Psoriasis is a chronic auto-immune disease, which appears as an inflammatory, proliferative disease of the skin. In the US alone there are over 7 million sufferers.
One of the body’s immune white blood cells, called a T cell, by mistake attacks normal, healthy skin cells (keratinocytes), while triggering other immune responses, that increase the rate of skin cell division and transit time from 28 days to 5 days. More and more cells form and move to the surface (epidermis) of the skin and causes thick patches to develop, as dead skin cannot be removed quickly enough. Besides being thick, these areas are often red, itchy, scaly and can be painful. Inflammation in these areas may also cause the skin to crack and bleed.
With such a compromised Immune or surveillance System as in Psoriasis, there is always the danger of further chronic diseases.
The rash of psoriasis is not contagious, but those with psoriasis often feel different, shunned and embarrassed, which can lead to depression and low self-esteem in the work place and general society.
Vitamin D is an immune modulator and plays a vital role in Immune surveillance and the prevention of auto-immune diseases. It is imperative for a psoriasis sufferer to ensure optimal blood vitamin D levels all year round, as very often their vitamin D levels are low or marginal. Vitamin D is thought to help psoriasis on several levels. It plays a role in the growth and division of skin cells or keratinocytes, and influences the action of many different Immune cells, including T cells.
One of the best treatments for psoriasis is exposure to sunlight to increase the vitamin D levels – the UVB rays convert the cholesterol in skin into Vitamin D. However, this action is blocked by applying sun block to the skin. Sunlight and phototherapy also work by killing off the activated T cells in the skin, which slow down the increased cell turnover, reduce the scaly areas and reduce the inflammation present.
Other lifestyle choices that can be of benefit is regular daily physical exercise. Stress is a serious driver of all auto-immune diseases, like psoriasis, while daily physical activity is the most powerful de-stressor, amongst so many other benefits, for the human body. In addition, this remedy is totally free!
While susceptibility to psoriasis seems to be inherited, environmental factors like infections, stress and diet seem to influence the disease.
Healthy balanced nutrition, with a high daily intake of a great variety of plant material (vegetables and herbs) of all colours is encouraged. Supplementation of omega 3 rich fish oils daily is also suggested, in addition, to eating fish and seafood more regularly. In particular, intake of daily EPA, is advised which serves as a precursor for the production of hormones that are anti-inflammatory. Psoriasis is a T-cell mediated inflammatory disorder of the skin, and these hormones will aid the Immune System in managing this fire of inflammation.
Optimizing Immune surveillance and Immune function is critical for control of this chronic disease of the Immune system. This entails optimizing gut function and the maintenance of a healthy gut microbiome, to ensure the impermeability of the gut wall, where 70% of the Immune Systems function and surveillance is situated.