Psoriasis is usually characterized by pink, raised patches of skin covered with flaky, white scales, possibly itchy or painful. These are usually found on knees, elbows, and scalp. In some cases, these skin inflammations are found in armpits, under breasts, genitals or around the anus. The fingernails may become pitted, loose or become crumbly. The raised areas on the hands and feet may crack or form blisters filled with pus. Some patients may have stiffness and inflammation in fingers and toes.

Psoriasis is a skin growth gone awry. Normally skin cells mature and shed in 28 to 30 days, making way for new cells. In psoriasis, new skin cells develop seven times faster than normal. Poorly developed, psoriatic skin cells can't shed fast enough to keep pace with the rapid growth. Instead, they pile up, forming raised, scaly plaques. The layers closest to the body surface appear red, because the affected area is inflamed. As the dead cells are pushed further from the skin surface, they form silvery white scales over the plaques. Generally, these scaly, red telltale signs of psoriasis show up on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but other parts of the body can be involved.

Psoriasis is not contagious. Experts think there may be a genetic link. In one out of three cases, the disorder can be traced through the family. It is known to skip a generation in some instances.

Psoriasis is known to be triggered by climate, damage to the skin (from dryness, a scratch, sunburn or chaffing, etc.), reaction to certain drugs and infections (such as step throat) as well as from stress. So, you can take some steps to minimize the triggering of psoriasis.

Follow your doctor's advice. Don't pick on your scales.

Moisture: Dry skin promotes psoriasis. Lubricate the skin especially during the dry, winter months. Avoid bathing with perfumed and deodorant soaps. Make sure that after bath, you rinse thoroughly to remove any residual soap from the body. Use a moisturizer after the bath. You may also use a humidifier during the winter months.

Avoid Prolonged Sun Exposure: Sunburn can worsen psoriasis outbreak. Use appropriate sunscreen all over your body before you go out to sun for any extended period of time. Consult a dermatologist for recommendations on the appropriate sunscreen lotion to use as well as an appropriate length of time you can spend outside without getting a sunburn.

Limit Your Alcohol Intake: Many psoriasis patients have reported that drinking worsens their condition. Doctors have also noticed that there is higher level of alcohol intake by patients suffering from severe psoriasis.

It is not clear whether it is alcohol or the stress that causes the skin flare-up. It is also possible, that these people drink excessively as a result of the psoriasis and the associated lack of self esteem and depression.

Avoid getting scratch, bump or abrasion. Do not use snug-fitting or elasticized clothing, tight wastebands, etc.

Maintain an Overall Good Health: Eat a good, balanced diet. Perform adequest exercise to maintain a good overall health.

Certain medications such as antimalarials, propranolol hydrochloride and beta blocker medications used to control high blood pressure, lithium, the heart medication quinidine gluconate, topical steroids, etc. are known to aggravate psoriasis flare-ups. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for alternative medications, if possible.

New research points out a connection between stress and psoriasis. It is possible that the stress is caused by the onset of psoriasis, associated loss of self-esteem and depression. Many experts observed that psoriasis patients show rapid and sustained improvement when they get psychological counseling to address personal problems that are causing them undue stress. Yoga or meditation or other stress management techniques are also useful to combat psoriasis.

There are no known remedies for psoriasis. With appropriate treatment, psoriasis can be controlled for months or years and then may flare back up again.

Steroid Creams such as corticoids, cortisones or corticosteroids applied daily to the affected aprts of the body can help reduce inflammation. These are generally recommended for short term treatments. They can actually damage the skin and worsen the condition if used for an extended period of time.

Coal Tar: Old remedy that is used to reduce inflammation., It is available in various forms such as in shampoos, bath products, ointment and creams. These are sometimes used for patients who develop resistance to steroids.

A controlled dose of ultraviolet light with a pill containing psoralen is found to have healing effect in some patients. It should be administered by a qualified practitioner. Generally, the treatment is given three times per week. The exposure is gradually increased to avoid burning. 20 to 30 treatments are necessary to obtain the necessary benefit. Warning: This treatment carries the same risks as the sun exposure - premature skin aging, increased risk of skin cancer and cataracts.

Anthralin

Etretinate (Tegison) - This is a Vitamin A derivative. It is taken orally once per day. Warning: Etretinate can cause birth defects. Do not take if you are pregnant. Avoid long term use as it has many other side effects.

