Psoriasis

PSORIASIS

Psoriasis is a skin disease that is symptomatic of red, itchy scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp. It can go through cycles, being aggravated for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a while or going into remission.

Who Gets Psoriasis?

Around 2 in 100 people suffer from psoriasis in the UK. It can start at any age, but most often develops in adults between 20 and 30 years old and between 50 and 60 years old. It affects men and women equally and all races and skin colours.

Causes of Psoriasis

Your immune system uses a special kind of cell called a T cell. T-cells normally travel through the body to detect and fight invading germs, such as bacteria. But in people with psoriasis, they start to attack healthy skin cells by mistake. This causes the deepest layer of skin to produce new skin cells more quickly than usual. Psoriasis symptoms can start or aggravate from a triggering event. Common psoriasis triggers include: an injury to your skin, such as a cut, scrape, insect bite or sunburn – drinking excessive amounts of alcohol smoking stress hormonal changes, particularly in women – for example, during puberty and the menopause certain medicines – such as lithium, some antimalarial medicines, anti-inflammatory medicines including ibuprofen, and ACE inhibitors (used to treat high blood pressure) throat infections – psoriasis can develop after a streptococcal throat infection, other immune disorders, such as HIV, can cause psoriasis to flare up or appear for the first time.

DIET

ALLERGENS

With psoriasis it is important to limit foods that can cause inflammation. This includes:
red meat, especially beef
sausage, bacon, and other processed red meats
eggs and egg dishes
gluten-rich foods
processed foods
Solanine-rich foods:
tomatoes
potatoes
eggplants
peppers

GOOD FOODS:
Fish- salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, sardines
Nuts and Seeds: Flax, chia, walnuts
Fruits: Strawberries, Blueberries, Oranges
Vegetables: Broccoli, spinach, kale, cauliflower
Other: Mushrooms, yoghurt, oats, egg yolks,

Supplements

Hemp oil is highly recommended as hemp actually contains Omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids - making it a more complete profile than fish oil. Essential fatty acids are nutrients not made by the body and must be obtained from certain foods such as oily fish, flax, pumpkin and hemp seeds. Hemp oil is also pleasant-tasting and can be used in a salad dressing. You can even cook with it.

Other supplements that may help are Vitamin D, Vitamin B12 and Selenium. Also make sure you get plenty of good old fashioned sunshine!

Alternative Therapies

Homeopathy
Has a long and very good track record in treating skin diseases such as psoriasis. The advantage of using homeopathy is that a holistic view of the patient is taken which can get to the root of the cause of the problem; and the remedies, being highly diluted, have no side effects.

Herbal Medicine
Studies show that Chinese Herbs can help patients with eczema, using internal medicine and topical creams.

It is always beneficial to seek help from a qualified professional who can individualise treatement. And seek advice from your medical practitioner before discontinuing standard medication.
You can find a qualified homeopath here: https://homeopathy-soh.org/find-a-homeopath/
You can find more information about homeopathy and Jonathan Stallick RSHom here: www.JonathanStallick.com