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Psoriasis

The Latest Health Extracts From The World Of Research Via The Web

This is a critical review of psoriasis treatments promoted on the net. Many of these are scams. Some are just deceptive misinformation, others are potentially dangerous. Secrets are revealed wherever possible to spoil the marketing game. It’s a shame that these hucksters prey on people desperately looking for a safe and effective treatment. 1

More common in individuals younger than 30 years, a history of upper respiratory infection secondary to group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (eg, Streptococcus pyogenes) often precedes the eruption by 2-3 weeks. Although recurrent episodes may occur, especially those due to pharyngeal carriage of streptococci, isolated bouts are known to occur. The sudden appearance of the papular lesions may be either the first manifestation of psoriasis in a previously unaffected individual or an acute exacerbation of long-standing plaque psoriasis. On the other hand, guttate psoriasis may be chronic and unrelated to a streptococcal infection. 5

With a few notable exceptions, commercial sites selling psoriasis treatments emphasize only the claimed benefits of their products and provide no support for those claims. They rarely mention risks, side effects, or offer an accurate list of ingredients so that consumers can make their own informed choice. The only public place to find this information has been in the psoriasis newsgroup, and the postings don’t stay around long enough for newcomers to see them. By putting this information here on the web, the reviews will hopefully be as visible to the world as the commercial sites are now. 1

The National Psoriasis Foundation has proposed a new way to classify psoriasis. Instead of being grouped as mild, moderate, or severe, the group suggests a new two-tiered system that classifies patients as needing either local or body-wide (systemic) treatment. 2

Please distinguish between the treatments being offered and the methods used to promote them. The intent here is not to invalidate anyone’s personal success with a treatment, but to show how the claims are deceptive and misleading. The promoters of the secret cures no doubt got benefit with their regimen, but it is a serious mistake to assume that their experience will be universal. Psoriasis covers a wide range of symptoms that can be triggered by many different causes. What has been discovered repeatedly in the open forum discussions is this: What works for one person does nothing for the next. 1

Severe psoriasis has been linked to a significant increase in a patient’s risk of death. A study of more than 713,000 patients showed that severe psoriasis increased mortality by 50%. Such patients should receive comprehensive health examinations to reduce the risk, the authors recommended. Study participants were considered to have severe psoriasis if they required systemic treatment. 2

People who start to smoke after developing psoriasis may delay the onset of psoriatic arthritis, according to research presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the Society for Investigational Dermatology. However, because smoking causes serious health problems, everyone should avoid tobacco use. 2

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder marked by periodic flare-ups of sharply defined red patches, covered by a silvery, flaky surface. The main disease activity leading to psoriasis occurs in the epidermis, the top five layers of the skin. 2

The process starts in the basal (bottom) layer of the epidermis, where keratinocytes are made. Keratinocytes are immature skin cells that produce keratin, a tough protein that helps form hair, nails, and skin. In normal cell growth, keratinocytes grow and move from the bottom layer to the skin’s surface and shed unnoticed. This process takes about a month. 2

For reasons that doctors don’t yet understand, the immune systems of people with psoriasis malfunction. One type of white blood cell - the B-cell - begins creating antibodies that destroy normal skin cells. Another type of white blood cell - the T-cell - begins overproducing a substance called cytokines. This overproduction turns off a signal that regulates skin cell growth. 46

Various forms of psoriasis exist. Some can occur alone or at the same time as other types, or one may follow another. The most common type is called plaque psoriasis, also known as psoriasis vulgaris. 2

Plaque psoriasis leads to skin patches that start off in small areas, about one-eighth of an inch wide. They usually appear in the same areas on opposite sides of the body. 2

Seventeen patients with widespread plaque psoriasis were selected for this study. There were 13 males and four females, ranging in age from 27 to 73 y old, and duration of disease ranged from 5 to 30y. Eight patients were in treatment with ultraviolet B, two with psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), and seven were on no treatment or were only using topical steroids. None of the patients was on methotrexate or retinoids. Skin biopsies under local xylocaine anesthesia were performed from distal uninvolved and involved skin. All patients were provided with informed written consent forms previously approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Normal control skin from nonpsoriatic patients was obtained from postsurgical specimens. 26

The eruption of localized pustular psoriasis is chronic and recurring. It is recognizable by yellowish pustules on a background of redness and scaling on the palm (thenar and hypothenar eminences) or on the instep of the sole and side of the heel, or on both areas. Lesions are observed in all stages of development, including vesicles, vesicopustules, frank pustules, and dried brown maculopapules. 13

Generalized (von Zumbusch) pustular psoriasis may develop de novo or from preexisting plaque-type psoriasis. It is characterized by fiery-red, irregular patches with round, arcuate, serpiginous borders that are studded with myriad 1-mm to 2-mm superficial pustules. These patches have a predilection for flexural or skin-fold areas such as the armpits, groin, or under the breasts, but may occur anywhere. The tiny pustules coalesce into lakes of pus, desquamate, and form new pustules as the border moves in waves every 24 to 72 hours. Most patients are acutely ill and have fever, leukocytosis, hypocalcemia, and hypoalbuminemia. 13

The Panacea offers these health-extracts to help people investigate health-related subjects in greater depth using the references given in each paragraph. Kindly note that these are current extracts from the web, meant for research, and that these are not meant to be medical advise. For all your health-related needs you must consult trained and licensed personnel.

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