Features - 'Today's Therapist - Salcura'

The article that follows was printed in the "Today's Therapist" magazine and was written by Dr Martin Schiele, Salcura Skincare research and development scientist.

All Salcura Skincare products have been developed using only natural ingredients of the highest quality. The natural products do not include any Steroids, Cortisones, Alcohols, Parabens, Peroxides, Lanolin, Petroleum, Hormones or Antibiotics.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease in which itchy, scaly pink patches, usually covered with whitish scales, form on the elbows, knees, scalp and other parts of the body. It is one of the most common skin diseases in Britain, affecting about 2% of the population, but its cause is not known. There does seem to be some hereditary link in psoriasis, but often symptoms may not appear until adulthood. The severity of the condition can vary enormously from person to person and time to time. While psychological stress may cause an exacerbation of psoriasis, the only significant event that precipitates the disease is a preceding streptococcal infection.

When someone is suffering from psoriasis the skin cells in certain parts of the body replicate much faster than normal. Skin cells originate in the deep layers of the skin and usually take about 28 days to come to the surface where they are sloughed off. However, in areas of skin affected by psoriasis this process takes only 8 days or less - the new cells accumulate so quickly that they never have a chance to mature.

CLINICAL PATTERNS

Although there are various clinical patterns psoriasis tends to be a symmetrical eruption but unilateral lesions do occur too.

FORMS OF PSORIASIS

Plaque Psoriasis

This is the most common form of psoriasis. Characteristically the plaques occur on the extensor surfaces of the knees and elbows. The lesions tend to be discoid or coin shaped. The size may vary from one to several centimetres. Other common sites involved are the scalp, particularly behind the ears, and the sacral region. The face is an uncommon site to be involved.

Guttate Psoriasis

Here the lesions appear suddenly usually over the upper trunk although the limbs, face and scalp may be affected. The lesions are small and tend to vary from one to ten millimetres. Guttate psoriasis is most commonly seen in children and young adults and typically follows a streptococcal upper respiratory tract infection.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis

This term denotes 100% involvement of the skin's surface. It may occur in disease other than psoriasis, notably eczema and skin lymphomas. In erythrodermic psoriasis the skin is redder (as the name implies) and the thick, white scaling is not usually present. The scales appear to be shed more rapidly instead of being heaped up and retained, although the surface of the skin is scaly. This form is very rare, and is usually found in young and middle aged adults.

Pustular Psoriasis

This form is associated with pustules as part of the morphology. There are two distinct forms of pustular psoriasis, one generalised on different parts of the body and the other localised either on the hands or feet.

Flexural or Intertriginous Psoriasis

This form involving the perianal skin and genitalia is a common presentation in children.

PRECIPITATING FACTORS

There are a number of known precipitating factors in psoriasis. However, not all will precipitate or exacerbate the disease in different individuals. It appears that there are modifying factors in different patients that govern whether lesions will be produced in a given instance.

Infections

Streptococcal infection is probably the most definite known trigger. The pattern of disease produced by streptococcal infections is guttate psoriasis. Patients with established chronic plaque psoriasis may develop an acute flare-up, which is similar to the guttate type eruption, on the trunk and limbs.

Hormonal Factors

Female sex hormones appear to be able to influence psoriasis. An increased incidence of onset has been reported at both puberty and the menopause. Pregnancy usually has a beneficial effect (50% of patients in one trial series reported improvement during pregnancy).

Psychogenic Factors

There is no doubt that in a proportion of patients psychogenic stress does appear to precipitate or exacerbate psoriasis. Although it is difficult to measure stress and how different individuals react to it, it is well established that stress does influence the endocrine system, which in turn affects immunological responses, as they occur in psoriasis.

Drugs

Certain drugs in a small proportion of patients affect the condition but this should not be considered as a contraindication to their use. The systemic corticosteroids group of drugs has a beneficial effect on psoriasis, but when the dose is reduced, or the drug stopped, there may be a rebound exacerbation of the disease. For this reason systemic steroids should not be used in the treatment of psoriasis.

Trauma

It has been known for over 100 years that localised trauma to the skin may precipitate psoriasis in a proportion of patients (Koebner phenomenon). The psoriasis appears some 2-4 weeks after trauma to the skin, precisely at the site of the injury. The nature of the injury is not important providing there is damage to the epidermis (from cuts, grazes, burns, herpes zoster, impetigo, fungal infections and eczema). Sunlight, which usually has a beneficial effect on psoriasis, will also induce psoriasis if the patient damages the skin by "sunburn." However, the Koebner phenomenon is probably more important for research than as a clinical entity.

TREATMENT

Although there is as yet no cure, treatment of psoriasis has improved in recent years. Treatment is by means of various creams and ointments containing coal tar, corticosteroids, salicylic acid and anthralin. Moderate sunlight is helpful and also synthetic Vitamin A may be prescribed. PuVA therapy may be used to treat more extensive or severe psoriasis. If possible systemic therapy (methotrexate, retinoids or cyclosporin) should be reserved for the worst cases and ideally avoided.

The very nature of psoriasis, by way of its propensity for spontaneous relapse and remission, makes the management difficult and variable according to circumstances. This is because as stress, either in mental or physical form, is a known precipitating or exacerbating factor psychological counselling and in-depth interviews to encourage an understanding and acceptance of underlying problems may be advisable. Periods of rest, away from environmental pressures which may have compounded the problem, is often of benefit.

However, one of the most effective natural preparations that can be used as a prophylaxis and therapy for psoriasis is SALCURA NATURAL SKIN THERAPY - INTENSIVE. The spray of Salcura Intensive provides the skin with essential nutrients to aid the body in its own natural healing process. Essential oils and moisturisers help prevent dryness, make the skin suppler and provide a natural antiseptic. Minerals including magnesium, calcium and silica play an important part in nourishing, cleansing and protecting the skin.

The solution is quickly absorbed through the pores of the skin to the dermis layer and then to the hyperdermis where new skin cells are formed. The unique formula nourishes the new cells and binds them together to form a healthier skin, which offers better protection against skin diseases and other negative influences.

Like all the Salcura sprays, Intensive has anti-itch, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties and is suitable for all skin types.

Additional intake of minerals and vitamins, particularly antioxidants, are recommended since studies have shown that they reduce outbreaks and enhance treatment. Appropriate supplements are also offered by Salcura Skincare to work synergistically with the topical treatments.

Please visit www.salcuraskincare.co.uk for more information.

Anyone wishing to discuss their condition with Dr Martin Schiele in person, please email your personal details to info@salcuraskincare.co.uk.

Page Created: 14 September 2005