Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that impacts the body externally and internally, revealing itself in multiple organs including the skin, heart, muscles and bones.

Externally, the skin cells reproduce 7 times faster than normal skin, causing the skin t o be thicker than normal. It is most easily recognized by red plaques with silvery scales. These plaques bleed easily when the scaling is scratched or picked off. Often these are on the arms, legs, hands, feet, elbows and knees.

Additionally, there is a long-term inflammation in the skin along with a mildly disrupted skin barrier which can often lead to chronic infection.

How to help your skin look “normal”:

• Use topical anti-inflammatory and barrier repair products
• Use a pH-balanced, anti microbial cleanser that will not strip the skin barrier
• Maintain an anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidant diet
• Avoid chocolate, alcohol and caffeine
• Ensure your diet has high quality protein, such as eggs
• Include “healthy” fats, such as omega-3 found in fish oil and almonds
• Taking a daily multivitamin (with minerals), as well as oral Vitamin D (2,000 IU daily) and Vitamin B12 (1,000 IU daily) may be beneficial
• Taking flax and borage oil supplements, as well as probiotics (acidophilus), may be beneficial
• Moderate excercise is beneficial to reduce the immune imbalance (35 minutes, 5 times weekly)
• Phototherapy may be beneficial
• Harsh exfolitaion, injury or infection worsens visible spots.

If the plaques start to weep, you may need to begin taking antibiotics.

Prescription treatment options such as corticosteroids, antibiotics, immunosuppressives and biologics are also available. Schedule an appointment with us to see what treatment options are best for you.