What do we know about the influence of the sun on psoriasis? Does the sun improve or worsen  psoriasis? Is the affect of the sunlight same in all the people with psoriasis?

The majority of the people with psoriasis (about 95%) report that the exposure to the sun helps them in their psoriasis treatment.

The exception is the people with the so-called summer psoriasis, which is known to get worse in the summer, possibly under the influence of the sun.

The summer psoriasis is also known as the Photoinduced or the Photosensitive psoriasis. This rare type of psoriasis affects about 5% of the people with psoriasis. The so-called summer psoriasis may be the result of the Koebner phenomenon — when the psoriatic lesions are triggered by any kind of skin trauma. Therefore the people with the photosensitive psoriasis should be extremely careful when exposing their skin to the sun.

The UV light in the sun is capable of suppressing the activity of the T cells in the people with psoriasis. Therefore, the sun in moderation is really capable of improving the course of psoriasis in the people with the so-called winter psoriasis.

Many people with psoriasis often go on vacations to the places with a better climate. People, who live in the Northern climate, usually notice a significant improvement in their psoriasis after a stay in a warm sunny Southern climate. Some people with psoriasis even choose to relocate to the places with a better climate.

But unfortunately the sun in excess may become harmful for the people with psoriasis, even for the people with the so-called winter psoriasis, which is known to get better in the summer, under the influence of the sunlight.

The UV light in excess may cause sunburn. Skin traumas are one of the major psoriasis triggers. Any skin trauma, be it cut, a bruise or a burn may cause either the appearance of psoriasis in the genetically predisposed to psoriasis people, or the flare-up of psoriasis in the people with psoriasis.

And thus the sun may become a psoriasis treatment method, as well as a psoriasis provoking factor.

Therefore, if you decide to improve the state of your psoriasis with the sunlight, you should treat the sun just as you would treat any other psoriasis treatment – there has to be a particular scheme, which you should follow while sun tanning.

If you have fair skin, or in the case, you want to be 100% sure that you will not get a sunburn, it is better to suntan in the shade (i.e. under an umbrella) for the first few days.

Apply gentle moisturizing creams after every sun tanning.

It is also known that some medications can make your skin sensitive to the sunlight, for example St. John’s wort, which is sometimes used in holistic medicine for psoriasis treatment.

If you do develop sunburn, you have to stay out of the sun. Even the strongest sunscreen, cannot protect you 100% from the UV light of the sun.

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Before we embark upon finding the treatment for psoriasis, it is very essential to know what is actually meant by ‘psoriasis’.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory long-term non- contagious skin disease. It is a chronic or recurring condition which can spread from a localised patch to the entire body. The exact source of psoriasis is still unknown. Occurrence of Psoriasis depends upon triggers which initiate them such as skin injury, hereditary, systemic infections, emotional stress, and many more. Most of the people who suffer from psoriasis also encounter psoriasis arthritis, which is characterized with inflammation in the joints. Symptoms of psoriasis arthritis may also include pain and stiffness, which retards with improvements in psoriasis condition.

There are namely five types of psoriasis:

Plaque psoriasis: Plaque psoriasis is one of the most common forms of psoriasis, which is marked by raised skin areas covered with silvery white scaly skin.

Guttate psoriasis: Guttate psoriasis occurs as small red spots over large areas of the body.

Pustular psoriasis: Pustular psoriasis is marked by the cycle of pustule formation.

Erythrodermic psoriasis: Erythrodermic psoriasis is characterized intense redness over large areas.

Palmar-Plantar psoriasis: Palmar-Plantar psoriasis is characterized by large pustules confined to fleshy areas.

Diagnosis for psoriasis is mostly based upon the appearance of the skin. Though, a skin biopsy or scraping may be employed in order to rule out the possibility of psoriasis. There is no known cure for psoriasis till date, but psoriasis can be treated. The crux of the psoriasis treatment depends on the principle of reduction of the inflammation and retarding skin cell division which are traits of the disease. Advancement in the medicinal science has led to the formulation of topical medications for effectual psoriasis treatment. These topical medications constitute Soriatane and Tazorac.

