What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes an overproduction of skin cells, constructing new cells in a matter of days instead of weeks. As this excess skin builds up, it can cause thick, scaly skin patches to form on different parts of the body. This condition usually fluctuates in waves that can last for weeks to months at a time. Psoriasis is a chronic, long-term condition that has no cure. Research is still being done on the causes and treatment of psoriasis. One of the reasons there is little known about the condition is there are 7 different types of psoriasis: Plaque, Guttate, Inverse, Pustular, Erythrodermic, Nail, Psoriatic Arthritis Psoriasis and each type has different symptoms and treatments.
What Causes Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is still very much an unknown condition as scientists are still not positive what exactly causes it. However, they have learned that a person’s immune system and genes do impact who will develop psoriasis. Those who have psoriasis typically have a malfunctioning immune system, causing their white blood cells to start attacking healthy skin cells. This attack signals the body to increase the production of skin cells. Once these attacks start, they usually last the rest of a person’s life.
The latest psoriasis research has also discovered that the condition is possibly gene related and can run in families. Meaning if a close relative gets diagnosed then there is a higher chance other members of the family will develop it as well. However, scientists have learned that some people who do develop psoriasis don’t have predisposed genes while others who do have predisposed genes can never develop psoriasis. This irregularity led researchers to conclude that a person must be exposed to a psoriasis trigger before developing the condition. These triggers can look like skin injury, infection, tobacco use, heavy alcohol consumption, drastic weather changes, certain medications, and stress. These triggers can also cause severe psoriasis flare-ups for those already with the condition. The trigger is specific to each individual which is why it is crucial for those with psoriasis to know their triggers.
How to Treat Psoriasis
Each treatment plan for psoriasis is tailored to each individual and therefore treatment plans vary from person to person. There are several different types of psoriasis, so the first step is figuring out which type/types of psoriasis you have. From there, treatment is focused on making your life with psoriasis as easy as possible. Treatment commonly centers around reducing itching, improving your skin health, reducing skin build up, treating fingernail changes, and minimizing joint pain for those with psoriatic arthritis.
A common symptom of almost all types of psoriasis is itchy skin. There is a wide array of products to treat psoriasis-caused itchy skin that range from topical steroids to all natural, plant-based products. No two products are exactly the same so try a few and discover which will work best for you and your skin.
Topical Steroids
Topical Steroids are the most popular treatment for psoriasis as they are known to lessen inflammation, thin out overgrown skin patches, and prevent skin cells from overproducing. This treatment is prescribed by a dermatologist and can be tailored to fit someone’s strength and potency needs. There are a wide range of topical steroid products for psoriasis patients so be sure to communicate with your dermatologist to find one that suits your lifestyle.
That said, overuse and abuse of topical steroids can cause them to stop working and can produce side effects such as thin skin, skin discoloration, broken blood vessels, stretch marks, and bruising. One can also go through topical steroid withdrawal if someone stops using a moderate to high strength topical steroid after a prolonged period of time. Withdrawal can include red and burning skin, dry, itchy, and shedding skin, increased skin sensitivity, insomnia, and low mood. The recovery period of topical steroid withdrawal can take weeks to years. However, topical steroids remain the most successful psoriasis treatment thus far, and with the proper dosage and application topical steroids can drastically improve symptoms and life quality of those struggling with psoriasis.
Over-the-Counter Treatments
There are many over-the-counter creams and treatments for those with mild psoriasis. These products usually contain active ingredients such as coal tar, hydrocortisone cream, or salicylic acid. Coal tar has been used for many years to treat psoriasis as it can slow down skin cell growth, reduce redness, itchy skin, swelling, and scaly skin. Hydrocortisone cream or ointment is a mild corticosteroid that can being down itching and decrease skin inflammation. Finally, salicylic acid is the active ingredient found in most scale softeners. Scale softeners are just as described. They remove and soften hardened skin scales as well as reduce skin inflammation. These over-the-counter options are all convenient options for those with mild psoriasis, but they often don’t put too much of a dent in cases of more severe psoriasis.
