For those who are unfamiliar with psoriasis, this is relatively common skin disorder that affects both genders at almost any age. The medical community has classified it into five different types, each with its own set of symptoms. Of these, plaque psoriasis is the most common, with reports revealing that nearly 80% of psoriasis sufferers are affected from this particular form. Plaque psoriasis leads to reddish patches of raised skin, enveloped by a plain-colored scale. The patches are also known as plaque, and are commonly visible on the sufferer’s scalp, elbow, lower back and knees. Nevertheless, these are not the only areas affected by the disorder, and plaques can form anywhere on the body. Regardless of the form of psoriasis the patient is suffering from, the discomfort is almost equal in all cases. The skin demands frequent itching, and it becomes cracked and starts bleeding. In very severe instances, a sufferer may experience intense itching, so as to lose a night’s sleep. The pain itself is very discomforting, and may not allow you to work in peace. Moreover, the disorder often flares up at any time in future, because controlling its symptoms requires lifelong treatment. It is easy for an individual suffering from psoriasis to be embarrassed, frustrated and even depressed about the condition, and because psoriasis occurs on the exposed portions of the body, the problem is clearly visible.
Psoriasis belongs to the category of chronic diseases, which implies that it can have long lasting effects, and can also re-occur. And though the disease can affect anyone, it is typically more common in people falling under the age groups of 20s to 40s. Children under 3 years of age are considered safe, since psoriasis rarely attacks them. Most people suffering from the disorder develop it when they are below the age of 30. The number of sufferers is rather high in United States, and it is estimated that about 3 people in every 100 suffer from some form of psoriasis. Interestingly, and also in contrast to popular belief, psoriasis is not contagious and is not an infection. Therefore, coming in contact with a person suffering from psoriasis does not transmit the disease.
While the medical community has still not determined the exact causes of psoriasis, we are now in a better position to understand the condition, thanks to the number of advanced researches carried out in this field. On the basis of the studies, researchers have concluded that the disorder results from wrong signals sent by the body’s immune system, and therefore is an immune-mediated condition. Due to some reasons, the immune system malfunctions and requests the body to increase production of skin cells. Under ideal circumstances, the time for these cells to mature and shed is about 28-30 days. However, when a patient is suffering from psoriasis, this period reduces to 3-6 days. Moreover, after they have been matured and should be shed, the disorder leads to piling up of the cells, thus causing visible lesions. Psoriasis can also be passed down from one generation to another, although a trigger is needed in these cases for the disease to occur in the first place. There are numerous triggers, and a patient may respond to any of them. These include skin injuries, medications, and stress, sunburn and strep infections, only to name a few. Anti-malarial medications and beta blockers are known medications which act as triggers in these cases.
Treatment of psoriasis is subject to a number of factors. The treatment method varies depending on the type of psoriasis you are suffering from, its severity and extent, and also your age and gender. Lifestyle is an important aspect in this treatment, and your doctor may suggest some changes in it to avoid the suffering from psoriasis later. Unfortunately, there is no absolute cure for the condition, though undergoing treatment can prevent the disorder from surfacing. However, it must also be remembered that psoriasis may resurface again as soon as the treatment is stopped. Some popular treatment options include systematic, topical and photo therapy.
Moisturized skin is vital in the psoriasis treatment plan, and your doctor will recommend some moisturizing creams. There is a vast variety of creams available, both medicinal and alternative, which have a varying degree of beneficial results. Now, it must be pointed out that these are only intended to help in the external treatment. Psoriasis, being an autoimmune dysfunction, cannot be treated to the root, no matter how may creams we may apply. However, a natural topical treatment method has been work to work in many cases, and with considerably good results. This can be done by using Aloe Vera. The method of treatment requires application of Aloe Vera on the affected areas. Additionally, sufferers have reported that consuming supplements containing Aloe Vera extracts also offers very helpful results, when used in combination with the application therapy.
A study conducted on 120 people, 60 men and an equal number of women, who were suffering from psoriasis proved the helpful role of Aloe Vera in the treatment. The patients were suffering from mild to moderate instances of the disorder, and either a placebo cream or topical Aloe Vera extract (0.5%) was administered to patients, up to thrice a day. The study was carried out over a period of four weeks. Of the patients, the ones treated with Aloe Vera extract showed considerable signs of improvement, and no recurrences of the symptoms were seen until a year after the treatment stopped. Interestingly, there were some patients who never reported about any recurrences at all. A similar study was conducted by Swedish Malmo University Hospital which also confirmed the earlier findings.
The results of the study are certainly not surprising, and this is because Aloe Vera has been in use for treatment of skin problems from a very long time. There are a number of skin products which contain Aloe Vera as an important ingredient, and these products include creams, lotions, soaps and balms. Aloe Vera soaps are commonly recommended by doctors to those suffering from frequent skin issues, and this is not only because of its effectiveness, but also because they are free of toxic wastes.
Aloe Vera for Psoriasis Treatment,
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