Psoriasis - Is There A Cause And A Cure? Part 1.
Historically, sufferers from skin conditions such as eczema and
psoriasis have been looked at with disgust and ostracized from
society. In fact, the term leper was applied to people with all
kinds of unsightly skin conditions, not only leprosy.
This revulsion towards skin disease is still prevalent today,
and psoriasis is a very stressful and miserable condition to
have, especially with the young, for obvious reasons: it affects
all parts of the body, including scalp, face, hands, nails and
even the genital areas. It is unpleasant to look at and
unpleasant to have.
Like many conditions, only a sufferer can understand the way it
affects aspects of life others take for granted; activities such
as having a good time at a swimming pool, sunbathing on the
beach, wearing a t-shirt, shorts or even changing clothes in
front of people, and for youngsters and teenagers, trying to
find a boyfriend or girl friend. None of these things, which are
part of every day life, are easy for psoriasis suffers, andin
some cases not even possible. It is sometimes embarrassing even
going for a hair cut! Only we know the feelings, doubts and
anxieties when people stare at us or make comments.
WHAT IS THE CAUSE?
Quite frankly, in my opinion, no one knows what causes
psoriasis. I have heard it said that it is inherited. I have
suffered from psoriasis for 30 years but no one else in my
family has it, going back to my great grandparents on both sides
of the family. One thing is certain - it is not infectious.
Psoriasis cannot be passed from one person to another.
I have read about many factors which trigger psoriasis: - stress
- alcohol - smoking - diet - contact with certain chemicals -
cold - mechanical stress to elbows, knees - exposure to some
steroids and other medications
and so many other activities to avoid in addition to the above,
such as swimming. Can swimming really trigger psoriasis? I
wouldn't know, its been such a long time since I enjoyed that
activity.
It has been said that psoriasis has a connection with arthritis.
This I believe since some of my family have arthritis and I have
it in both knees. Perhaps this could eventually be clue as to
the cause. However, psoriasis is not as glamorous as most
conditions which are given research funding.
The cause of psoriasis is thought to be connected to the
autoimmune system and a certain type of white blood cell called
T-cells which stimulate the reproduction of skin cells. The
result is that skin cells grow much faster than normal - this
basically is what psoriasis is: skin cells reproducing much
faster than they usually do, so it a completely natural process,
just that it is happening too fast. Why this happens is unknown,
and the reason why one patch of skin is affected with psoriasis
while the skin beside it is clear, is also unknown.
However, research is being carried out on the human genome of
people affected with psoriasis to try determine any genetic
cause of the disease. So far it is thought that a number of
factors are involved which combine to form the condition when
acted on by a trigger such as one or more of those above.
There are many claims on the internet from people who profess to
have discovered the cause of psoriasis, and hence a psoriasis
cure, but I do not believe them. Anyone with a cure for
psoriasis would not be selling it for a few bucks on the
internet. They would very rapidly become multi millionaires!
Psoriasis causes enough mental stress and anguish in sufferers
without them having to read this kind of nonsense, and be given
false hope by some internet marketer who is trying to make a
fast buck from someone's concerns and worries. This type of
marketing with stressful conditions such as psoriasis we can do
without.
If anyone out there claims to have a cure for psoriasis, send it
to me free of charge and I will try it out. If your claims are
true I will tell the world for you, and you will make more money
than you can count. I wonder how much response I will get to
that offer? Don't wait up.
In Part 2 I will describe the various types of psoriasis and how
they applied to me. What problems they gave me personally and
what treatments I sought and used for them. The results make
interesting reading and I have a few suggestions to make as to
how psoriasis can be controlled.
I also found that everyone is different, and an effective
treatment for one can do nothing for another. This supports the
theory that the condition is due to a number of factors, and
that the individuals environment can have a significant part to
play.