Psoriasis Triggers and Treatments
Frustration and uneasiness are two emotions with which people living with psoriasis are too familiar. Psoriasis is a disease in which the skin cells grow at a quick rate, doubling and tripling in size before we know it. That is the reason dry patches with scales form on the skin and cause inflammation and redness. People suffering from psoriasis may develop depression symptoms as well.
Most of us probably think of psoriasis as being just a skin disorder, but it actually begins below the skin and is a chronic disease of the immune system. The immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells in our body, which leads to skin cells growing at a rapid rate. Itchy skin is a major symptom of psoriasis and is accompanied by the scales on the body.
Psoriasis has a genetic ground and can be inherited. Some people carry genes that make them more susceptible to develop psoriasis. This doesn’t necessarily mean the person will have the disease. Also, psoriasis is not an infection and therefore is not contagious.
Also read: Symptoms of Psoriasis
What triggers psoriasis?
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Stress:
Stress is one of the most common psoriasis triggers. At the same time, a psoriasis flare can cause mental strain. This may seem like an endless loop. However, relaxation techniques and stress management may help prevent stress from worsening psoriasis.
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Injury to Skin:
Psoriasis can appear in areas of the skin that have been injured or harmed. This is a result of the Koebner [KEB-ner] phenomenon, which states - scratches, sunburns, bug bites, and vaccinations can all trigger a psoriasis flare.
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Infection:
Anything that can affect the immune system can trigger psoriasis. That is why people experience a flare following an ear infection, bronchitis, tonsillitis, or respiratory infection.
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Weather:
The weather may trigger a flare. Cold weather can often cause psoriasis flares because of less sunlight and humidity, heated and drier indoor air, as well as stress and illness. Warm weather can often improve psoriasis conditions because of higher humidity and sunlight.
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Other Triggers:
Although it is less common, some people with psoriasis suspect allergies, certain foods, smoking, alcohol, or environmental factors trigger their psoriasis. A great way to learn about the unique set of triggers is to track them. Keeping records of symptoms and triggers can help to anticipate and treat the flare.
Treatments for psoriasis
The cure for psoriasis is currently not known but the symptoms can be controlled well with treatment. Psoriasis is often diagnosed or at least suspected based on its appearance and distribution. However, psoriasis may resemble eczema or other skin diseases and may require further tests. Some treatment for psoriasis options include:
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Topical Medications:
They take the form of lotions, foams, creams, ointments, gels, and shampoos. In widespread disease in patients with over 10% of the body surface involved, it may not be practical to use topical medication alone.
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Phototherapy:
For more extensive psoriasis, a useful option is ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. UV light can treat extensive areas of skin with few side-effects if performed in the physician’s office. One should keep in mind that all UV light causes mutational events, which can result in skin cancer.
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Laser Therapy:
Laser therapy uses intense doses of laser light to help control areas of mild-to-moderate psoriasis without damaging surrounding healthy skin. This can be quite effective for small patches of psoriasis, but since only limited areas of skin can be treated at once, they are not practical for extensive disease.
A wide range of treatments are available for psoriasis, but identifying the nearest effective one can be challenging. Consult a doctor if treatment is not working or has side-effects.
Homeopathy treatment for Psoriasis
Homeopathy is suggested to be the first choice for psoriasis treatment. Homeopathy has the potential to stimulate the body’s natural remedial capacity and heal the unstable immune system. Homeopathic medicines address and work at the root cause of psoriasis and restore the deviated immunity to normal. In homeopathy, meticulous details are noted while taking the case history of the patient, which helps to understand the disease process in a person.
The approach in homeopathy is such that it addresses the patient’s physical, emotional and genetic totality; and treats the traits of psoriasis. The constitution of homeopathic medicine is such that the medicines are devoid of any toxic substances, hence absolutely harmless.
A clinical case study published in Wiley Online Library demonstrated that classical homeopathy may have a solution to psoriasis and its complications which goes beyond skin clearance and achieves general well-being. The patient under observation had been suffering from psoriasis on a severity level of 57.6. After receiving homeopathic treatment for 5 months, the severity level reduced to 11.3. Apart from this, the patient also experienced a considerable improvement in the quality of life.
At Dr Batra’s®, we have successfully treated over 1,40,000 patients with skin disorders, including psoriasis cases, at a 94.3% treatment success rate as authenticated by American Quality Assessors. Our homeopathic doctors follow a constitutional homeopathy approach keeping in mind the physical and emotional factors, disposition, and factors worsening the symptoms before prescribing a remedy. Book an appointment with us to get a safe, effective, and holistic homeopathy treatment for psoriasis.