Psoriasis & Homeopathy: A Match Made In Heaven

Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious skin condition that can affect people of any age. It is a disorder characterized by scaly erythematous plaques and patches on the skin with a tendency to become infected. Psoriasis is a “disease of civilization.” The incidence in western countries has increased since WWII and parallels an increased intake of saturated fat, decreased sun exposure, and reduced frequency of infections. Psoriasis affects about 2-3% of all adults. It occurs equally in men and women but usually develops between ages 20 and 50, with peak onset at 30-40 years of age. About 2% of people with psoriasis report having first experienced symptoms before the age of 10 years. The genetic pattern of inheritance is complex and not fully understood.

Psoriasis cannot be cured, but it can be controlled by medication (corticosteroids, Vitamin D analogues, etc.) or biological treatments (alefacept, etanercept, infliximab), depending on the severity of the condition and response to earlier treatment. Homeopathy works well on both its physical and psychological aspects. The best results after homeopathic treatment are seen in cases with a history of psoriasis for seven or more years. Let’s know about psoriasis and how homeopathy can help treat psoriasis.

 

What is psoriasis?Â

Psoriasis is a non-contagious, chronic skin disorder in which the body’s immune system begins to hyperactivate. The hyperactivity of the immune system leads to the rapid multiplication of cells that form lesions over large areas of the body (large plaques). These lesions are typically red or silver in appearance with distinct borders.

What are the types of psoriasis?Â

There are many variations and types of psoriasis. Some only affect small patches on select areas, while others cover much larger portions. There are five different categories:

1. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis and appears as large, raised areas on the skin with scaley, silvery-white buildup between cracks in the skin.

2 . Guttate Psoriasis develops tiny drops of fluid under flaky plaque patches. A streptococcal infection often triggers this form in children and young adults.

3. Erythrodermic Psoriasis affects nearly all of the top layers of the skin with redness and irritation that causes itching and burning sensations in affected areas. Erythrodermic involves more than 30% of your total body surface area, which can cover arms, legs, hands, or feet.

4 . Inverse Psoriasis appears as smooth, inflamed patches and can itch or burn.

5 . Pustular Psoriasis causes painful blisters and pustules to appear on the skin. The pustules may show up on top of any psoriasis mark you already have.

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that drives the uncontrolled production of skin cells by altering the life cycle of cells called keratinocytes. Keratinocytes are found in the outermost layer of skin (epidermis). They form a protective barrier against environmental factors such as chemicals, bacteria, viruses, and allergens while also providing a waterproof surface for your body.

 

What are the leading causes of psoriasis?

1. Heredity is believed to be one of the leading causes of psoriasis. A lesser-known fact about psoriasis is that it can also develop if you have a bacterial or viral infection.

2 . Too much sun exposure triggers new outbreaks in some people with psoriasis.

3 . Alcohol, smoking, and obesity are also risk factors for worsening psoriasis

4 . Stress might worsen some people’s symptoms. As many as half of all people with psoriasis report that stress makes their skin condition worse.

If you have severe psoriasis, your doctor may recommend counseling or therapy to learn ways to manage stress better and reduce flare-ups.

 

Who is more likely to develop psoriasis?

People who have relatives with psoriasis are more likely to develop the condition themselves. Men and women are equally susceptible to getting psoriasis, but often men start showing symptoms before women do, usually between ages 15-35 old. People who live in cold and temperate climates also have a higher risk of developing this disease.

 

What are the common symptoms of psoriasis?

Psoriasis can affect all parts of your body, but it usually shows up as thick, red patches covered with silvery scales on the knees, elbows, and other areas that tend to get dry. Symptoms vary depending on the type you have:

1 . Plaque psoriasis appears as raised patches called plaques. They frequently develop around or on top of your joints. You may see clear or pus-filled blisters, which often appear during an outbreak after weeks or months without flare-ups. The lesions can crack and bleed easily and may be painful when touched.

2 . Guttate psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis you can get. It usually develops on your trunk, back, and scalp. It shows thin scales that look like tiny droplets or dandruff mixed with large red sores that resemble chickenpox blisters or open spots on your skin.

3 . Erythrodermic psoriasis covers you in patches of thick plaques all over your body. Your joints may also be affected, which causes them to stiffen and swell. In severe cases, it may cause incorrect joint positioning called contractures.

4 . Inverse psoriasis causes bleach-white patches to appear underneath the edges of fingernails or toenails or around your lips and nostrils. It can also cause your skin to itch or burn.

5 . Pustular psoriasis causes blisters filled with pus to appear on the surface of your skin or just under it. You may have a mixture of clear fluid-filled bumps and solid white blisters that leak serum when they break open. The lesions may be painful, tender, and warm to the touch.

6 . Erythrodermic psoriasis affects nearly all of the top layers of skin (epidermis), allowing for greater penetration into deeper layers by topical therapies, making it ideal for homeopathic treatment! 

 

How is psoriasis diagnosed?

To complete a thorough diagnosis, your doctor will examine any areas where you’ve had symptoms and ask about any other conditions you may have. They will likely order several tests to rule out other possible causes of your signs and symptoms, such as rashes due to infections, food allergies, drug reactions, and more. Tests may include:

• Blood tests: Your doctor may need to check for signs of an infection or inflammation. This is often the first step in diagnosing psoriasis because it affects more than three million Americans each year.

