Psoriasis Treatment has to be done by addressing the immune system. Homeopathy has worked for my 2000+ patients of Psoriasis from over 170 countries.

Introduction to Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an obstinate skin condition in which red patches of various sizes develop on the skin that are covered with dry, silvery scales. Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that got its name from the Greek word meaning, "itch."

In psoriasis the skin becomes inflamed and red eruptions appear on the surface of the skin that begin to itch excessively. These areas form thickened areas (plaques) that are covered with silvery scales over the reddened lesions. The skin at the joints may crack.

Location:

Psoriasis most often occurs on the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, palms, and soles of the feet. However, no area of the skin is exempt, including the genital area. The disease may also affect the fingernails and toenails, and the soft tissues inside the mouth. About 15 percent of people with psoriasis have joint inflammation that produces arthritis symptoms. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the percentage of body surface involved and the impact on the patient's quality of life.

Course of diseases:

The course of psoriasis is characterized by remissions and relapse. At some instances the patches disappear, just to appear after some period of time.
There are various factors ranging from climate, stress, infections and injuries that can trigger flare up of disease within short span of time even within few days. On the other hand there are certain other factors such as sunlight that significantly reduces the intensity of problem.

Impact on health:

In some cases, psoriasis is so mild that it may go unnoticed. At the opposite extreme, there are victims having psoriatic patches almost everywhere on the body. People with psoriasis may suffer discomfort, including pain and itching, restricted motion in their joints, and emotional distress.
The unpleasant appearance of the patches, the chronic itching and flaking of psoriasis although is not life threatening, has definite impact on the self-esteem and life style of the psoriasis victim. Substantial time and money are spent trying to keep it under control.

Incidence:

http://www.e-psoriasis.com/app/images/ Psoriasis affects between 1-2 percent of general population. In US alone there are about 5.5 to 6 million people suffering from psoriasis.
Both males and females get psoriasis in equal numbers. It can strike at any age, but most often in adults between 15 and 35 years. However, a first-time diagnosis of psoriasis has been seen in very old people, and in newborn babies and small children.

Pathology:

Psoriasis is a chronic (long-lasting) skin disease characterized by scaling and inflammation.

Our skin is mainly made up of two layers: epidermis (outer layer) and dermis (inner layer). The cells of epidermis are borne in dermis and then they move up. At a regular interval of 28-30 days, the cells of epidermis are replaced by new cells formed in dermis.

In psoriasis, this process of cell production in dermis is sped up. New cells are formed and moved upward to the skin surface faster than they can be incorporated into skin. The excess cells accumulate and are scaled off in the form of flakes.

Psoriatic plaque has other features also, including inflammatory cells and dilated small blood vessels that contribute to both the appearance and the symptoms of a psoriatic lesion.

At Life Force center in Mumbai, we have been researching on Psoriasis for over two decades. Patients not only from Mumbai but from all over the country and from over 170 countries, visit our psoriasis clinic. All varieties of cases are systematically studied and treatment prescribed. Many dermatologist doctors from Mumbai and outside refer us cases for treatment.

Symptoms and Types of psoriasis

Although psoriasis may be almost unnoticeable in its early stages, patients often report an itching and/or burning sensation as the disease progresses.

There are many variants and types of psoriasis. It starts with red small bumps on the skin that progress to bigger scaly patches. The condition is associated with lot of itching. As the scales accumulate, pink to deep red plaques with a white crust of silvery scales appear on the skin surface.

Although psoriasis may affect any area of the body, it is most commonly found on the scalp, elbows, knees, hands, feet, and genitals.

Types of psoriasis :

Psoriasis has many variants. The common ones are as follows :

•  Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of the disease and is characterized by raised, thickened patches of red skin covered with silvery-white scales. Its scientific name is psoriasis vulgaris.

•  Scalp psoriasis is a common variant of Psoriasis, which is relatively more difficult to treat. Please click here to read an elaborate write up on scalp psoriasis.

•  Pustular psoriasis is characterized by pus-like blisters. Attacks of pustular psoriasis may be triggered by medications, infections, emotional stress, or exposure to certain chemicals. Pustular psoriasis may affect either small or large areas of the body. Psoriasis video shows this variety

•  Erythrodermic psoriasis characterized by intense redness and swelling of a large part of the skin surface, is often accompanied by itching or pain. Erythrodermic psoriasis may be precipitated by severe sunburn, use of oral steroids (such as cortisone), or a drug-related rash.

•  Guttate psoriasis is characterized by small, drop-like lesions on the trunk, limbs, and scalp. Guttate psoriasis is most often triggered by bacterial infections (for example, Streptococcus).

