoid which is currently the only one approved in its league. It is a synthetic form of vitamin A.

While treatments like these have already been discovered and developed, it is also crucial to know what triggers psoriasis. After all, prevention is indeed better than cure. One common and usually ignored trigger is stress. It can either cause psoriasis to appear or to aggravate an existing one.

While relaxation and stress prevention may not be the be-all and end-all cure for psoriasis, it is a great help for affected people both physically and emotionally. Keeping a relaxed disposition can prevent the further worsening of the disease. Also, it can make the affected person remain in control of the situation. One of the best and advanced relaxation methods is hypnosis. While this discipline requires patience, it will help a great deal in improving the disposition of the psoriasis patient.

These are the most recognized systemic psoriasis treatments available.

I hope this psoriasis article helps

Psoriasis treatment comes in all forms of pills and potions. Just take a look on the Internet and you will find thousands. The Doctors will prescribe all manner of things of things to stop the itching and the aches and pains, and for the skin that feels like sand paper.

On reading different articles about people who suffer with Psoriasis it seems as thou the picture from the Doctors is very non committal, and it is almost like they are saying that psoriasis is one of those things you will have to put up with for the rest of your life. For the patient this must make them want to pull their hair out with frustration.

The idea behind this article is to tell you about a different approach to curing Psoriasis so that the patient can have psoriasis free life.

This natural psoriasis treatment all started with medical research over a decade ago who decided that they were missing something with regard to all the diseases that were not being cured by traditional medicine.

With the influx of more and more people becoming obese and then in turn more and more people were becoming ill it was a natural thing to think that it was the actual diets of people that were causing the problems in the first place.

Then it was a simple process of breaking down just what people had been eating and to find what and why things were going wrong. The first thing they noticed was then fact that the acidic content of the food was stopping the normal healing process that the body has. They new that the human body was a remarkable machine, and in most cases it could heal itself and if the patient was to turn their acidic food into an alkaline one then perhaps they had the answer.

In a natural progression the body would have to under go a complete change and with a simple detox so that treatment could begin. From there the patient would be subjected to a diet of alkaline foods which would allow the body then to start healing itself.

Over the next few years they began to amazing results and people were getting over illnesses which meant the patients could start living a normal life again.

I hope this psoriasis article helps

Eczema is an itchy inflammation of the skin most common in children although it can affect adults as well. It affects any part of the body and is also known as Atopic Dermatitis. It is caused by a hypersensitivity of the skin, which is made worse by various factors including dry skin, stress, and temperature changes. These irritants can cause inflammation over long periods of time. This inflammation can in turn cause itchiness and the skin becomes dry, scaly and damaged. In some cases where the sufferer has scratched consistently, the skin can become thicker and appear leathery in order to cope with the damage from scratching. If the Eczema sufferer is an adult, it is generally due to a long-term condition or recurring bouts of the condition. Psoriasis is caused when the skin cells of the epidermis multiply at an abnormally high rate. This causes the skin to thicken and become scaly. The skin then becomes inflamed and red as white blood cells enter the skin. Psoriasis occurs at any age and generally appears from the age of 15 to 25. Although Psoriasis is caused by an unusual growth of skin cells it is not a related condition to cancer and the condition itself is harmless although distressing for sufferers. In comparison with Eczema, Psoriasis symptoms include red scaly skin that is quite thick whereas Eczema is typically red, scaly skin that can appear moist in some areas. Eczema may not always appear moist however and in some cases the skin can also become thick which makes diagnosis difficult. Both conditions can appear on the hands, feet or neck, however Psoriasis will typically appear on the back of the elbows and the front of the knees, whereas Eczema will be on the reverse of these sides. It is often a common belief the Psoriasis is found on the scalp primarily but it can be found anywhere and Eczema can also be found on the scalp. You may not always be able to tell these two conditions apart if the skin condition is on an area that is typically shared by both and the symptoms are typical of both conditions. Hands and feet are the most difficult areas to determine but topical creams can be very effective for both of these conditions so it should not interfere with treatment. If you are suffering from either Eczema or Psoriasis, a topical cream can help to soothe and alleviate the symptoms of these conditions without the need of determining which ones you have. If you are suffering from a skin condition and your doctor has been unable to determine which condition it is there are treatments available that can help regardless of the skin condition you suffer from. Even though both these skin conditions are caused by different means the treatment of them is primarily the same. A soothing natural cream that contains vital natural ingredients such as Aloe Vera a well-known skin-enhancing ingredient that has been noted as having various health benefits will provide you with natural and effective Eczema or Psoriasis relief whatever your skin condition is within a time period of about 4 to 12 months of regular use.

I hope this psoriasis article helps

Probably almost every human being has at least once in their life experienced a sun burn.

