Diet Cure for Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune condition that affects the skin of 4.5 to 7.5 million Americans. Under normal conditions, old skin cells are shed off and replaced by new ones in a cycle that usually takes little less than a month. In people with psoriasis, the cells grow and divide at a rate almost ten times faster than normal skin, resulting in thick, inflamed patches or lesions, covered with dead skin cells (called scale). Psoriasis can develop on any part of the body, but it most commonly affects the skin of the elbows, knees, and scalp, groin, and buttocks. Psoriasis is associated with some other health conditions, including diabetes, obesity and excess body weight, cardiovascular disease, and depression. Furthermore, up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis will also develop psoriatic arthritis, a disease causing inflammation in the joints.

Function
Though dietary changes won't cure scalp psoriasis, they may help prevent or reduce the intensity of your symptoms. Since excess body weight increases your risk for psoriasis outbreaks, your diet should also support healthy weight management, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. An appropriate diet may also help delay or reduce symptoms of psoriatic arthritis and should meet your basic nutrient and energy needs.
Helpful Foods
Your diet should include healthy foods from all vital food groups, including complex carbohydrates, lean protein sources and healthy fats. Oil in salmon, albacore tuna and other fatty fish provides anti-inflammatory benefits and, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, may help reduce itching and redness linked with psoriasis. Whole grains are low-glycemic, meaning they have a mild impact on your blood sugar levels and may improve appetite control and hormonal levels and lead to improved symptoms. Whole grain breads and cereals also provide folic acid -- a synthetic form of the B-vitamin folate. If you take the psoriasis medication methotrexate, you may need increased folic acid. Colorful fruits and vegetables, such as berries, bell peppers and leafy greens, provide antioxidants that help strengthen your immune system. Healthy protein-rich foods include skinless white-meat poultry, fish, low-fat dairy or soy-based products and legumes. In addition to fatty fish, nuts, seeds, vegetable oils and avocados provide healthy fats.
Foods to Avoid with psoriasis 

Since foods affect people with psoriasis differently, take note of foods that seem to worsen or trigger your symptoms. Some people with psoriasis notice improvements after omitting gluten -- a storage protein found in wheat, barley and rye -- from their diets, according to professor and chairman of the department of dermatology at the University of Rome Dr. Sergio Chimenti. In his book, "Psoriasis," Chimenti recommends avoiding or limiting animal-derived foods and beverages since a vegetarian or plant-based diet may help improve your symptoms. Animal products most likely to worsen inflammation include fatty red, fried and processed meats, dark-meat poultry,

Psoriasis Scalp Pictures , Causes , Symptoms , Treatment

Scalp psoriasis is a common skin disorder that makes raised, reddish, often scaly patches. It can pop up as a single patch or several, and can even affect your entire scalp. It can also spread to your forehead, the back of your neck, or behind your ears.
Psoriasis Scalp Pictures

What is the cause of scalp psoriasis?
It is generally accepted that scalp psoriasis, like all psoriasis, is related to genetic defects that affect certain parts of the immune system. There are undoubtedly environmental factors that trigger its initial development in genetically predisposed individuals. The notion that "emotional stress" plays a causal role or at least exacerbates psoriasis has been difficult to prove. There is no question, however, that psoriasis of the scalp can be an extremely stressful experience.

What are scalp psoriasis symptoms and signs?
Psoriasis appears as a small bump, a papule, surmounted by scale. When these papules coalesce, a plaque is formed that is often covered by thick layers of horny scale. When this scale is shed, it appears asdandruff, which can be quite unsightly. Scratching these plaques, either because of itching or because of the impulse to remove it, is a very poor idea because of what is called the Koebner phenomenon (also known as the Koebner response or isomorphic response). This may cause psoriasis to develop in areas of inflammation and trauma. Scratching off the scale will only make things worse. Occasionally, seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp can be confused with psoriasis since both can produce excess scale and can itch.
Symptoms of mild scalp psoriasis may include only slight, fine scaling. Symptoms of moderate to severe scalp psoriasis include:
Scaly, red, bumpy patches
Silvery-white scales
Dandruff-like flaking
Dry scalp
Itching
Burning or soreness
Hair loss
Scalp psoriasis itself doesn’t cause hair loss, but scratching a lot or very hard, picking at the scaly spots, harsh treatments, and the stress that goes along with the condition can lead to temporary hair loss. Fortunately, your hair usually grows back after your skin clears.
If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor or dermatologist. He may simply take a look or do a skin biopsy to rule out similar conditions like seborrheic dermatitis.

Treatment for Scalp Psoriasis
The first step in treating scalp psoriasis effectively involves removing or lifting thick scales, which helps medication penetrate the plaques and clear them up.
"One common way to do this is by using keratolytics treatments, which contain active ingredients, such as salicylic acid, urea, lactic acid, or phenol, that are designed to dissolve skin flakes or scales," says Strachan.
"Another way to soften and loosen scalp scales is to apply oils, lotions, creams, or ointments to a damp scalp."