•  Palmo-planter psoriasis is a common variant of Psoriasis affecting either the palms or soles or palms as well as soles. Palmo-plantar psoriasis is a chronic, recurring condition that affects the palms of hands and soles of feet. Palmo-plantar psoriasis is characterized by appearance of red patches of skin topped with scales typical of psoriasis on the palms and elsewhere on the body. There is thickening and scaling of the skin accompanied with the formation of deep, painful fissures on the palms and soles. It is commonly seen that some substances, such as detergents, washing up liquid and cleaning products, irritate lesions and prevent them from healing. One should be careful not to wash hands too often, and not to use water which is too hot, as this dries the skin. Psoriasis video shows this variety.

•  Inverse psoriasis is characterized by smooth red lesions in the folds of the skin like in the folds of the skin near the genitals, under the breasts, or in the armpits. Inverse psoriasis is related to increased sensitivity to friction and sweating and may be painful or itchy.

For the most part people with psoriasis can function normally. Sometimes people experience low self-esteem because psoriasis appears unsightly. Psoriasis is often misunderstood by the public, and this can make social interactions awkward. This may lead to emotional problems such as anxiety, anger, embarrassment, and depression.

The Psoriatic Nail

About 50 percent of persons with active psoriasis have psoriatic changes in fingernails and/or toenails. In some instances psoriasis may occur only in the nails and nowhere else on the body. Nail changes in psoriasis fall into general categories that may occur singly or all together:

•  The nail plate is deeply pitted or depressed
•  The nail has a yellow to yellow-pink discoloration
•  White areas appear under the nail plate. There may be reddened skin around the nail.
•  The nail plate crumbles in yellowish patches (onychodystrophy)
•  The nail may be entirely lost

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is all the more difficult situation where you find psoriasis associated with joint pain (arthritis). This shows deeper affection of the underlying problems. The changes in the blood which lead to psoriasis are now also bringing changes in the joints, which could even be irreversible. Any joint could be affected in this process. The joint affection relatively becomes more difficult to treat. Interestingly, there is good treatment for psoriatic arthritis in homeopathy, especially if treated in the early stages.

Causes of Psoriasis

The exact cause of psoriasis is not fully understood. The processes involved in the development of psoriasis as largely understood. Although cold climate and some form of injury can aggravate the problem they cannot be labeled as the cause of disease. The precise cause of psoriasis continues to elude the medical fraternity. However, ongoing research in this field has improved our understanding of this disease to some extent. The recent discoveries point to an abnormality in the functioning of key white cells in the blood stream triggering inflammation in the skin. Because of the inflammation, the skin sheds too rapidly, every three to four days.

Actually, psoriasis stems from internal disharmony of the body (in terms of disturbed immunity and genetic predisposition) topped with some environmental triggers.

Internal factors :

1.  Defective immune system: Recent research indicates that psoriasis is likely to be a disorder of the immune system. This system includes a type of white blood cell, called a T cell, that normally helps protect the body against infection and disease. Scientists now think that, in psoriasis, an abnormal immune system causes activity by T cells in the skin. These T cells trigger the inflammation and excessive skin cell reproduction seen in people with psoriasis.

2.  Genetics and heredity: In about one-third of the cases, psoriasis is inherited. Often, the person with psoriasis has a parent or grandparent who also has the condition. In terms of probability it has been estimated that a person with one affected parent has about a 10% chance of also being affected. Having two parents with psoriasis increases the chances to about 30%. Researchers are studying large families affected by psoriasis to identify a gene or genes that cause the disease. (Genes govern every bodily function and determine the inherited traits passed from parent to child.)

External factors:

People with psoriasis may notice that there are times when their skin worsens, then improves. Conditions that may cause relapses of flare-ups include:

1.  Climate: Studies indicate that cold weather may be a predisposing effect or trigger for psoriasis, in contradistinction to hot and sunny climate that appears to be beneficial.

2.  Infections: Both dermatological and systemic infections have been known to trigger the onset of psoriasis or a worsening of psoriasis. Systemic infections that have been associated with triggering include viral upper respiratory disease, streptococcal pharyngitis ("strep throat"), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Staphylococcal skin infections (boils) have been a trigger.

3.  Stress: Psychological stress is the cause as well as out come of disease like psoriasis. It is a well-known fact that there is inseparable bond between mind and body and psyche plays vital role in maintaining health or causing diseases.

It is a common experience in practice of patient reporting the onset of psoriasis following major stress like divorce, death of close relatives, change of job, unhealthy family relationships etc and this perception of patients that psychological stress can worsen psoriasis has been supported in clinical studies.

