Plaque Psoriasis: More Common than You Think

Plaque psoriasis is considered the most common chronic skin disease and the symptoms associated with this disease is a sore, red skin with silvery scales. The area affected is red from inflammation, and there is a sharp border between the plaque and normal skin. The circular patch of redness itch a lot. Psoriasis can attack any part of the body, but it mostly is found on the arms, legs, or scalp. It is usually not seen in the face. Patches of circular to oval shaped red plaques covered with silvery layer of dead skin (thickened keratinic layer) cells are typical for psoriasis.

Plaque psoriasis is not race or gender specific. It can affect anyone, but it is not contagious. It is considered a hereditary disease. It will also affect children as well as adults, but adults are more frequently affected.

The disease is associated with smoking, stress of all kinds, lack of exposure to the sun, alcoholics, and HIV patients. This disease is chronic, but can go away and flare up again at another time. The aggravating factors, the causal factors and the treatment administered will determine the extent of the disease and how often there is a flare up.

Plaque psoriasis

Patients should try to avoid trigger factors like lack of sun exposure, smoking, excess stress, alcohol intake and any other environmental assailants. Sun exposure usually makes the skin become better. Alcohol is risky for any patient with this disease. Therefore excessive use of alcohol is not advised especially in young adults and middle-aged individuals. A balanced diet and some dietary restrictions will help to manage the disease.

Stress management is important. Herbs will prove very beneficial for this, but even a routine of meditation or other deep relaxation may be necessary.

Moderate exposure to sunlight is good for this skin condition. The ultra violate light in the sunlight helps to heal the disease. The doctor may prescribe a treatment called phototherapy, which is a short course of artificial sunlight therapy. Take care not to absorb too much sunlight, though, as this can exacerbate the condition. Treatment should be taken care of by a doctor, and consists of prescription medicines, and ranges from cortisone creams, Daivonex and Daivobet to systemic chemo-therapy in the form of Cyclosporine and Methotrexate.

Sun bathing and UV radiation is effective for the patients, and for people with large areas covered by elements, this is a regular part of the treatment. Coal tar is also applied topically, both in hospitals and at home. Systemic treatments: Amevive, Enbrel, Raptiva and Remicade are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating plaque psoriasis. . Enbrel, Humira and Remicade are FDA-approved for the treatment psoriatic arthritis, along with non steroid anti inflammatory drugs.

Among the natural treatments available, tamanu oil. is considered very good (see pictures).

Consider also the herbal medicine Skin Dr. It is known to bring psoriatic skin manifestations to silence for long periods.

If emotional symptoms of stress are predominant, and cause aggravations, consider Mind Soothe as well.

And don't forget the essential oils when treating plaque psoriasis! They work wonders!