Psoriasis is it a AutoImmune Disorder or an Inflammatory Disease?
Psoriasis is it a AutoImmune Disorder or an Inflammatory Disease?
Psoriasis, a familiar chronic inflammatory dermatosis, affects up to 11.4% of the population and impacting any age and gender worldwide. There are two physical mechanisms at play that result in the condition we call psoriasis. The first is the replacement pattern of the skin where the epidermis or top layer of the skin is replaced more quickly than usual. Your body produces new skin cells in the deepest layer of the epidermis and they slowly move to the surface at which point they flake off. The normal time frame for the skin life cycle is 3-4 weeks, in the individual with psoriasis this whole life cycle occurs in 3-7 days. The second factor causing this condition involves the immune system and the immune response. The normal healthy function of a T-cell is designed to travel through the body to detect and fight invading germs, such as bacteria. In the case of psoriasis there is an auto-immune response which has turned the T-cell on and it is chemically wired to attack healthy skin cells by mistake causing a secondary inflammation resulting in red, swollen, itchy, and painful plaques that we call psoriasis.
Psoriasis Shows up on the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp. It tends to be on the outside edges of joint areas and can include the palms and the soles of feet, eyelids, and buttocks.
In contrast eczema, which can look similar appears along the creases of the elbows, knees, wrists, neck, and ankles. In children it can appear on the chin, cheeks, scalp, as well as the chest, arms and legs.
Contact Dermatitis can also be confused with both psoriasis and eczema and is important to address in this process. Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it. Avoiding contact with the offending substance will allow the skin to heal in a very short period of time.
Triggers for Psoriasis include:
Obesity
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Genetics
Eye conditions, such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and uveitis
Gum disease
Cardiovascular disease
Other autoimmune diseases, such as celiac disease, sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease
Mental health conditions, such as low self-esteem and depression
Stress and Anxiety
Chronic leaky gut/ food sensitivities
Alcohol
Treatments Include
Standard medical treatments for psoriasis include topical medicines designed to delay skin growth and lessen inflammation, Topical anti-inflammatory ointments applied in thin layers such as retinoids like Tazorac, corticosteroid creams like Sernivo and Triderm, vitamin D analogs may help also.
Natural approaches that address the immune response and repair the gut can be very successful. Focusing on the 5 R approach by removing offending triggers and then repairing the leaky gut, will reduce systemic inflammation and the symptoms of psoriasis.
Homeopathy can be used to address the underlying genetic predisposition to the psoriasis while managing symptoms.
Topical applications such as coal tar and aloe extract cream are two other natural treatments that can be used reduce the itch and plaques and scaling.
Prevention
Avoid your triggers whether it is alcohol, sugar, or a specific food such as wheat/gluten, corn, or dairy. Using IgG/IgM testing can really target the unique food intolerance which may be triggering your symptoms.
Gut repair: Use the 5 R approach (Remove, Replace, Repair, Reinoculate, Rebalance).
Eat and Anti-inflammatory Diet
Avoid Medications that can trigger the disorder such as Acitretin, Cyclosporine, and Methotrexate, to name a few.
Manage your blood sugar and other predisposing factors for this disorder.
Avoid environmental toxins in your home, skin, and hair care products.
Include Supplements and probiotics that support skin health.
Your outcome for this complex genetic and systemic inflammatory condition may depend on getting input from an experienced functional medicine practitioner who will help you identify the triggers and multi-system cause of your psoriasis and then help you put a targeted plan into action.