Methotrexate plus Ultraviolet Treatment: Methotrexate is an anticancer drug and is believed to have beneficial effects in the treatment of psoriasis. This treatment has severe danger of toxic effects to the lever and bone marrow. It is found to be successful in the short term; but must be repeated frequently due to remission.

You may need emergency treatment if you develop pus-filled blisters or your whole body is red and scaly. Call your doctor if the symptom does not respond to home treatment or if it flares up whenever you have a sore throat.

Lomalux Psoriasis - This is a natural mineral homeopathic medication developed by Dr. Steven Smith, MD, FACP, a board certified dermatologist. It is an oral medication whose major active constituents are inorganic nickel and inorganic bromide. Each teaspoon contains about 1.1 mg nickel and 23.4 mg bromide. In clinical studies, 86 psoriasis patients who took oral doses of nickel sulfate and sodium bormide, major relief of psoriasis was observed. Ninety eight percent of the patients showed moderate to marked improvement.

Lomalux Psoriasis should be taken orally once a day on an empty, fasted stomach. It is best to take it first thing in the morning after fasting for at least 7 hours. Do not eat or drink anything for an hour after taking this medication. The treatment takes a number of weeks to take effect. Be persistent and patient. It may even get worse before getting better. Skin and scalp problems may take three months to respond; but will take about 5 months to get the maximum benefit. The actual dosage you take depends on your weight. Use the following chart for the optimum dosage:

For those who does not respond to Lomalux, there is a more powerful formulation called Psorizide Ultra. This medication requires a prescription by your doctor.

Ocean swims and sun -0 as often as possible.

Ultraviolet light given in slightly burning doses in conjunction with diet and herbs is very successful in removing obstinate lesions. Expose areas daily until pink for 2 to 3 weeks. An ultraviolet lamp may also be used with care for isolated lesions.

Warning: Overexposure to ultraviolet light may result in skin cancer and other harmful side effects. Do not exceed 2 to 5 weeks of exposure.

Colonics

Enemas

Vitamin A - 25,000 IU two times per day or more with supervision. (If you exceed 25,000 IU of Vitamin A per day, consult a physician.)

Vitamin B Complex - 25 to 50 mg two to three times per day (Use yeast free preparation if you are allergic to yeast)

Vitamin B-12: 1 Mg injection once weekly

Folic Acid: 25 to 75 mg per day

Vitamin C: Ascorbates may be tolerated best

Essential Fatty Acids: 2 to 4 capsules GLA (gamma linolenic acid) 3 times per day

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) - 2 to 4 capsules two to three times per day

Zinc: 25 to 50 mg three times per day (Reduce dosage if you experience bowel upsets)

Oil of Evening Primrose - 1 to 2 capsules three times per day

The following herbs are found to have beneficial effects in the treatment of psoriasis.

Bergamot Oil (Citrus bergamia) - Apply oil to lesion, then expose to sun or ultraviolet lamp. Sensitizes skin to ultraviolet light.

Bloodroot extract

Burdock root - 20 to 40 drops of tincture 2 to 4 times per day

Chamomile

Common figwort - 1 to 3 mL of tincture one to two times per day

Mullein

Oregon grape root

Sarsaparilla

Slippery elm tea

Wild clover

Yellow dock

Yellow American saffron tea

Diet: Food consumed should be primarily alkaline in reaction. At least one meal per day should consist of raw vegetables. Yellow foods, soybeans, tofu, and lecithin are very beneficial. Avoid citrus fruits, red meats, tomatoes, saturated fats, hydrogenated fats, sweets, alcohol, pastry, or cabonated beverages.

Start of a vegetable juice fast with carrot juice. Add spirulina, therapeutic herbal teas and other vegtable juices. Enemas or colonics should be taken during this fast ( 1 to 2 times per week for 2 to 6 weeks as necessary).

After the fast, start on a high fiber, high raw vegetable, no acid, no meat diet. Avoid saturated fats from the diet during this time. Foods that are especially useful are:

Soy, yellow foods, green vegetables, seaweeds, and 10-day brown rice diet.

Cod liver oil - 2 to 4 capsules three times per day

Elixir of lactated pepsin - This regularize the eliminations

Lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) - One of the most important additive to the diet with the most beneficial effect.

Pancreatic enzymes

Sulfur (organic colloidal sulfur) - 6 to 8 drops 3 to 4 times per day for 4 weeks; 4 drops three to four times per day until symptoms improve.

Spirulina - 1 tsp. 2 to 3 times per day.