4.  Certain medicines: Certain medicines, most notably beta-blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure, and lithium or drugs used to treat depression, may trigger an outbreak or worsen the disease. The drugs may be listed as: lithium, anti-malarials, mepacrine, NSAIDs, beta-blockers, alcohol.

5.  Physical trauma: People often notice new spots 10 to 14 days after the skin is cut, scratched, rubbed, or severely sunburned. Analysis of patient records has indicated that up to 50 percent of persons with psoriasis have had a "Koebner’s phenomenon" experience—that is, have had a psoriatic lesion develop at the site of an injury or skin condition.

A broad range of skin injuries and skin conditions have been linked with Koebner’s phenomenon:

Skin Conditions:

• Boils
• Dermatitis
• Herpes blisters
• Lichen Planus
• Skin parasites (scabies)
• Vitiligo

Skin Trauma:

• Acupuncture
• Bites, Cuts and scrapes
• Bruises, Burns
• Chemical irritation
• Pressure against the skin
• Shaving
• Sunburn and peeling
• Adhesive taping
• Tattoos
• Vaccinations

Diagnosis of Psoriasis

The diagnosis of psoriasis is usually clinical which means that the doctors would diagnose psoriasis after a careful examination of the skin. The white silvery scales of psoriasis are very distinctive and guiding feature for diagnosis. Also, consideration of the history, family history, the spread on affected areas, etc. is taken into account to conclude the diagnosis of psoriasis. In cases of doubt doctor may ask the patient to do skin biopsy that means examining a small skin sample under a microscope. However this is not a routine practice.

When psoriasis affects the scalp, it may resemble a few conditions such as a. Dandruff . b. Seborrhoeic dermatitis c. Eczema d. Lichen Planus.

Diagnosis in terms of causative factors and triggers is also done through thorough case taking. A well studied case in terms of diagnosis of cause behind psoriasis, such as stress triggers, etc. would be beneficial while deciding the line of action.

Just to make a diagnosis of Psoriasis is not enough. Clinically trained eyes can make the diagnosis in minutes. What is more important is to understand and evaluated the origin, probable cause/s, genetic tendency, family history of certain diseases, the course of the disease, its spread, affection of joints, study of previous medications consumed by the patients, etc. Actual diagnosis of Psoriasis should entail in depth study and behavior of psoriasis over the long period, response to the treatment, etc.

Treatment for Psoriasis

This web site emphasizes that psoriasis is not an external but an internal disease, arising out of faulty immune system with genetic predispositions. Needless to say the disease is deep seated and calls for well planned deeply acting medicines. Conventional treatment with cortisone can suppress (that is what they call ‘manage’) the symptoms of the disease but cannot cure the disease. On the other hand, it is homeopathy that has potential to stimulate body’s natural healing capacity and to restore the disturbed immune system.

Homeopathy treatment:

Homeopathic treatment for Psoriasis has been found to be extremely effective. Dr Rajesh Shah, M.D. has worked with psoriasis patients for over 20 years. His well-researched psoriasis treatment has changed the treatment protocol. He has to his credit new medicine molecules which have international patent.

How does it work?
- It stimulates body’s own healing process
- It works at root level and restores deviated immunity back to normalcy.
- It works by addressing the genetic tendencies
- Homeopathy uses natural medicinal substances in ultra-minute quantity rendering a treatment that is extremely effective yet absolutely free from any side-effects whatsoever.

How much time does it take?
Psoriasis is an obstinate and chronic disease. There is no shortcut to its cure.
The length of treatment varies form case to case, depending of the following factors :

• Duration of Psoriasis
• Areas affected. Affection of scalp and nails takes longer.
• Extent of spread (Psoriasis only on skin is easier to treat. Joint affection (Psoriatic Arthritis) is relatively difficult to treat.)
• Previous medication (Extensive use o oral cortisone may delay the course of treatment)
• General health and associated diseases

Most patients observe positive results in about 3 to 6 weeks.

Scalp Psoriasis

Psoriasis on the scalp is a common variant of psoriasis, which is relatively more difficult to treat as compared to one on the skin.

One may present with psoriasis only on the scalp or on the skin and scalp together. In many patients, scalp psoriasis exists for several years before it appears on the body. Many times, mild psoriasis on the scalp may be wrongly diagnosed and treated as dandruff.

In our experience, we have observed scalp psoriasis more in adults than in children. There is a rise in diagnosis and detection of scalp psoriasis in early teens, in the last five-ten years. Even small kids can be affected. It is equally noticed in both sexes, with a slightly higher percentage in women than men. Scalp Psoriasis: Symptoms: Psoriasis on the scalp is slightly different than that on the skin.

