Archive for the ‘Psoriasis Treatment’ Category

Eczema and Psoriasis – Symptoms and Treatments

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

It is important to get diagnosed to enable you know what kind skin disorder you are suffering from. There is a difference between having eczema and having psoriasis. You can have eczema and not have other symptoms of psoriasis. You can also have psoriasis and not have eczema.

Eczema is also called dermatitis and the name originates from Latin. It is a skin disorder that is caused by environmental irritation or allergic reactions. It gives a scaly red patch on the skin that could also be aggravated by stress and generic factors. It causes the individual to itch, swell and some times bleed. It is dry, scaly, and makes the body temperature go hot.

Psoriasis is a medical disorder also from Latin origin, is caused by an inflammation on the skin cells. It is caused by new skin cells maturing abnormally quick in matter of days causing the excessive cells to accumulate on the surface of the skin thereby making the skin to lesion. It is noted by its scaly silvery white patch on the skin. It causes the skin to itch, swell and have pains depending on the type of psoriasis. They are most found occurring on the knees, scalp, elbow, lower back, trunk, armpit etc.

Symptoms of eczema are:- swelling, itchy skin, scaling, cracking of skin, blisters, inflamed skin, rashes on the knees and elbow, rashes on legs and arms.

Symptoms of psoriasis are: – inflammation of skin, itching, red scales, pains on the skin, swellings, cracks on skin, joint pains, emotional distress, arthritis etc.

Treatments
 
Though there hasn’t been any real treatment or cure for Guttate Psoriasis, sufferers have reported having great results with steroid creams.They are produced by medical experts to help soothe the itching, redness and scaling of guttate psoriasis. Most creams have proven to work effectively for many Psoriasis sufferers for quite some time now. The good news is that some companies offer free trial offers for you to sample before buying.

You’ll see visible signs of improvements in the 1st week of usage but unfortunately the free trial samples are mostly available only to sufferers in the US and in Canada.

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Do You Believe in Psoriasis Ointments, Lotions and Potions?

Friday, February 19th, 2010

If you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer with psoriasis, you probably have heard it all, or at least most of it. This psoriasis ointment can do this, this and that. Well, as of this writing, to my knowledge, there is no cure for psoriasis. It is a lifelong, chronic autoimmune disease that impacts the skin, joints and more. The most common psoriasis is plaque psoriasis. It is most recognized by raised, red , skin patches, that have white, flaky dead cells on them. The lesions usually appear on the elbows, arms, legs, scalp, but can be found anywhere on the body. The severity is different for each person. For some people it is an occasional event in their life, based on certain triggers. Other people, deal with psoriasis on a daily basis and it can negatively impact their lives (physically, socially, emotionally, etc)

There are many triggers that can cause flare ups, here are a few:

1. Stress
2. Climate Changes
3. Alcohol Consumption
4. Diet
5. Skin Injury

Each individual is different, and needs to learn about his/her body. Like I stated earlier, there are plenty of psoriasis ointments, creams, treatments etc. available. Don’t give up if one product doesn’t work for you. Give the product, diet, regimen a fair shake and enough time, so you know if it is best for you, or not. As time goes on, there are more and more options available to everyone. Keep yourself informed of the increasing therapies available to psoriasis sufferers so you get the relief you deserve.

McCall Grasso has many years experience in the health, supplement and business industries.

It is her goal to share this knowledge to help each person on their personal journey.

Visit her site now, http://www.nomoreblotches.com to discover the leading, psoriasis and eczema products she recommends.

Top 3 Treatment Types For Psoriasis

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Briefly, psoriasis is a chronic, but non-contagious disease which affects the skin in joints. Typically it causes red patches on the affected area. These patches or areas of inflammation are called psoriatic plaques. What happens is that the skin just rapidly accumulates at these sites and turns silvery/white. These spots could happen anywhere, but they are most common around the elbows and knees. The cause is unknown, but there may be links to a genetic passing of the trait. So, now that we have had a refresher as to what psoriasis is we can dig into the treatment ladder.

Unfortunately due to our own biochemical differences, the treatment in essence is a trial and error. Basically, there is a progressive discipline to the treatment of psoriasis including topical, photo, and systemic treatments. The treatments will start at the lowest form and work towards the most severe treatments. Particular treatments are based majorly on the location, type of psoriasis, and severity. It is notable that over time psoriasis can become resistant to a treatment, this can cause a change as well. The first level of treatment available is topical.

These treatments include the topical creams, ointments, and steroid creams. Unless your case is severe enough to skip this stage, you will start here. There are both over the counter and prescription medicines that fall into this category. On top of the ointments and medicated creams, you should be able to locate some decent bath or soak treatments. The next level of treatment is phototherapy. The cheapest version of this is exposure to the sun. The exposure has to be in short durations and you have to avoid burns though. The UV rays in sunlight were identified as beneficial to the treatment of psoriasis.

This is what lead to many hospitals adopting the UV treatments they use today. Phototherapy can be used as a stand alone treatment, but is normally combined with the other forms of treatment. The last level of treatment is systemic treatment. The name is derived from the fact that these treatments are usually in pill or injection form. The medicines are geared towards healing from the inside out. Systemic treatment tends to have a high level of toxicity and requires the patient to be observed closer than the other two forms of treatment. The patient undergoes frequent blood and liver testing to ensure the medicine is not doing more harm than good.

Pregnant females are not able to undergo the systemic treatments, again due to toxicity. These are the three major treatments that are used in most clinics/hospitals. There are also alternative methods of treatment available including climate therapy, doctor fish, and sulfur. With the constant changes in medicine, there is always a new treatment on the horizon.

Did you find this article helpful? If so, you can get more information here!