• Skin biopsy: If your doctor suspects pier pressure sores caused by this condition, they might use a small blade to remove layers of affected skin for examination under a microscope. Once doctors believe they know what type of psoriasis you have, they can begin treatment customized for which kind of psoriasis you have.

 

How is psoriasis treated?

Because there are different types of psoriasis, treatment varies widely depending on the type and severity of your condition. Some treatments include:

Topical treatment. This is usually the first line of defense for mild cases of this skin disorder. It helps to ease symptoms by controlling inflammation and scaling. You may need treatment several times a week or every day if your flare-ups are severe or frequent. Topical agents include:

• Corticosteroids (applied directly to the skin and usually contain a combination of chemicals): These help to relieve inflammation. They also may help your psoriasis by making it less likely for the scales to return after you stop taking them.

• Vitamin D3: This helps with dryness and the thickening of the areas involved. It does not work as well as steroids but is safe enough for long-term therapy (as prescribed by your doctor). There are no severe side effects reported so far apart from mild irritation or rashes at application sites.

 • Light treatments: A phototherapy method uses ultraviolet light to treat your skin disease and is often used in combination with other topical treatments. These treatments are often costly because they are administered at a physician’s office or by a dermatologist.

Other treatment: Other forms of therapy include oral medications, injections, and biological therapies. Your doctor may recommend phototherapy if your disease is affecting your joints to be effective in reducing joint stiffness. The side effects of phototherapy are minimal apart from the mild burning sensation you might feel during the session itself, which wears off within 15 minutes after each session.

As this psoriasis treatment has side effects, homeopathy is also another approach to control this disease. Homeopathic treatment for psoriasis targets imbalances associated with skin lesions using sub-symptomatic doses of substances known to cause skin eruptions similar to those properties in patients.

Here are the reasons why homeopathic treatment for psoriasis is a match made in heaven:

1. Homeopathy is a system of medicine that works on the ‘law of similars’ and uses medicines made from substances like coal tar, which induces psoriatic symptoms in healthy people. Chronic psoriasis is an example of “like curing like.”

2. Homeopathic treatment can be individualized according to susceptibility and response to physical, mental, and emotional symptoms.

3. When prescribing a homeopathic remedy for a patient, the disease picture in totality is taken into consideration rather than looking at just one or two symptoms as in allopathy or other systems of medicine.

4. Homeopaths treat patients instead of diseases, so there are no long waiting lists, no side effects, and high costs. Homeopathy treats all the dimensions of a disorder as opposed to favoring symptomatic relief as in allopathy.

5. Homeopathic treatment is safe for children and pregnant mothers, as the medicines are non-toxic and do not interfere with other drugs being taken simultaneously.

6. In homeopathy, psoriasis is treated on both physical and psychological levels. Social and emotional issues are given a lot of importance.

7. Homeopathy helps the patient discover the root cause of psoriasis, which may be hidden under stress, anxiety, or other psychological reasons. It encourages patients to take responsibility for their well-being. In the course of treatment, many patients also report changes in lifestyle as they learn to balance work with relaxation and personal relationships.

8. Homeopathic treatment for psoriasis treats the root cause of the problem and, as such, prevents relapse or recurrence.

9. Homeopathy stimulates natural immune system processes and helps restore the skin to a healthy state. It does not just suppress symptoms like other medications.

10. Homeopathic treatment for psoriasis is proactive because it improves immunity rather than suppressing symptoms by taking medicines that deplete the body’s energy (corticosteroids and immunosuppressants).

11 . Homeopathy can treat all kinds of psoriasis, including guttate, pustular, inverse, erythrodermic, and ungual psoriasis.

12 . It can also be used as an adjuvant (in combination with other therapies) or as sole therapy in mild cases.

13 . Homeopathy can also treat psoriatic arthritis, neurodermatitis and is highly beneficial in treating the psychological aspects of psoriasis.

14. With homeopathic treatment, you are assured of the highest quality medicine as all medications are made under stringent safety norms using advanced technology. You can feel confident that you are receiving world-class care from some of the best doctors in India.

15 . Treatment with homeopathy encourages a holistic approach to well-being where both body and mind are addressed simultaneously for achieving complete wellness.

16. On average, it takes about six to nine months for homeopathy treatment to show results. Still, it can take longer depending on the severity of the condition and other factors like lifestyle and diet.

17. Homeopathic treatment is highly patient-friendly as you do not require multiple appointments to see progress, unlike in allopathy, where there is a heavy dependence on medicines and invasive procedures. You can consult your homeopath whenever you want for evaluation or follow-up, giving unparalleled homeopathy convenience over other systems of medicine.

18 . Homeopathy treats acute and chronic conditions, improving the quality of life for those with psoriasis by reducing the frequency and intensity of flare-ups that conventional treatments cannot provide.

19 . In addition, homeopathy is more cost-effective than conventional treatment as it can decrease dependence on medicines, hence cutting the associated costs drastically.

20 . Homeopathy is not just focused on symptomatic relief but also treats underlying causes of psoriasis to ensure no recurrences or relapses after treatment ceases.

21 . Treatment with homeopathy enhances the overall quality of life for patients with psoriasis by maintaining optimum health at all times, unlike invasive procedures that have unaffordable costs and high risks involved.

22 . With homeopathic treatment, you will discover a new meaning to complete wellness that goes beyond just treating symptoms or disease processes. With this form of medicine, you are assured of regaining your inner balance and harmony so essential to excellent health.

For more information and psoriasis treatment in homeopathy, you must visit a homeopathy doctor. You can book an appointment through OHO Homeopathy now!