I first developed something a dermatologist diagnosed as lichen planus, a type of psoriasis, about 20 years ago. Rather symmetrical patches of itchy scales began appearing on both of my legs. Then similar small patches appeared on both arms.

Although my doctor was quick to come up with a diagnosis, he had no idea what had caused what he said was psoriasis or how to cure it. He gave me salves, steroids and vitamins, but nothing seemed to work. I would have tried sunlight, a standard treatment for psoriasis, and a natural one, but it was winter, and there just wasn't much sun. I nearly scratched my skin to the bone.

Then a funny thing happened. When I left the intemperate climate of Maryland for the tropical climate of Ecuador, my "psoriasis" cleared up. Now I'm convinced that the doctor was wrong. I don't think I had psoriasis, just dry skin. We heat our house with oil-fired, hot-water radiators. They produce a dry heat that apparently parched my skin to the point where my symptoms appeared. Every year, a week or two after the first frost, when we start heating the house, my skin acts up by getting dry, itchy and flaky. For me, the best treatment is a trip to the humid tropics, one of many reasons that I love the Amazon. But my skin condition has certainly piqued my interest in psoriasis.

It also leads to the first lesson here: Doctors don't know all that much about treating psoriasis, and sometimes they're wrong when they diagnose it. It makes good sense to investigate gentle herbal approaches before submitting yourself to harsher medical treatments that don't always do the trick anyway.

Psoriasis causes red, scaly patches of varying sizes, usually on the scalp and lower back and over the elbows, knees and knuckles. On the toenails and fingernails, it causes pitting and brownish discoloration, and sometimes it causes the nail to lift and crack.

Typically, the rash first appears in teenagers and young adults. It may continue throughout the person's life, increasing and decreasing in severity, often for no apparent reason. Psoriasis leaves no scars and usually itches only when it appears in body creases. In severe cases, it may cause scales, cracks and blisters on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Psoriasis may also cause a rash on the genitals, profuse shedding of dead skin flakes and even (although rarely) arthritis involving the spine and large joints.

Psoriasis afflicts an estimated 2 to 4 percent of Americans, with whites accounting for the overwhelming majority of cases. The condition is a medical mystery. It's not caused by an infection or allergic reaction, nor does it appear to be caused by stress, foods or vitamin or mineral deficiencies. It may be an autoimmune condition, meaning that the immune system attacks the body. It's not contagious.

We also know that psoriasis isn't hereditary, yet for some unknown reason it sometimes shows up in several family members. Illnesses, scrapes and bruises and emotional upsets can make it worse.

Psoriasis somehow interferes with the normal growth and replacement cycle of skin cells. Normally, the body replaces skin cells every 28 days or so. Psoriasis speeds up this process to five to ten times the normal rate, which causes the buildup of scaly patches.

As I've mentioned, sunlight often helps get rid of the patches. Many of us now avoid sunbathing because we know that sun exposure contributes to rising rates of malignant melanoma skin cancer. For people with psoriasis, however, the benefits of sunlight could outweigh the risks. When the weather or the season doesn't allow sunbathing, sunlamps are an alternative.

For mild cases, doctors may recommend over-the-counter 0.5 percent hydrocortisone creams, and stronger prescriptions are also available. The newest treatment for psoriasis, PUVA, involves a combination of exposure to UVA, one type of ultraviolet light, and taking compounds known as psoralens. Psoralens are found in plants and also show up in certain pharmaceuticals. Because PUVA has potentially serious side effects, it should be administered only by a psoriasis specialist.

Other types of fatty acids have shown to be of benefit as well. A diet rich in linoleic acid and supllemnet with evening primrose oil (to provide both linoleic acid and gamma-linoleic acid-GLA) might improve psoriasis 1.

Such a diet would enhance the production of prostaglandins and inhibit the formation of leukotrienes. Prostaglandins are hormone-like natural fatty acids that help to regulate many physiological functions in the body. Leukotrienes are other hormone-like substances which can trigger inflammation. In British and U.S. studies, linoleic acids appeared to render leukotrienes less active 2.

Diet supplements of evening primrose oil have recently been shown to improve atopic dermatitis in a double-blind study. No side effects were noted 2.

I always recommend borage oil instead of evening primrose oil. They contain the same beneficial fatty acis - only borage oil contains more. Independent clinical tests show that borage oil contains up to 26 percent GLA. Compare this to evening primrose oil and black currant oil, which contain no more than 18 percent. Not only that, borage oil costs less because the borage seed is three times larger than black currant or everning primrose seeds. 

Patients should also explore the possible effect of vitamins B1, B3 and B6, zinc, magnesium, selenium, fiber, and lactobacillus acidophilus, found in yogurt and supplements. The latter two suggestions, of course, improve gastrointestinal health 2.

All the B vitamins, especially B1, B3 and B6, are essential to the nerves. Since there is a connection between stress and psoriaia it  make sense to nourish your nerves with B vitamins. However, to get maximum benefit from any B vitamin, it's necessary to take a formula that contains all the B vitamins. The whole B complex family includes B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin, inositol, and choline.

Zinc is very important to the skin and can make the difference between pockmarks and smooth-as-silk skin.

Magnesium is essentail to your nerves, muscles, bones and tissues. Selenium is also powerful antioxidants (boosts the immune system) and is also found in fish.

Some patients with psoriasis may have a folic acid deficiency, (another B vitamin) which can be remedied with supplementation.  In a study reported in the British Journal of Dermatology, 16 of 58 patients with psoriasis (27 percent) had low blood levels of folic acid. Four of the pstients (seven percent) has stbnormal red blood count folic acid levels, while 16 (27 percent) had an abnormal variety of red blood cells. Only 12 patients of the 58 had normal folic acid absorption 4. 

For maximum absorption, take supplements with meals.

 

References

1. Voorhees, John J., M.D. " Leukotrienes and Other Lipoxygenase Products in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Psoriasis and Other Dermatoses," Archives of Dermatology, v. 119, p. 541-547, July 1983.

2.Ibid.

3. Hoffer, Abram, M.D., Ph.D. Orthomoleclar Medicine for Today's Living, v.52, n. 6, p.22, June 1990.

4.Fry, L. et al. "The Mechanism of Folate Deficiency in Psoriasis," British Jurnal of Dermatology, v84, p. 539-544, Gross, P., et al, 1971