Natural Psoriasis Treatments
Many have disregarded or forgone more synthetic treatments like topical steroids and instead opted for natural treatments for their psoriasis. This includes aloe vera creams and gels, oatmeal baths, Vitamin D supplements and much more. These treatments are centered around finding ways to soothe your skin from both the outside and the inside. The latest psoriasis research is focused on reducing internal inflammation as a way to stabilize your microbiome and natural ways to do this include eating inflammation-reducing spicy peppers, and loading your diet with curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. There are also countless psoriasis products available that only use plant-based ingredients and strive to give psoriasis patients relief while not overwhelming their skin with potentially harmful side effects. A great place to start natural product hunting is The National Psoriasis Foundation which provides extensive lists of their approved psoriasis products.
Treating Psoriasis Naturally
Besides topical products, there are other ways to manage your psoriasis flare-ups and triggers. Dr. Barbra Paldus, founder and CEO of Codex Labs, and Dr. Liia Ramachandra, PharmD, PhD, and founder of EpiLynx, share some of their lifestyle treatment recommendations for those living with psoriasis.
Dr. Ramachandra’s Advice on Living with Psoriasis
Dr. Ramachandra explains that what you are eating could be making your psoriasis worse. She explains that “Usually, it is best to avoid gluten, dairy and nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant and such). Red meat is also known to be anti-inflammatory and can trigger inflammation which can lead to psoriasis flare up. Foods that may prevent flare ups or at least not make it worse are green veggies and fruits, plant-based diet, anything non-processed.”
Dr. Ramachandra also advises that the “Best solution is finding a method to relax your mind and body so you will have less stress in your life and focus on love and happiness. What goes on inside your brain and body can be a very important trigger. Furthermore, taking good care of your body with healthy anti-inflammatory products and skincare is important. Lastly, loving yourself and being kind to yourself when there is a flare up or when you eat something you were ‘not supposed to’ is OK.”
Dr. Ramachandra has developed her own skincare company, EpiLynx, featuring psoriasis-based skin products. EpiLynx is dedicated to providing “medically-clean” products, made specifically for those with skin sensitive allergies such as gluten, shellfish, nuts, and soy. Learn more about EpiLynx at www.epilynx.com.
Dr. Paldus’ Psoriasis Lifestyle Advice
Dr. Paldus emphasizes that many types of psoriasis treatment can work together to help the body cope. She states, that eating “a Mediterranean diet, at least some fruits and vegetables” and not too much sugar or fat, can better manage the condition. If “they can do the basics for their diet, walk like half an hour a day, drink enough water, not over do it on the soft drinks” and the coffee, “they can manage their inflammation.”
It is “basic common sense things that a lot of people fail” at doing, Dr. Paldus states. She goes on to explain simple things like “not taking super-hot showers and making sure you keep your skin moisturized” with “a good emollient moisturizer to try to keep the hydration in” can make a large symptomatic difference.
Other lifestyle changes include “drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day” and getting a moderate amount of exercise. Exercise is important in any healthy lifestyle but especially for those with psoriasis. “You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete, but 30 min of walking, preferably … somewhere where there’s some greenery. That … really helps stabilize psychological stress.”
She also advises “learning just a few deep breathing techniques”. “Just sit with your feet grounded and do deep breathing.” It’s only takes “a few minutes, a couple times a day, and yet it can make such a cumulative, big difference for people.”
This lifestyle routine paired with a “soothing enough topical” means psoriasis patients “can sleep, which helps the body repair itself at night.” “These small changes can turn psoriasis into “a minor irritation as opposed to something that affects life and makes it unlivable” Dr. Paldus finishes.
Dr. Paldus is founder and CEO of Codex Labs, a plant-based, clinical research lab and skincare brand dedicated to “restoring the skin from the inside out.” Through their passion for authentic, completely natural ingredients and desire to have accessible products Codex Labs strives to treat both inside the body stressors as well as outside. Find their wide array of products at www.codexlabscorp.com.
Dr. Paldus and her research team at Codex Labs are beginning to conduct studies on the causation and symptoms of psoriasis to learn more about this mysterious disease. They have currently connected it to other skin diseases such as rosacea and eczema and are coming to the realization that these skin diseases are directly related to having a healthy and functioning gut microbiome. Read more about Dr. Paldus and Codex Labs’ latest microbiome-related psoriasis research here.
Living with Psoriasis
Psoriasis unfortunately isn’t yet a curable disease and is only treated through symptoms management. That said, there are many different routes and systems in place to help you treat your psoriasis in a way that improves your quality of life. Find products and habits that keep your symptoms manageable and from there focus on living a healthy, fulfilling life. There are always ups and downs with chronic pain and disease but focusing on the positives can always make a situation easier.
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