Go To: http://www.ToHealthWithYou.com/psoriasis

What You Need to Know About Topical Retinoids to Treat Severe Plaque Psoriasis

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis affecting around 90% of all those suffering with this skin disease. Usually mild to moderate psoriasis can be treated effectively by topical medications, but in more stubborn or severe cases it needs something stronger and more effective. This is why oral retinoids are prescribed. Here we will discuss one of these oral retinoids, Soriatane.

What is Soriatane and who is it prescribed to?
Soriatane is an oral medication prescribed to treat severe cases of plaque psoriasis, the most common form of psoriasis, when other treatments have failed to work. Psoriasis is classed as severe when it affects more than 10% of your body or when it stops you from performing everyday activities.

Soriatane, also known as acitretin, is an oral retinoid, a synthetic form of Vitamin A. Doctors have long known that large doses of Vitamin A can help reduce the thickness and scaliness of the skin. However, large doses are very toxic to the body and can cause damage to the liver. Soriatane was developed to mimic the effects of Vitamin A without same levels toxicity. It works is by controlling the reproduction of skin cells, the speed at which the cells grow and shed, and by decreasing inflammation. Unlike some other psoriasis medications, Soriatane does not cause cell damage or suppress the immune system.

Clinical studies have shown that a large percentage of patients taking Soriatane significantly improved within eight weeks and about one third experienced almost complete remission from their symptoms within six months. This is why Soriatane is claimed an effective treatment for severe plaque psoriasis. However, it is important to note that taking Soriatane can cause risks for pregnant women.

Who shouldn’t take Soriatane?
In 1983 another retinoid, Accutane, was reported to cause birth defects in some babies born to women taking this drug. There also seemed to be a higher risk of miscarriage for pregnant women. It was, therefore, recommended that this and other closely related retinoids, including Soriatane, shouldn’t be taken by pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant within the next three years. In fact, women of childbearing age have to take two negative pregnancy tests before they can start taking Soriatane. They also have to agree to use two forms of contraception at the same time, at least a month before the start of treatment, during the treatment and for three years after completing the treatment. It’s advised not to take progestin-only contraceptive pills since they may not work while taking Soriatane.

It’s because taking Soriatane is highly dangerous for women who may become pregnant that this drug is mainly recommended for men, post-menopausal women or for women who have undergone sterilization or a hysterectomy.

Are there any other side effects of Soriatane?
Apart from possible risks to pregnant women, there have been other reported side effects. Common side effects include dry skin and lips; whilst less common are joint pain, abnormal bone growth, changes in cholesterol and triglyceride levels and vision problems. Even more serious side effects reported are liver problems, pancreatitis and even cases of depression and thoughts of self harm. Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms should seek the advice of their physician.

Suffering with severe plaque psoriasis, or indeed any other form of psoriasis, can cause many problems both physically and mentally. The good news is that there is help available and you owe it to yourself to gain more information so that you can take effective action. To learn more about http://www.clearskinguide.info/Psoriasis-Cure/

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Vicky Massey has a wide experience of alternative health and healing. She has a degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and qualifications in massage, nutrition, healing and yoga.

Effects of Tar Therapy For Psoriasis

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

For severe cases of psoriasis, tar can be used in combination with ultraviolet light type B (UVB) which is known as the Goeckerman Regimen.

Here, the patient is exposed to UVB light in a cabinet which contains light tubes two hours after tar is applied to the skin. Since tar increases the skin’s sensitivity to light, it enhances the effects of UVB therapy and can make the lesions disappear for a few weeks to a year.

The Goeckerman Regimen can be administered on an inpatient basis which requires a three- to four-week hospital stay for severe and disabling psoriasis. Or it can be done at a day care center where the patient receives UVB therapy and tar treatment and returns home afterwards.
 
Another variation of the Goeckerman Regimen can be done in a physician’s office. This is ideal for less severely-involved psoriasis. Natural sunlight can be used in place of the UVB cabinet but you can get a severe sunburn if you’re not careful. To avoid this, shorter sun exposures are advised.

“The tar should be applied at least 30 minutes prior to sunbathing to allow the tar to penetrate sufficiently. The tar should not be applied too thick so as to filter out the ultraviolet rays,” the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) said.

The most common side effect of tar therapy is skin irritation or an allergic reaction. If the tar you’re using makes your skin red, switch to another less irritating brand. Tar can also stain clothes, especially the crude forms. To prevent this, here are some tips from the NPF:

To reduce staining, let the tar air dry on the skin before dressing.

If you get tar on something other than clothing, clean immediately with detergent and water. Quick action may save your upholstery or carpeting.

Wash tar-stained clothing or nightwear as soon as possible. It may need to be washed more than once. Detergent and bleach may help remove tar stains. One set of nightwear may be kept strictly for sleeping in medication.

One may also develop skin cancer from tar products. But this occurs if the substance is used repeatedly for several years. To reduce your risk, take a break from tar therapy once in a while.

“Anyone using tar on a regular basis should be aware of the signs of skin cancer and see a dermatologist for a skin cancer check-up,” the NPF said.

“There is little risk in using tar on the scalp since it is normally in contact with the scalp for only short periods of time. However, some people do leave tar medica¬tions on the scalp overnight. This could increase cancer risk,” it added.

Finally, when applying tar on the scalp, use a downward stroke in the direction the hair is growing. Doing the opposite can irritate the scalp and create more problems later.

“Stroking against the direction the hair grows can cause inflammation and pimple-like eruptions to appear at the base of the hair follicle, a condition called folliculitis,” the NPF said. (Next: Anthralin for psoriasis.

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Sharon Bell is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine http://www.HealthLinesNews.com