Psoriasis - Causes and Triggers

Scientists believe that at least 10 percent of people inherit one or more of the genes that could eventually lead to psoriasis. However, only 2 to 3 percent of the population develops the disease. Researchers believe that for a person to develop psoriasis, that person must have a combination of the genes that cause psoriasis and be exposed to specific external factors known as “triggers.”

In this article you will discover:

1. How do genes work?
2. Which genes make a person more likely to develop psoriasis?
3. What triggers psoriasis?

How do genes work?

Genes control everything about a person, from height to eye color. When genes are working normally, the body and its cells function normally. When a misstep occurs in the way a gene works, a genetic disease such as psoriasis may result.

Which genes make a person more likely to develop psoriasis?

Research into the genetics of psoriasis didn’t begin until the early 1970s. Recently, it has exploded in scope, thanks to improvements in medical and genetic technology, and increased funding.

In 2006, the Foundation began collecting DNA samples for the National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank. The BioBank is slated to be the world’s largest collection of psoriasis-related DNA in the world available to qualified researchers. The first BioBank DNA samples were released to researchers in 2010.

Scientists have now identified about 25 genetic variants that make a person more likely to develop psoriatic disease. At the University of Michigan, Dr. J.T. Elder and his team of researchers have identified several areas on the human genome where more than one gene may be involved in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

At the University of California-San Francisco, Dr. Wilson Liao is using new genetic sequencing technology to find rare "trigger genes" that may be the leading causes of psoriasis in certain individuals.

Working with DNA samples from a large family that includes many people with psoriasis, Anne Bowcock, Ph.D., a professor of genetics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has identified a gene mutation known as CARD14 that when triggered leads to plaque psoriasis.

At the University of Utah, Drs. Gerald Krueger and Kristina Callis Duffin have carefully catalogued the psoriasis of more than 1,200 patients. By comparing the genes of each individual to the way psoriasis shows up on his or her body, the team hopes to understand which genes are involved in specific types of disease.

Using a NPF Discovery grant, British researcher Francesca Capon found that a mutation to the gene called IL36RN might be involved in the three forms of pustular psoriasis.

What triggers psoriasis?

Psoriasis triggers are not universal. What may cause one person's psoriasis to become active, may not affect another. Established psoriasis triggers include:

Stress

Stress can cause psoriasis to flare for the first time or aggravate existing psoriasis. Relaxation and stress reduction may help prevent stress from impacting psoriasis.

Injury to skin

Psoriasis can appear in areas of the skin that have been injured or traumatized. This is called the Koebner [KEB-ner] phenomenon. Vaccinations, sunburns and scratches can all trigger a Koebner response. The Koebner phenomenon can be treated if it is caught early enough.

Medications

Certain medications are associated with triggering psoriasis, including:

• Lithium: Used to treat manic depression and other psychiatric disorders. Lithium aggravates psoriasis in about half of those with psoriasis who take it.

• Antimalarials: Plaquenil, Quinacrine, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine may cause a flare of psoriasis, usually two to three weeks after the drug is taken. Hydroxychloroquine is the least likely to cause side effects.

• Inderal: This high blood pressure medication worsens psoriasis in about 25 percent to 30 percent of patients with psoriasis who take it. It is not known if all high blood pressure (beta blocker) medications worsen psoriasis, but they may have that potential.

• Quinidine: This heart medication has been reported to worsen some cases of psoriasis.

• Indomethacin: This is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat arthritis. It has worsened some cases of psoriasis. Other anti-inflammatories usually can be substituted. Indomethacin's negative effects are usually minimal when it is taken properly. Its side effects are usually outweighed by its benefits in psoriatic arthritis.

Infection

Anything that can affect the immune system can affect psoriasis. In particular, streptococcus infection (strep throat) is associated with guttate psoriasis. Strep throat often is triggers the first onset of guttate psoriasis in children. You may experience a flare-up following an earache, bronchitis, tonsillitis or a respiratory infection, too.

It's not unusual for someone to have an active psoriasis flare with no strep throat symptoms. Talk with your doctor about getting a strep throat test if your psoriasis flares.

Other possible triggers

Although scientifically unproven, some people with psoriasis suspect that allergies, diet and weather trigger their psoriasis.

Click on the banner above for FREE video!

Article: The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is a non-profit organization with a mission to drive efforts to cure psoriatic disease and improve the lives of those affected: https://www.psoriasis.org

How To Cure Psoriasis Holistically - The Psoriasis Revolution...

The PSORIASIS REVOLUTION!

Psoriasis is a long lasting skin condition, one of the hardest to treat of the skin conditions, along with eczema. According to Wikipedia, more than 2% of the total world's population is affected by this problem. But, the medical world is yet to come out with the exact cause of this problem. Accordingly, there is no known cure for psoriasis. In general, it is considered as an autoimmune disorder when your faulty immune system sends wrong signals to your body causing exponential growth in your skin cells, resulting in thick psoriasis patches on various parts of your body like scalp, knees, elbows, back, forehead, behind the ears, underarms, under the breasts and other parts also. These skin patches are reddish white or silvery white in color. Increased skin dryness and inflammation are associated with these psoriasis flakes.

