INTEGRATED TREATMENT FOR PSORIASIS

 Dr K S Prasanna, Dermatologist, Institute of Applied Dermatology, Kasaragod, Kerala

Psoriasis: Non-Contagious Skin Disorder

Psoriasis is a highly visible, long-standing skin disease. Psoriasis can affect both men and women and is visible on the skin in the form of silvery-white scales that can be sometimes very itchy. In patients suffering from psoriasis, there is abnormal cell regeneration where the cells embedded in the epidermis regenerate much faster than in normal individuals and stack up on the surface of the skin.

Psoriasis : Common symptoms and Diagnosis 

The white, silvery scales of psoriasis are so distinctive that it is relatively easy to diagnose. Where the scales are not evident, as often occurs in people who bathe and scrub frequently, scratching the lesions will show the typical scales. Further scratching will show bleeding pinpoints, which are also characteristic of the disease.

In about a quarter of all cases, the nails may also show peculiar changes. There may be pitting. Or the nails may be thickened, yellowish, or opaque, with ridges and scales heaped up at the free edge. These characteristics, plus the distribution of the scaly patches on the body and the family history, will lead to the diagnosis. In case of doubt, a biopsy - that is, the microscopic examination of a tiny piece of skin removed under local anesthesia - provides confirmation.

Some people get more than one type of psoriasis. Sometimes a person gets one type of psoriasis, and after sometime its pattern changes. People who gets psoriasis usually have one or more person in their family affected by Psoriasis. Not everyone who has a family member with psoriasis will get psoriasis. But psoriasis is a common disease. It can begin at any age. Most people get psoriasis between 15 and 30 years of age. Another common age for psoriasis to begin is between 50 and 60 years of age.

Scientists have learned that a person’s immune system and genes play important roles. It seems that many genes must interact to cause psoriasis.

Scientists also know that not everyone who inherits the genes for psoriasis will get psoriasis. It seems that a person must inherit the “right” mix of genes. Then the person must be exposed to a trigger.

Many people say that their psoriasis began after they experienced one of these common psoriasis triggers:

• A stressful event
• Throat sore or in Cold, dry weather
• Taking certain medicines, such as lithium or medicine to prevent malaria
• A cut, scratch, or bad sunburn

Psoriasis may look contagious, but it's not. One cannot get psoriasis from touching someone who has it. To get psoriasis, a person must inherit the genes that cause it. IAD is developing an integrated treatment for psoriasis. We combine the use of phototherapy along with ayurvedic medicines. Topical use of ayurvedic oil made of ‘Dantapala' was found very useful. Treatments based on pitta changes are effective in controlling the exacerbations.