Psoriasis: Atopic Skin Condition
Psoriasis is an auto-immune, inflammatory, chronic, multifactorial skin condition. Approximately 2.2% of the US poppulation has it; it is slightly more common in women. It is less common in the Tropics and in African-Americans. It can definitely occur in children. The thickened lesions are due to a hyperproliferation of a specific type of cell in the skin, the keratinocytes. It occurs most commonly on the elbows, knees, scalp, and low back area, but it can occur on the torso, penis, nails, eyes and other areas. In 30% of patients, they develop psoriasis arthritis. There are several different categories of psoriasis, depending on where it appears, and how it looks.
Psoriasis is considered a lifelong illness with remissions and exacerbations. Mild cases do not increase the risk of death, but severe psoriasis can cause death 3-5 years earlier than those without the condition. Psoriasis is associated with cardiovascular disease risk, chronic kidney disease, smoking, alcohol use, metabolic sydrome, lymphoma, depression, and tragically, suicide. Psoriasis can definitely reduce a person's quality of life.
The lesion has a distinct presentation: lesion with a thickened, typically silvery scaly middle,
Conventional care basically uses suppresses treatments such as topical corticosteroids , coal tar, Vit D drug analogs, topical retinoids, drugs (methotrexate, cyclosporine, Immune system inhibitors. UV radiation, stress reduction, biofeedback, eye drops, etc.
Naturopathic medicine can be very valuable in helping to cure psoriasis. Dr. Morstein would do a 7 day diet diary, do a food sensitivity test, perhaps check the intestinal microbiome. Avoid the indicated food sensivity can be miraculous.
She would do lab work, checking on omega three status and Vitamin D3. If indicated, other labs such as stool analysis, cortisol test, leaky gut, extra zinc/Vitamin A/carotenoids.
One of the very first patients Dr. Morstein saw in private practice was an 8 year old girl who had had psoriasis for years and unfortunately looked terrible, covered in psoriasis from her scalp to her toes. As you can imagine, she was teased horribly at school by cruel kids. It really broke my heart. She had been to dermatologists and nothing much had helped, and her mother wished her to avoid the stronger drugs. We did a food sensitivity test and she was positive to eggs, which is a common food reaction when the skin (or gallbladder) is involved. I also tidied up her diet, and gave her a multiple vitamin mineral and fish oils. Her mother committed to avoid eggs and in one month her daughter was beautiful and 100% psoriasis free. Unfortunately, the child's parents were divorced and her father, who had her on weekends, didn't care and fed her all sorts of egg containing foods, so on Monday she had psoriasis back. It took the daughter nearly 8 months to finally have the courage to tell her dad she wouldn't eat any foods with eggs, so her skin was able to stay clear from them on.
Proinflammatory foods include refined sugar, refined grains, alcohol, food addictives, chemicals in foods, low essential fatty acid foods, fried foods or too many saturated fats. A whole, healthy diet without food sensitivities is the best way to go. Supplements such as multivitamin minerals, fish oils, GLA oils, turmeric/curcumin, liver support, intestinal support
Weight loss, treating prediabetes and diabetes may be helpful.
Contact Dr. Morstein to learn more: 480-833-0302 and Info@nevyhealth.com