Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious skin condition which affects over four million American people suffer each year. Psoriasis is thought to be caused by the body's own immune system over reacting to some form of trigger, and modern medical science feels there is no remedy or cure for the disease.Treatments are focused on minimizing the symptoms that come with Psoriasis instead. Herbal and alternative remedy specialists however, feel quite differently on this matter.The symptoms themselves are treatable though, and sometimes psoriasis can go into remission for many months at a time.
When a human body is healthy, it generates new skin about every 28-30 days. The new skin is generated deep underneath the surface, and slowly rises to the top over that month's time frame. Once it reaches the surface, existing skin cells are ready to die and be shed, so the new ones take the place of the dead cells.
With psoriasis however, the body generates skin cells at a much faster rate, and sends them to the surface in just three to five days instead of thirty. Since the surface skin cells are not yet fully died off, the new skin piles up on the surface with existing skin. This creates thick scaly skin patches on the body which have silvery white flakes, which are called psoriasis plaques.These plaques can be quite dry, itchy and red. Sometimes they'll become so dry they'll start cracking too. Psoriasis looks horrible and can be terrible to live with, but it's not contagious. The body is over producing the skin cells because it feels something is wrong somewhere.
Many doctors, researchers and medical specialists feel the body's own immune system is simply over reacting. There is some evidence that psoriasis is hereditary, and there is evidence which shows certain events in your life can trigger a psoriasis flare up too. Common events which can cause flare ups include periods of heavy stress or trauma, and severe illnesses such as strep throat.
Since there is no known cure for psoriasis, treatment revolves around minimizing or reducing the symptoms of this skin condition. There are topical creams, ointments and salves which can be applied to the psoriasis plaques which can help them become softer and thinner for instance. There are also some which can help the itching and redness of psoriasis as well.
Psoriasis patches are usually thick white skin with silver or white colored flakes on top. Sometimes the area around the skin patches is red and dry, and sometimes it can even crack and bleed. These patches develop most often on the elbows, knees and scalp, but they can appear almost anywhere on the body including the feet, ankles, face and genitals.
Modern medicine tries to slow down or inhibit the body's immune system as a treatment, but herbal and natural remedy specialists feel there are better ways to treat the condition.Medical treatments also use special directed UV sunlight to help reduce the psoriasis plaques too. There are also both oral and injection drugs which are sometimes used for more severe cases of psoriasis. These drugs also often work by trying to supress your body's immune system so that new skin growth is slowed down to a more normal rate.
A natural remedy for psoriasis also involves cleansing the body completely, instead of just focusing on the waste disposal organs. This remedy is often called a body detox, and it's usually done by going on a juice fast of some kind for a week or two.