Soriatane is the only oral medication to treat five severe types of psoriasis. Soriatane is endorsed for both initial and maintenance therapy in adults. It should be avoided by expectant women and women with child bearing potential as it can cause abnormalities in the unborn child.

Tazorac cream is used to treat psoriasis, acne, and symptoms of aging. It is meant for external application; therefore contact with eyes, mouth should be avoided. A thin layer of Tazorac should be applied once in a day. Similar to Soriatane, usage of Tazorac should be avoided by expectant women and women with child bearing potential.

Online pharmacies have made it easier for you to buy these medications. Just a click of a button and you can get access to psoriasis treatment at the comfort of your home. An online order not only ensures the element of convenience but also enables you to buy Soriatane and Tazorac at an affordable price range. Online skin care tips available on these pharmacies can facilitate you help you to deal with psoriasis skin. It is advisable to consult your doctor before you go ahead with any psoriasis treatment to avert any medical complication.

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Psoriasis (IPA pronunciation: [s?'raj.?s?s]) is a disease which affects the skin and joints. It commonly causes red scaly patches to appear on the skin. The scaly patches caused by psoriasis, called psoriatic plaques, are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production. Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites and takes a silvery-white appearance. Psoriasis Symptoms are no always that easy to identify and diagnose. For centuries it has commonly been inadvertently mistaken for leprosy, and for centuries people have been suffering the fall out of this wrong diagnosis. For a full and correct diagnosis you should visit your doctor so he can do the correct analysis and suggest the correct treatments to the patient.

There are five types of Psoriasis to look out for :-

. Plaque Psoriasis

. Guttate Psoriasis

. Inverse Psoriasis

. Erythrodermic Psoriasis

. Pustular Psoriasis

What causes psoriasis?

Research indicates that psoriasis may be a disorder of the immune system. The immune 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 psoriasis is related to an abnormal immune system that produces too many of the immune cells, called T cells, in the skin. These T cells trigger the inflammation and excessive skin cell reproduction seen in people with psoriasis. This leads to inflammation and flaking of skin.

What are the symptoms?

Psoriasis usually appears as red, scaly patches that reveal fine silvery scales when scraped or scratched. These patches may itch and feel uncomfortable.

Psoriasis is most common on the knees, elbows and scalp, but can appear anywhere on the body.

Some people with psoriasis become withdrawn and don’t socialise or form relationships because of the way people react to the appearance of their skin.

Diagnosis

There are several forms of psoriasis, and each form has unique characteristics that allow dermatologists to visually identify psoriasis to determine what type, or types, of psoriasis is present. Sometimes a skin biopsy will be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Is psoriasis contagious?

No. You can’t catch psoriasis from another person or give it to someone by touching them, and you can’t spread it to other parts of your body.

Treatment

Currently, there is no cure for psoriasis. However, there are many treatment options that can clear psoriasis for a period of time.Therapy for psoriasis ranges from conservative to aggressive treatment. Due to the chronic nature of the disease, many patients try several therapies over time. Guttate psoriasis usually is managed more easily and complete remission typically occurs. In addition to standard treatment, patients with guttate psoriasis are given a course of oral antibiotics to eradicate the strep infection.

Sunshine – Sunshine may help to clear psoriasis; in many people it improves dramatically during sunny holidays. Take care, as psoriasis may develop in areas of sunburn, and fair skin exposed to ultraviolet radiation becomes prematurely aged and may develop skin cancer.

Baths – Soaking in warm water with a bath oil or tar solution can soften the psoriasis and lift the scale. Bland soaps or soap substitutes are useful. Antiseptics are not necessary and may irritate.

Prevention

There is no known prevention. Keeping skin clean and moist and avoiding your specific psoriasis triggers may help reduce the number of flare-ups.

Doctors recommend daily baths or showers for persons with psoriasis. Avoid scrubbing too hard, because this can irritate the skin and trigger an attack.

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Form the beginning of humankind hundreds of thousands of human beings – from common people to stars, from kings to important modern politicians – suffered and do still suffer from psoriasis today.

Psoriasis is even cited in the writings of ancient healing. Back in the late classic times there was a known disease, which was realized by the peeling and itchiness of skin.