A patient may have psoriasis on the skin first and then the scalp may be affected, or both may be affected simultaneously.

Psoriasis on the scalp can be differentiated in three categories, mild, moderate and severe.

1) Mild cases: The first change noticed may be dryness in the scalp and hair. The hair may feel dry to touch. The second change seen is development of dandruff. Patient may typically exclaim, “I thought it was dandruff!” In such cases itching may be mild or moderate, which is more irritating and disturbing, in the initial stages.

Scratching leads to falling of fine dandruff on the neck and shoulders. The scalp itching is often awkward.

The closest differential diagnosis at this stage is seborrhea dermatitis. In seborrhea the scalp is oily, and the dandruff is rather sticky, like sebum and yellowish. Scalp psoriasis is dry, silvery and scaly.

2) Moderate cases: This stage may be seen a few years after the start of psoriasis.

The scalp may show single or multiple patches of scales. The scales may be white or silvery, moderately thick. There may be more concentration behind the ears, temples, occipital and parietal areas. Scales are visible and beneath and surrounding them, the scalp is reddish. 10-20 % of the scalp may be affected. The eyebrows, beard, may show patches of dandruff, dryness and itching. Hair fall may be prominent.

3) Severe cases: In severe cases of scalp psoriasis, there are large crusty patches of scales all over the scalp. The scalp redness is very much marked and the scales and redness many times can be seen beyond the hair line, on the forehead, behind ears and on the back of the neck. Around 50-80 % or more area of the scalp may be affected.

The scratching and suffering is unbearable. The scalp may bleed on scratching.
There may be super added fungal or bacterial infections.
If patient does not have psoriasis on the body, after this stage, psoriasis generally spreads to other parts of the body.

Homeopathic treatment for scalp psoriasis:
Psoriasis on the scalp responds very well to homeopathy. The scalp redness reduces, the itching reduces and the scaling reduces. The recurrence is brought under good control.

Homeopathy treats psoriasis by correcting internal immune imbalance, irrespective of the location of psoriasis. There are certain more commonly used medicines especially when psoriasis affects the scalp.

The scalp psoriasis may respond slower, in comparison to psoriasis on the skin.

If a patient has psoriasis on the skin and on the scalp, the skin form responds earlier, the scalp psoriasis responds later, however, that is not a rule.

Homeopathy does not suggest any use of cortisone based medication for scalp psoriasis.

Other measures:

Some patients have good relief by using scalp moisturizers; the best being hair oil, some patients get severe discomfort by using hair oil. Each patient must use his or her own discretion.

Tar shampoo and anti-dandruff shampoo are useful, and can be used in association with homeopathic treatment.

Future of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is not a dangerous or fatal disease. However, its course is usually very long, running into years and it varies from patient to patient. At the same time, it has a peculiar tendency to relapse after some period of time. Psoriais can be very mild or moderate or even very extensive. It is not possible to predict the spread of psoriasis in a given case.

Psoriasis rarely causes long-term complications affecting vital body organs.
Psoriasis is more often a medico social disorder, especially when it shows up on the visible part of the body, such as on the face. There may also be feelings (sometimes with justification) that psoriasis has limited the patient’s career success because employers did not understand the nature of the disease. Patients may also deny themselves enjoyment of leisure activities because of embarrassment and fear of rejection, and the disease often makes patients feel unattractive to the opposite sex.

The future of psoriasis depends on timely treatment of it. If psoriasis is treated using immunosuppressive medicines such as cortisone or Methotraxate, there is a possibility that it resurfaces with more intensity and may turn more difficulty to treat. In our experience, if Psoriasis is treated with homeopathy in the early phase, the over all control of the disease in future is much better.

Have psoriasis? Ask yourself

1. - Did you take harsh chemical medicines which worked only till you took them?

If you have suffered with Psoriasis, you may have taken several chemical based medicines which are conventionally prescribed by the doctors. Initially, you thought that they worked, but you soon realized that Psoriasis came back on stopping the usage of such medicines.

Question in your mind is, ‘How long can I keep taking such chemicals into my system?'

Answers may be found here:

Homeopathy offers an alternative to the conventional medicines for Psoriasis. Homeopathy is absolutely safe and very effective in most cases to bring about a long remission.

Explore this site to know more and click here to get started with the treatment online.

2. - Did you already realize that Psoriasis cannot be ‘cured' by lotions and ointments?

