This article is written for those that suffer from an acute skin condition called Psoriasis. We will explain what it is, the different types, causes, and potential natural organic treatments for this difficult disease. We have one story in particular which gives one person’s account of how he mitigated the disease with a natural whole food alternative.
What Is Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin and happens when the immune system sends out defective signals that increase the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. There are as many as 7.5 million Americans that have this disease and can occur on any part of the body. Psoriasis can also be related to other serious health conditions, such as Diabetes, Heart Disease and Depression.
Psoriasis shows itself in a myriad of forms (5 in total). Usually, an individual has only one type of Psoriasis at a time. Unfortunately, once one type of Psoriasis clears up, another form of Psoriasis appears in response to a type of trigger that is discussed further in the article.
Plaque
Plaque Psoriasis is the most widespread form of the disease (80% of sufferers). It is characterized by raised, inflamed, red lesions covered by a silvery white scale and is typically found on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back.
Pustular
This form is mostly seen in adults. Pustular Psoriasis is characterized by white blisters of noninfectious pus surrounded by red skin and scaling. Pustular Psoriasis may only show up in certain areas of the body, such as the hands and feet. It can, on the other hand, cover most of the body.
“Triggers” for Pustular Psoriasis can be; internal medications, skin lotions, topical steroids, infections, stress, too much exposure to UV light, and pregnancy.
Inverse
Inverse Psoriasis is found in these annoying places; groin, armpits, under the breasts, and in other areas around the genitals and the buttocks. This type of Psoriasis comes as bright-red lesions that are smooth and shiny. This type is can be made worse from the irritation caused from rubbing and sweating. Being overweight can make this form even worse because of the location of this type of Psoriasis.
Guttate
Guttate Psoriasis is a form of Psoriasis that usually starts in childhood or young adulthood and can come on suddenly. This can present a separate set of ailments such as depression in youngsters that are fighting already for a healthy self esteem. This form of Psoriasis appears as small, red, individual spots on the skin. Guttate lesions usually appear on the legs and arms and the spots are not usually as large as plaque lesions.
Triggers include; upper respiratory infections, streptococcal throat infections, tonsillitis, stress, injury to the skin, and the use of certain drugs including anti-malarials and beta-blockers.
Erythrodermic
Erythrodermic Psoriasis is a form of Psoriasis that affects most of the body and can be extremely inflamed. It is characterized by sporadic, burning redness of the skin. The skin tends to shed in sheets, rather than the smaller flakes common with the other forms. The reddening and shedding of the skin are often accompanied by severe itching, pain, heart rate increase, and unstable body temperature.
Victims that have this type of Psoriasis flare should go see a doctor immediately because Erythrodermic Psoriasis causes a loss of fluid and protein which can lead to severe illness. It can also bring on infection, pneumonia and congestive heart failure, and often require hospitalization.
The triggers of this type of Psoriasis include; allergic reactions, horrible sunburns, tar products, infections, and medications such as Lithium.
What Causes Psoriasis
Science has not yet determined what causes Psoriasis entirely. However, it is understood that the immune system and a person’s genes play major roles in its growth. Medical research suggests that 10% or more of the population has one or more of the genes that create a liking to this disease.
Most researchers agree that the immune system is somehow erroneously triggered, which causes acceleration of skin cell growth. The normal skin cell cycle is up to 30 days versus 4 days on a Psoriasis patient. This small cell cycle makes the skin cells accumulate on the surface of the skin, forming Psoriasis lesions.
Therefore, the environment conducive to developing Psoriasis includes; the genes that cause Psoriasis and being exposed to precise external factors otherwise known as “triggers.” These triggers are not common across the board with all victims and what may cause one person’s Psoriasis to become active, may not in another.
Known Psoriasis triggers include:
Malnourishment
Unfortunately, due to our soil depletion and other food manufacturing processes, many of us do not have the appropriate nutrition running through our machines. This can hamper the immune system greatly which has been found to be one of the components in this disease equation. At the bottom of the article, please see the testimony of a man who suffered from Psoriasis and what he did about it.
Stress
Stress can cause Psoriasis to explode for the first occurrence or exacerbate existing Psoriasis.
Injuries
Psoriasis can show up in areas of the skin that have been injured. Vaccinations, sunburns, and scratches can all trigger this.
Medications
There are certain medications that are associated with triggering Psoriasis, including;
-Lithium: Used to treat manic depression and other psychiatric disorders. Lithium aggravates Psoriasis in about 50% of those with Psoriasis.
-Quinidine: Has been reported to aggravate some cases of Psoriasis for those that take this heart medication.
-Inderal: About 30 percent of patients, who take this for high blood pressure, can experience increased Psoriasis. It is not known if all high blood pressure (beta blocker) medications worsen Psoriasis.
-Antimalarials: Plaquenil, Quinacrine, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine may cause an increase of Psoriasis.
-Indomethacin: An anti-inflammatory drug has shown to worsen some cases also.
The following testimonial, submitted 9/08, explains the natural alternative remedy for Psoriasis that one person found by using an Aloe Vera and Ocean Botanical organic product. Although we cannot say for certain that this is a cure, this is what occurred for Mr. MacDonald;
“My father recommended Body Balance to one of his patient’s parent’s, Tim and Mary Ann MacDonald in Sep 2007 (my dad is a pediatrician in Connecticut). Tim has had Psoriasis for about 29 years. It covers 60-70% of his body. Tim took the top picture shown here after being on the product for about 5 weeks. You can see it is pretty inflamed. The bottom picture was taking 1 month later. Since then he is doing well. He is currently taking 4 oz. a day.”
If you would like to learn more about Body Balance and Life Force International’s other products, please visit The Balance You Need. Vitali-C Plus is another immune system enhancement product that may be beneficial to treating this disease.
Health Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The statements and products are not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any diseases.
