Psoriasis Treatment, Symptoms, Causes & Lifestyle

This fairly common skin disease consists of inflamed areas that are often covered by silvery scales. A chronic condition that flares up at intervals, psoriasis can cover a large area, including the face, and can be very disfiguring. It affects about two percent of the population in Europe and North America, but is less common in other regions.

Symptoms 
• Unsightly patches of flaky skin that can occur anywhere on the body, possibly with itching.
• Patches are slightly raised and deep pink, often overlain with silvery scales.
• Possible pitting of the nails.
• Possible inflammation of the joints.

Causes 
There may be a genetic tendency. The basic problem with psoriasis is that new skin cells form more quickly than usual, causing accumulations of living cells. These create thickened patches of skin covered with dead, flaking cells. The condition varies in severity, and may be triggered by infection, particularly that caused by the streptococcal bacteria, or by drugs such as chloroquine used in the treatment of rheumatic pain and malaria. Stress or injury may also trigger psoriasis.

Conventional care
In mild cases, light therapy can help up to 75 percent of those afflicted. It may be combined with a psoralen, a substance that makes skin more sensitive to light. Exposure times should be increased only gradually, and soothing, moisturizing ointments should be applied. Moderate cases of psoriasis are treated with dithranol or coal-tar ointments, corticosteroids, or vitamin D analogs. Severe cases may be treated with cytotoxic drugs such as methotrexate, which retards cell division. This may cause serious side-effects such as abnormal bleeding or a decreased resistance to infection. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs may be used to treat psoriasis, but they may cause digestive problems, even stomach ulcers.

Homeopathic medicine 
A full medical history is obtained and, if there is doubt about the diagnosis, skin scrapings are taken. In treating psoriasis, great emphasis is placed on an individual’s psychological makeup, particularly factors that might have triggered the condition, such as stress or emotional upset. Environmental factors and food preferences are also significant. The most important criteria in determining constitutional prescription are the person’s individual symptoms. Some remedies in particular are associated with the treatment of psoriasis, however. Arsen. alb. is indicated for dry, rough, and scaly skin; and Lycopodium is effective for dry skin and raw areas in the flexures. Sepia is prescribed for the thick crusts that form on the elbows; while Staphysagria is used to treat skin conditions that are affected by irritability of the nervous system. Specific remedies for local problems include Sulphur, for dry, red, scaly, itchy patches that are worse after a bath; Graphites, if the skin behind the ears is affected; Petroleum, when the skin is extremely dry, and psoriasis is worse in winter, with deep, bloody cracks, especially on the hands, fingertips, genitals, and elbows; and Phytolacca, when there are lesions with a purple coloration.

Lifestyle
Reducing stress by means of relaxation techniques, meditation, tai chi, or yoga, and nutritional therapies can help this condition enormously, as can a diet that includes plenty of fish and vegetarian sources of protein rather than meat and dairy products. Refined carbohydrates should be eliminated, along with caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. It is advisable to lose excess weight, and make sure that the bowel functions well, taking extra fiber if necessary, and plenty of water. It may be worth using marine oils, such as cod-liver oil, for cooking, and avoiding foods containing yeast.

C A U T I O N
• If symptoms show no improvement after two weeks of homeopathic remedies and lifestyle changes, see a doctor.