What starts as a pleasant lying on the beach, working in the garden or staying out in the soothing warm rays of the sun can in a few hours turn into an unpleasant and painful burn of the skin.

The first sensation of sunburn can start anywhere from 30 minutes after the exposure to the UVA and/or UVB rays and up to 6 hours after. The most unpleasant sensations are usually noted in 12 to 24 hours after the exposure.

So what is sunburn? Sunburn is a skin damage that happens due to that at some point our skin cells – melanocytes – ceased to produce enough of the melanin pigment needed to protect the skin from the UVA and/or UVB rays. Just like any skin burn, sunburn manifests as an irritation of the skin and a skin damage of various degrees. It may be a slightly painful reddening of the skin or extremely painful water blisters on the skin.

Other common symptoms of severe sunburn may include dehydration, chills, fever, and nausea.

Sun in moderation is very beneficial for the skin of a human. Sun helps to form Vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D participates in the growth and the regeneration of the cells. Scientists have proven that prolonged deficiency of the Vitamin D can actually cause the development of a skin cancer.

Sun in moderation is a great way for people with psoriasis to temporarily get rid of their psoriatic lesions, due to that the sun rays suppresses the inflammatory activity of the T-cells in people with psoriasis.

We know that prolonged deficiency of the sun can cause skin cancer, but what about an excessive exposure to the sun resulting in sunburn? The thing is that excessive sun causes negative changes to the DNA (carrier of the molecular information), and these changes can also cause a skin cancer.

There are 3 types of the ultraviolet radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC. The UVC radiation of the sun is mostly stopped by the ozone layer of the atmosphere and therefore does not reach us. UVC radiation is also practically not used in the tanning beds, neither regular nor special tanning beds for psoriasis.

UVB rays, similar to the UVB rays of the sun are often used in a special tanning unit for treating psoriasis. With the lack of a natural sun people with psoriasis often use such UVB units.

UVA rays, similar to those in the sun are often used in the regular tanning units. People without psoriasis in the winter months may indulge in visiting such solarium.

In each of these cases – tanning in the sun, tanning on a regular tanning bed or tanning on a special tanning bed for psoriasis – there is a risk of developing sunburn.

Sunburn is even more negative for people with psoriasis due to the so-called Koebner effect – the appearance of the new psoriatic lesions on the spots of the skin trauma.

What to do? Just like with anything, sun tanning has to be done in moderation. Moderate beneficial UV exposure should not turn into a negative excessive exposure.

Wise thing to do is to suntan carefully and for a short period of time, especially in the beginning. Depending on your skin type and color you may be able to suntan for longer or shorter amounts of time.

I hope this psoriasis article helps

Briefly, psoriasis is a chronic, but non-contagious disease which affects the skin in joints.  Typically it causes red patches on the affected area.  These patches or areas of inflammation are called psoriatic plaques.  What happens is that the skin just rapidly accumulates at these sites and turns silvery/white.  These spots could happen anywhere, but they are most common around the elbows and knees.  The cause is unknown, but there may be links to a genetic passing of the trait. So, now that we have had a refresher as to what psoriasis is we can dig into the treatment ladder.  Unfortunately due to our own biochemical differences, the treatment in essence is a trial and error.

Basically, there is a progressive discipline to the treatment of psoriasis including topical, photo, and systemic treatments.  The treatments will start at the lowest form and work towards the most severe treatments.  Particular treatments are based majorly on the location, type of psoriasis, and severity.  It is notable that over time psoriasis can become resistant to a treatment, this can cause a change as well. The first level of treatment available is topical.  These treatments include the topical creams, ointments, and steroid creams.  Unless your case is severe enough to skip this stage, you will start here.  There are both over the counter and prescription medicines that fall into this category.  On top of the ointments and medicated creams, you should be able to locate some decent bath or soak treatments.

The next level of treatment is phototherapy.  The cheapest version of this is exposure to the sun.  The exposure has to be in short durations and you have to avoid burns though.  The UV rays in sunlight were identified as beneficial to the treatment of psoriasis.  This is what lead to many hospitals adopting the UV treatments they use today.  Phototherapy can be used as a stand alone treatment, but is normally combined with the other forms of treatment.

The last level of treatment is systemic treatment.  The name is derived from the fact that these treatments are usually in pill or injection form.  The medicines are geared towards healing from the inside out.  Systemic treatment tends to have a high level of toxicity and requires the patient to be observed closer than the other two forms of treatment.  The patient undergoes frequent blood and liver testing to ensure the medicine is not doing more harm than good.  Pregnant females are not able to undergo the systemic treatments, again due to toxicity.

These are the three major treatments that are used in most clinics/hospitals.  There are also alternative methods of treatment available including climate therapy, doctor fish, and sulphur.  With the constant changes in medicine, there is always a new treatment on the horizon.

I hope this psoriasis article helps