Psoriasis - Causes And Treatment

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What is Psoriasis ?

Psoriasis is a common and chronic skin disorder. Psoriasis appears as patches of skin on the legs, knees, arms, elbows, scalp, ears, and back that are red to brown in color and covered with silvery-white scales. Toes and fingernails can lose their luster and develop ridges and pits. Often hereditary, this condition is linked to a rapid growth of cells in the skin's outer layer.

These growths on the epidermis never mature. Whereas a normal skin cell matures and passes from the bottom layer of the skin to the epidermis in about twenty-eight days, psoriatic cells form in about eight days, causing scaly patches that spread to cover larger and larger areas. The result of this disorder is the production of excessive numbers of skin cells in a very short time. The condition is not contagious.

Psoriasis generally follows a pattern of periodic flareups alternating with periods of remission, most commonly beginning between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five. Among other things, attacks can be triggered by nervous tension, stress, illness, injury, surgery, cuts, poison ivy, viral or bacterial infection, sunburn, overuse of drugs or alcohol, or the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, lithium, chloroquine (Aralen), and beta-blockers, a type of medication frequently prescribed for heart disease and high blood pressure. Some people experience an associated arthritis (psoriatic arthritis) that is similar to rheumatoid arthritis and difficult to treat.

Causes of Psoriasis

The underlying cause of the condition is not known, but it may result from a faulty utilization of fat; psoriasis is rare in countries where the diet is low in fat. Current research points also to an immune system role in psoriasis. People with HIV or AIDS often have severe psoriasis. The buildup of toxins in an unhealthy colon also has been linked to the development of psoriasis

Is psoriasis contagious?

Psoriasis is not contagious but can be inherited. Research indicates that the disease may result from a disorder in the immune system.

Types of psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis.
Guttate psoriasis.
Pustular psoriasis.
Inverse psoriasis.
Erythrodermic psoriasis.

Natural home remedies for the treatment of psoriasis

Here are some natural herbal home remedies to cure psoriasis :-

To reduce redness and swelling, lightly brush off scales with a loofah and apply alcohol-free goldenseal extract.
Sarsaparilla, and yellow clock are good detoxifiers. o Silymarin (milk thistle extract) increases bile flow and protects the liver, which is important in keeping the blood clean. Take 300 milligrams three times daily. Helps to cure psoriasis.
Eat a diet that is composed of 50 percent raw foods and includes plenty of fruits, grains, and vegetables. Include fish in the diet as well. Benefits in the treatment of psoriasis.
Burdock root and red clover cleanse the blood.
Add 2 teaspoons of ginger to bath water. Helps to cure psoriasis.
Lavender is good to use in a sauna or steam bath. It fights inflammation and soothes and heals irritated skin. Note: If you are pregnant or have heart disease or high blood pressure, do not use heat treatments.

Prevention tips for psoriasis

Do not consume citrus fruits, fried foods, processed foods, saturated fats (found in meat and dairy products), sugar, or white flour.
Use cold-pressed flaxseed, sesame, or soybean oils.
Use fish oil, flaxseed oil, or primrose oil supplements. They contain ingredients that interfere with the production and storage of arachidonic acid (AA), a natural substance that promotes the inflanuriatory response and makes the lesions of psoriasis turn red and swell. Red meat and dairy products contain AA. Avoid these foods.
Cortisone creams, which discourage skin cells from multiplying, are often prescribed for psoriasis, but long term use makes the skin thin and delicate.

Will psoriasis go away with treatment?

The scales of psoriasis should improve almost immediately after you begin treatment. It may take 2 to 6 weeks for the affected areas of your skin to return to a more normal thickness, and the redness may last several months. While psoriasis will improve, it may not completely go away. Sometimes, certain scaly spots will get better at the same time that other spots get worse.