What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated chronic skin disease that presents in different forms and varying levels of severity. It usually occurs at the knees, elbows, face, scalp, wrists, feet or lower back as raised red skin covered by a flaky, silvery or shiny white buildup, with intense itching and burning. There are five different types of psoriasis:

1. Plaque psoriasis: The most common form is characterized by well-defined patches.
2. Guttate: Looks like small, red, individual drops on the skin.
   Inverse: Smooth, dry areas of skin, often in folds or creases, that are red and inflamed without the flaky buildup.
3. Erythrodermic: Occurs as widespread (may cover entire body), intense redness and flaking of the skin, appearing like a burn.
4. Pustular: Involves areas of reddened and weeping skin with pimple-like appearance

Each type may require different types of treatment. Additional changes: fingernails may develop pits and ridges, between 10 - 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis is caused by a dysfunctional skin cell growth cycle: In normal skin, the skin cells grow, move to the surface and are sloughed off in one month cycles. In psoriasis, this cycle is accelerated to three to four days with the skin cells not fully mature. The top layer, epidermis, thickens with piled up skin cells, creating a flaky layer. Underneath blood vessels dilate causing inflamed skin. Up to 50% of cases are genetic, otherwise, the cause is unknown. It can be triggered by emotional stress, physical injury, infections and certain drugs.

What can I do about my Psoriasis?

Conventional medicine treats psoriasis with anti-inflammatory drugs; immune suppressing drugs and creams that contain cortisone; UV therapy or synthetic Vitamin A derived drugs, all with varying degrees of effectiveness and side effects. Synthetic Vitamin A derived drugs must be used with caution as they can cause liver damage.

The Naturopathic Approach:

Naturopathic medicine aims to treat the underlying causes of your psoriasis. Assessment of current and past health history and lifestyle will uncover the initial triggers and contributing factors of your condition. Treatment plan will consider the following as part of treating your psoriasis:

• Reduce inflammatory tendency of body: Through diet, supplementation, herbs; detoxing and supporting organs to get rid of toxin and allergen build up; improving digestion and GI function, supporting liver function
• Address physiological skin function: Correct your skin growth cycle, provide proper nutrients to support healthy skin
• Stress management: Controlling stress will reduce future flare-ups and reduce cellular damage.
• Topical relief: To control acute flare-ups, reduce discomfort and speed skin healing
• Prevention: To prevent future flare-ups and onset of psoriatic arthritis