Most patients who have just developed Psoriasis tend to think that by using some local ointment or lotions, Psoriasis will go away! They soon realize after using such ointments for three or four instances, that, Psoriasis cannot be cure externally.

Psoriasis is a deep seated, immunological disease, which needs to be treated at the immune level.

Homeopathy treats Psoriasis at the immune level.

3. - Did you take steroids which temporarily helped but caused serious side-effects?

When your doctor feels desperate about your Psoriasis, he would prescribe steroids or cortisone. Some may prescribe it routinely. However, it may be noted that the use of steroid is indicated only as a life saving measure in the most severe cases of Psoriasis.

Now, those who have used steroids in any form, either local application or oral, may have figured out that Psoriasis does come back after initial improvement. Not only that, the relapsed form of psoriasis is more difficult to treat with milder medicines, as the body calls for stronger medicine, as the immunity is suppressed with the use of steroids. In other words, your Psoriasis has now become ‘resistant' to milder medicines!

Solution to such a problem is offered by homeopathic treatment, which helps patients to keep away from the use of steroids.

4. - Did your doctor consider genetic factor while deciding your treatment?

You probably have someone in the family (father, mother, grand parents, uncle, aunts, etc) suffering from Psoriasis or Rheumatoid arthritis or Thyroiditis or alopecia or Cancer or Ankylosing Spondylitis or the like; suggestive of genetic predisposition in the development of Psoriasis.

While determining the line of medicine, did your medicine consider the genetic factor in the back ground?

Homeopathy, probably the only system of medicine, which incorporates the genetic factor, while deciding the medicine for you; hence treating it at a root level.

5. - Why didn't you think of homeopathy so far, which is internal medicine, working at the immune level, safe and based on genetic consideration?

You suffered with Psoriasis for five or more years and did not opt for homeopathy. This is because you had never known of homeopathy as an important remedy for Psoriasis. This is because your doctor was ignorant about the efficacy of homeopathy.

Now is the time for you to consider homeopathy for your Psoriasis, which is effective, safe, individualizing, treating the disease at the roots by considering the genetic patter.

Glossary of Psoriasis

Autoimmune disease: A disease in which the immune system destroys or attacks a person's own tissues.

Chronic: Long-lasting, ongoing.

Dermis: The layer of skin beneath the epidermis.

Emollient: A substance composed of fat or oil that soothes and softens the skin

Epidermis: The outermost layer of skin.

Exfoliation: Peeling and sloughing off of the skin's tissue cells.

Gene: A unit of inheritance that contains the instructions, or code, that a cell uses to make a specific product, usually a protein. Genes are made of a substance called DNA. They govern every body function and determine inherited traits passed from parent to child. This code is passed on to our children.

Genetics: The science of understanding how diseases, conditions, and traits are inherited.

Inflammation: A characteristic reaction of tissues to injury or disease. It is marked by four signs: swelling, redness, heat, and pain.

Human leucocyte antigen (HLA): Immune system markers strongly associated with the causes(s) of psoriasis.

Immune response: The reactions of the immune system to foreign substances.

Immune system: A complex network of specialized cells and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses.

Infection: The invasion of the body by microorganisms that reproduce and multiply, causing disease.

Koebner’s phenomenon: Psoriatic lesions appear at the site of injury, infection or other skin problem. The lesion may mark the initial onset of psoriasis, or may be a new lesion in an existing case of psoriasis.

Lesions: A wound or injury to the skin.

Plaques: Plaque is flattish raised patch on the skin. Psoriatic plaques are patches of thickened and reddened skin that are covered by silvery scales.

Predisposed: Susceptible, likely to get.

Psoriasis: A chronic (long-lasting) skin disease characterized by scaling and inflammation. Scaling occurs when cells in the outer layer of skin reproduce faster than normal and pile up on the skin's surface. Possibly a disorder of the immune system.

Psoriatic arthritis: Joint inflammation that occurs in about 10 percent of people with psoriasis.

Scales: Thin flakes on the skin surface.

Steroid: An abbreviated word for corticosteroids, which are powerful drugs used to control inflammation and itching of the skin.

Systemic: Pertaining to the body as a whole.

T cell: A type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system and normally helps protect the body against infection and disease. In psoriasis, it also can trigger inflammation and excessive skin cell reproduction.

Topical: On the skin.

Trigger: A nongentic, environmental factor that acts together with genetic predisposition to cause onset or worsening of psoriasis. Injuries and infections are common triggers.

Ultraviolet light: The part of sunlight that has a short wavelength and encompasses the wavelengths that treat psoriasis. This type of light can also cause sunburn.

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