The problem of Ancient Greek medical expressions led to the fact that in the functions of Hippocrates, leprosy and psoriasis were collectively under one name, which was -leprosy. Psoriasis was known in the times of Hippocrates under the names of lepra and psora, as well as alphos and leichen. In the times of Hippocrates a dermatological expressions was introduced, utilized sometimes even at present, some of the terms of which had a group meaning. So, under the term “psoriasis” they united the diseases, which are accompanied by tuberosity, by the formation of scale, spots and by keratosis, such as eczema, lichens (micose, red flat lichen, tubercular lupus, leprosy, etc).

Each of these terms had their really unique elements; for example, the term “leprosy” was used with the determination of the assortment of the diseases, which are manifested by a thick skin, by its peeling and itchiness, which in some way tells us about psoriasis in today’s idea of psoriasis.

At the start of our era a distinguished Greek physician named Claudius Galen was first to use the term “psoriasis” to label the scaly changes in the skin with an extreme itchiness; however, clinically this condition little resembled the present manifestations of psoriasis.

In the writings of the past hundreds of years psoriasis itself was sometimes mistaken to be leprosy, mange, Vitiligo, which usually needed a strict segregation and other subsequent consequences: people with psoriasis didn’t get any health care; they had to wear a really unusual outfit and bell.

With the term “psora” (ancient name of psoriasis) it was called the variety of diseases of the skin, for which was known for it’s peeling, dry skin and itchiness.

The first visible description of the clinical manifestations of psoriasis belongs to a 2nd century Greek philosopher named Celsus.

Only the start of the 19th Century an English physician named Willan and his students clearly offered the idea of psoriasis as an illness, its manifestations and problems. They differentiated it from leprosy and fungus diseases.They secluded the usual and uncommon surge of psoriasis (changes in the palms, feet, etc. ). Willan described two diseases: discoid psoriasis, which he called Lepra Graecorum and Psora Leprosa. Willan in 1801 gave a description of the ailment taking into account variations in the clinical make-up of psoriasis.

A key role in the course of the probe into psoriasis was done by a Russian dermatologists of the 19th century , which considered this dermatosis as a system ailment,”psoriatic disease”, capturing into account the connection of psoriasis with the pathology of the interior organs, metabolism, and the condition of the nervous system. The physicians of various countries (Gebr, H.Koebner and others) have also later pointed out the connection of psoriatic disease with the circumstance of the nervous system, and the diseases of the interior organs.

Later dermatology was enriched by new facts about the zest of the disease. All the cumulated evidence lets us at present call psoriasis a “system disease”.

New evidence about the essence and the mechanism of the course of the illness was obtained in the last 40 years; the new modern methods for the therapy were envisioned and used: PUVA- treatment, corticosteroids, retinoids, cytostatics in the therapy of severe forms, Selective Ultraviolet Phototherapy, acupuncture, hemosorption etc.

During the latter part of the 20th century it was obvious by a truly immense approach to the dilemma of psoriasis. Only in the last 10 years or so, around the globe there have been published more than ten-thousand pieces, devoted to psoriatic dermatosis, which makes it one of the most examined. However, none of the possibilities or the theories show a complete essence of the illness, and the same problems of treatment and preventive maintenance stands in front of the latest dermatologists as vivid as it did a century ago.

Currently, many Researchers and educational institutions deal with the exploration of the root, manifestations, and with the refinement of new ways to treat and use preventive maintenance measures for psoriasis. In the United States the key scientific focal point for psoriasis is Stanford University, which has 35 different countries from around the world in the form of an international association on the studies of psoriasis. The association publishes the only one on the entire planet the American Journal of Psoriasis. It deals with the inquiries about psoriasis from dermatologist all around the globe.

Every five years there is carried out a World Congress specialized to the difficulty of psoriasis.

October 29th is dedicated as World Psoriasis Day. Every year it is devoted to persons with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

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PSORIASIS is a chronic, non-contagious disorder which affects the skin and joints, characterized by flaking, redness and inflammation of the skin. Once thought to be a skin disorder, psoriasis is now understood to be a condition originating in the immune system.

The scaly patches caused by psoriasis, called psoriatic plaques, are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production. Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites and takes on a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees, but can affect any area including the scalp and ********. In contrast to eczema, psoriasis is more likely to be found on the extensor aspect of the joint.