Holistic healing approach

As pointed earlier, as of now, psoriasis can't be cured, but can be managed to live a better life. Modern medical science is still clueless about the psoriasis cause and varieties of steroids based topical treatment medications are prescribed to control the symptoms. Topical treatment medications are those medications which are applied on your skin directly like creams, shampoos and oils. Coal tar based shampoos and salicylic acid based creams are very common. Also, steroidal immunosuppressants like methotrexate are given to the patients to calm down the immune system. The patient is supposed to use these medications for almost the whole lifetime. Hence, the potential side effects of these steroid based medications can't be denied. For example, the use of methotrexate in the long term can have negative effects on the liver. Similarly, alcohol also damages in lives in the long run. So, if a person consumes alcohol regularly and taking methotrexate to control psoriasis, then the combined effect of alcohol and methotrexate can severely damage the liver in the long run.

That's why a holistic healing approach is attracting more and more people to manage their psoriasis.

Holistic healing of psoriasis works on the principle that psoriasis is an internal body metabolism related disorder and skin flakes on your body are just an indication that your body's internal house is not in order. Holistic healing approach works on five basic aspects:

• Change in diet
• Change in lifestyle
• Stress management
• Use of natural herbs and supplements
• Using non-steroidal topical treatments

Psoriasis Diet

Diet plays the most important role in psoriasis healing as far as holistic healing is concerned. Impaired liver and poor digestive system coupled with stress can increase the level of body toxins beyond permissible limits. Consuming a diet which helps in body detoxification, boosts the body immunity and most importantly, easy to digest is a very good way to make peace with psoriasis. An ideal psoriasis diet would include eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Most of the green vegetables are alkaline foods and they are highly recommended to drift the body pH towards optimum body pH level (slightly alkaline). Drinking a lot of water and fresh green juices is also beneficial.

Various foods which are not good for psoriasis are: animal fat like dairy and red meat, allergy causing foods like wheat gluten and nightshades, sweetened carbonated drinks, caffeinated drinks, highly processed foods like bakery, pizza and pasta. Minimizing the consumption of alcohol and smoking is also highly recommendable.

Click on the banner below for more information ⬎

Holistic Healing of Psoriasis Works

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ashish_Kumar_Agrawal/2166192

Exactly What Is Psoriasis?..

Cure Psoriasis Holistically

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition symbolized by growth of skin cells at a faster rate than usual. Because of this, thick red, silver or white skin spots called plaques are formed.

Typical skin cells are reproduced after every 4 weeks. However, when affected by psoriasis, the new skin cells regenerate in days rather than in weeks. It commonly affects adults but can also affect teens and kids. The areas range in size and can be found on the elbows, hands, knees, feet, lower back or on the scalp.

In moderate cases, the condition seems like small eruptions on the afflicted area. Nevertheless, when critical, the skin gets inflamed in this way bring about reddish colored patches with silvery skin on the top. The skin at the same time ends up being tender and rather prickling. Various other manifestations may also include swelling of joints and also the fingernails and toenails have the tendency to change color.

Sources of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is caused by the overreaction of the immune system which results in inflammation of the skin and consequent exfoliation.

It can also be genetic. Research studies have discovered that some parents in large families relay the disorder to their children. The studies are yet to reveal how this happens.

Other environmental variables could also provoke the recurrence of psoriasis specifically a cold and dry weather.

Physiological variables such as stress, dry skin and body infections might also lead to psoriasis.

Several drugs such as high blood pressure medicine and anti-inflammatory medicines equally place a person at risk of acquiring psoriasis.

Particular mental diseases could possibly also trigger a psoriasis break out or could quite possibly worsen the condition in a pre-existing condition.

Smoking, even more so in women, heightens the chance of getting psoriasis and could very well also worsen the situation.

It is nevertheless imperative to keep in mind that the affliction is not communicable and could not be spread by touching.

Taking care of and Controlling the Symptoms of Psoriasis

For most people impacted by the ailment, topical care is typically the first course of treatment.

Some accepted topical creams include:

1. Vitamin D analogs.

Vitamin D is marketed through calcipotriene as a cream, solution or an ointment. Vitamin D acts to reduce the regrowth of skin cells. It must be used in very little amounts because it makes the skin sensitive.

2. Corticosteroids.

These steroids work in hindering the buildup of cells. They are definitely essential in abating inflammation on the impacted area and are solely employed for managing mild to moderate occurrences. The primary fallout of using steroids is that it could certainly cause thinning of the skin and as time pass, the psoriasis could possibly become resistant to treatment.

3. Retinoids.

These are products or solutions made from vitamin A. One of the most popular one is Tazorac which is commonly combined with steroid treatment. Retinoids should really not be used by pregnant women.

4. Alternative topical products include coal tar, anthralin, salicylic acid and calcineurin inhibitors.

The ointments have varied strengths depending on the manufacturer and on the affected area being treated. It is hence necessary to talk to a medical doctor before taking any medication.

5. Cure Psoriasis holistically, naturally with the Psoriasis Revolution™ program:

It is an original high quality product and one of the most comprehensive holistic Psoriasis solutions available on the Internet. They offer 24 hour personal counseling and support to guide their clients through the program until they reach their goals (get rid of Psoriasis naturally). In this way they practically guarantee complete success and satisfaction.

Click here to find out more:  The Psoriasis Revolution™ program

For more articles and help on psoriasis, read What Is Psoriasis? at my site and many more psoriasis- and other health-related articles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mike_Chamacs/1741056