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Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an extremely common, chronic skin disorder characterized by sharply bordered, thick patches of reddened skin covered by overlapping silvery scales.  Although any area of the body may be affected, psoriasis characteristically appears on the scalp, backside of the wrists, elbows, knees, buttocks, ankles and back; and sites of repeated trauma.  Psoriasis affects men and women equally, typically first appearing between the ages of 15 and 25 (although onset can occur as early as age 2), and follows a pattern of acute flare-ups followed by periods of healing.  In addition to affecting the skin, psoriasis can cause an inflammatory form of arthritis (psoriatic arthritis) and affect the nails, which develop thimble-like indents.

• A genetic error in the control of how skin cells divide
• Incomplete protein digestion.  When protein is not digested and absorbed, the undigested amino acids and polypeptides are metabolised by bacterial in the bowel into toxic compounds that unbalance the cAMP and gAMP ratio.  The toxins formed from amino acids are called polyamines and individuals with psoriasis have elevated levels of polyamines.  Lowered skin and urinary levels of polyamines are associated with clinical improvement in psoriasis.
• Bowel toxaemia:  gut-derived toxins can cause increases in cGMP levels within skin cells, thereby increasing the rate of proliferation.  These toxins can include yeast compounds and immune complexes.  In particular, an overgrowth of the yeast, candida albicans, can play a major role in candidiasis.
• A diet low in fibre is associated with increased levels of gut-derived toxins since fibre binds to the toxins and promotes excretion in the faeces
• Impaired liver function:  psoriasis has been linked to the presence of severeral microbial by-products in the blood.  The liver filters and detoxifies the blood and if it is overwhelmed by excessive levels of microbial toxins in the blood, or if the liver’s detoxification ability is impaired, the levels of toxins in the blood will increase, worsening the psoriasis
• Alcohol consumption: significantly worsens psoriasis since alcohol increases the absorption of toxins from the gut and impairs liver function
• Excessive consumption of animal products (meat, animal fats, dairy products):  animal products contain arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that the body converts into potent inflammatory agents called leukotrienes.  Leukotrienes promoted increased cGMP levels and leukotriene production is many times greater than normal in the skin of psoriasis sufferers
• Inadequate amounts of certain nutrition factors
• Stress:  when levels of stress hormones, eg cortisol, increase in the circulation, immune system defenses, many of which involve inflammation, are upregulated. 

• Family history of psoriais:  36% of psoriasis sufferers have one or more family member with psoriasis, which suggests a genentic link
• Rheumatoid arthritis: also a chronic inflammatory condition, sharing a number of underlying causative factors with psoriasis
• Repeated local injury:  the injury/repair process involves both inflammation and a more rapid than normal repair generation of new cells
• Viral or bacterial infections elsewhere in the body:  the immune response involves inflammatory chemicals.  Viruses and bacteria produce toxins, increasing the load that circulates in the bloodstream
• Prolonged antibiotic use:  antibiotics suppress the immune system and kill off not only their targets but also the friendly intestinal bacteria that prevent colonization of pathogenic microbes and yeast overgrowth.

• Consume a nutrient-rich diet, rich in whole, unprocessed, preferably organic foods, especially plant foods (fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds, and wholegrains) and cold-water fish, and low in red meat and dairy foods.
• Take a high-potency multivitamin/mineral supplement.
• Cope with stress constructively:  meditate, learn stress reduction techniques such as self-hypnosis, exercise, yoga.  Taking time to discover which practices help and to integrate them into a lifestyle will significantly benefit not just skin health but will improve overall health.

• Limit consumption of sugar, meat, animal fats, and alcohol
• Increase consumption of fibre-rich fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and legumes
• Increase consumption of cold-water fish such as salmon, which are high in anit-inflammatory omega-3 essential fatty acids (which have been demonstrated to improve psoriasis)
• Consume 1 tbsp of flaxseed oil a day – a plant source of omega-3 fatty acids.  Add to smoothies, drizzle over steamed vegetables, use as a salad dressing (don’t cook with this oil and keep it in the fridge for freshness)
• Eliminate wheat or other sources of gluten.  Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which gut-derived toxins and polyamines play a significant causative role and gluten may significantly increase blood levels of these toxins.  (partially digested gluten is seen by the immune system as an invader and must be destroyed, using inflammatory chemicals as defensive agents, damaging intestinal integrity.   Once intestinal integrity is breached, microbial toxins can more easily gain access to the bloodstream).  Gluten is also found in rye, barley and oats but not in rice and corn.  In studies, psoriasis sufferers have significantly benefited from eliminating gluten from their diet (or having a NAET treatment to deal with the issue).

• High potency multiple vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure base line levels of nutrition are achieved
• Omega-3 fatty acids: anti-inflammatory action
• Vitamin A:  the two most critical nutrients for skin health (along with zinc).  All epithelial surfaces including the skin and the lining of the gastro-intestinal tract rely upon vitamin A.  Decreased levels are common in psoriasis sufferers. 
• Zinc:  adequate levels of zinc are critical for vitamin A function, would healing, immune system activity, inflammation control, and tissue regeneration.
• Chromium:  chromium is the mineral component in glucose tolerance factor, a molecule that helps cells respond appropriately to insulin.  People with psoriasis have been found to have increased serum levels of both glucose and insulin.  Chromium is depleted by lack of exercise and by consuming foods containing refined sugars and white flour.
• Selenium and vitamin E: a very important antioxidant that protects vitamin A and increases its storage.
• Active vitamin D:  plays a role in controlling cellular processes involved in replication.
• Goldenseal:  helps inhibit the enzyme which converts undigested proteins into polyamines
• Milk thistle:  improves liver function, inhibits inflammation and reduces excessive cellular proliferation.