The disorder is a chronic recurring condition which varies in severity from minor localized patches to complete body coverage. Fingernails and toenails are frequently affected (psoriatic nail dystrophy) – and can be seen as an isolated finding. Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints, which is known as psoriatic arthritis. Ten to fifteen percent of people with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis.

The cause of psoriasis starts with the immune system. T cells, a type of white blood cell, usually protect the body against infection and disease by attacking bacteria and viruses. However, when you have psoriasis, your T cells mistakenly attack your skin cells instead. Your body then produces other immune system responses, leading to swelling and rapid production of skin cells. Psoriasis tends to run in families and it usually appears between the ages of 10 and 45.

Psoriasis is an inherited disease. However there are certain triggering factors such as injury to the skin, vaccinations and certain medications that have been responsible for the development of this condition. It usually takes about a month for new cells to move from the lower layers of the skin to the surface. In psoriasis, this process takes only a few days, resulting in a build up of dead skin cells and formation of thick scales.

Psoriasis occurs more likely in dry skin than oily or well-moisturized skin. Excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, lack of or overexposure to sunlight, stress, cold climate, physical illness, streptococcal or HIV infection, superficial wounds, or taking certain drugs such as lithium, beta-blockers such as propranolol, anti-malarial medications and in general poor health results in flaring up of psoriasis.

The symptoms of psoriasis can manifest in a variety of forms. Different types of psoriasis exhibit different characteristics that may change over time. One form may change to another, or several forms may exist at the same time.

Plaque psoriasis: This is the most common type of psoriasis. It is characterized by raised, red lesions covered with silvery white scales. The scales are caused by a building up of dead skin cells. It may appear on the knees, elbows, scalp, trunk or any other skin surface. Guttate psoriasis: It is characterised by numerous small red dots of psoriasis. The lesions may have some scaling. These numerous spots of psoriasis appear over large areas of the body, such as the trunk, limbs, and scalp. It may appear suddenly following a bacterial or viral infection or the administration of drugs like ketoconazole and salicylic acid. Inverse psoriasis: This is usually found in the folds of the skin in the armpits, groin, under an overweight stomach or under the *******. It appears as smooth, red lesions without scaling and may cause irritation due to rubbing and sweating. Pustular psoriasis: It is characterized by blisters filled with pus on the skin. The blisters are not infectious. It may be found on the hands and feet or may be spread all over. The skin under and surrounding pustules is red and tender. Psoriatic arthritis: About 10% of the patients with psoriasis may develop a form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis. This may cause redness and swelling, primarily on the hands, feet, knees, hips, elbows and spine. It may cause stiffness, pain and joint damage. Nail psoriasis: produces a variety of changes in the appearance of finger and toe nails. These changes include discolouring under the nail plate, pitting of the nails, lines going across the nails, thickening of the skin under the nail, and the loosening and crumbling of the nail. Erythrodermic psoriasis: involves the widespread inflammation and exfoliation of the skin over most of the body surface. It may be accompanied by severe itching, swelling and pain. It is often the result of an exacerbation of unstable plaque psoriasis, particularly following the abrupt withdrawal of systemic treatment. This form of psoriasis can be fatal, as the extreme inflammation and exfoliation disrupt the body’s ability to regulate temperature and for the skin to perform barrier functions.

Diagnosis of psoriasis is usually based on the appearance of the skin. There are no special blood tests or diagnostic procedures for psoriasis. Sometimes a skin biopsy, or scraping, may be needed to rule out other disorders and to confirm the diagnosis.

As per Ayurveda, Psoriasis is caused by vitiation of vata and kapha dosha. The vitiated doshas affect the skin and blood tissues. They also influence water element of the affected region on skin. Thus the skin which is influenced by affected doshas becomes discolored (white or copper colored), scaly and thin.

CHARAKA offers a very effective treatment methodology based on the classical texts of Ayurveda. The treatment comprises of Detoxification through Panchakarma therapies, administration of internal medication and external applications, which not only helps in curing Psoriasis but also in preventing relapse.

for more infomation log on to http://www.charaka.org

or mail to info@charaka.org

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