Once the psoriasis scale has been softened, you can remove it with a fine-tooth comb or brush.

Massage and Acupuncture Treatment for Psoriasis

Many people frustrated by their psoriasis turn to complementary and alternative therapies to find relief. These therapies, many of them with roots in Eastern medicine, may benefit your psoriasis treatment plan.

Massage Treatment for Psoriasis 
Massage therapists use their hands and instruments to manipulate, rub, and knead your muscles and connective tissues. Studies have found that massage therapy can decrease stress, anxiety, and pain. In addition to the research, there are a number of theories behind the benefits of massage. Some believe it releases endorphins into the body, while others believe it flushes lactic acid from muscles and improves lymphatic circulation. Massage therapy may offer benefits for either psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.
Acupuncture Treatment for Psoriasis
Acupuncture has also been practiced in China and other Asian countries for centuries. The acupuncturist gently inserts thin needles into the body at key points. As with acupressure, this might either release the flow of energy or endorphins into the body.

According to a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2012, acupuncture has been proven in clinical trials to help manage chronic pain. Overall, people who received acupuncture had less pain than those who received placebo (or fake) acupuncture or no treatment at all. This may suggest that people with psoriasis might also get some relief from the treatment.

Is Psoriasis Contagious

Is Psoriasis Contagious?

No,Psoriasis is not contagious. It is not something you can “catch” or that others can catch from you. Psoriasis lesions are not infectious and cannot be passed from person to person. It is okay to have contact with people who have psoriasis.~Psoriasis is not contagious. It is not something you can “catch” or that others can catch from you. Psoriasis lesions are not infectious and cannot be passed from person to person. It is okay to have contact with people who have psoriasis.

While the exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, researchers consider environmental, genetic, and immune system factors as playing roles in the establishment of the disease. For example, environmental factors can trigger exacerbations of the disease, including cold weather, trauma, infections, alcohol intake, and some chemicals and/or drugs. Certain genes are more commonly found in people with psoriasis, and psoriasis commonly runs in families. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease whereby one's immune system is misdirected to cause inflammation in the skin. Current treatments often take advantage of this concept by modifying immune responses to improve psoriasis. Moreover, it is also known that, occasionally, after an immunological-related event occurs (for example, recovering from strep throat, after antimalarial drugs, or cessation of steroid therapy) there can be activation of psoriasis.

What is Psoriatic Arthritis ?

Psoriatic Arthritis is a form of arthritis that in most cases affects the skin and the joints.
In most cases people with PsA develop the condition following the onset of psoriasis. This does not mean that all people with psoriasis will develop PsA. Due to the similarities of symptoms it may sometimes be confused with other forms of arthritis.

This booklet explains the condition and symptoms that may arise and helps with diagnosis and management of PsA. You will find out about the different approaches to living with the condition as well useful advice on exercise, nutrition and self-management training. There is also some information on your healthcare team as well as the various benefits that may be available to you.
What are the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis?
As with other forms of arthritis, the symptoms of PsA vary among different people. Many symptoms are common to other forms of arthritis, making the disease tricky to diagnose. Here’s a look at the most common symptoms – and the other conditions that share them
A red scaly skin rash.
Thickening, discoloration and pitting of the nails.
Stiff, painful, swollen joints. PsA typically affects the ankle, knees, toes and lower back. The joints at the tips of the fingers may also swell confusing it with gout, a form of inflammatory arthritis that typically affects only one joint.
Dactylitis: This is a sausage-like swelling of the fingers or toes. This symptom is one that often helps differentiate PsA from RA, in which the swelling is usually confined to a single joint.
Enthesitis: People with PsA often develop tenderness or pain where tendons or ligaments attach to bones. This commonly occurs at the heel (Achilles tendinitis) or the bottom of the foot (plantar fasciitis), but it can also occur in the elbow (tennis elbow). Each of these conditions could just as easily result from sports injuries or overuse as from PsA.
Pain and swelling at the back of the heel.
Eye inflammation (less frequent).
What is the cause of psoriatic arthritis?

At present the exact cause is not known. Research has shown that a particular combination of genes makes some people more likely to get psoriasis and PsA. However, having genes that predispose you to PsA does not necessarily mean you will develop this disease. Some people think that an event has to occur to trigger it.Unfortunately we don’t know what that “trigger” is. It could be a viral infection, trauma or something else in the environment. There may be more than one trigger.

Psoriatic Arthritis :Symptoms ,Causes and Treatment

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by a form of inflammation of the skin (psoriasis) and joints (inflammatory arthritis). Psoriasis is a common skin condition affecting 2% of the Caucasian population in the United States. It features patchy, raised, red areas of skin inflammationwith scaling. Psoriasis often affects the tips of the elbows and knees, thescalp and ears, the navel, and around the genital areas or anus. Approximately 10%-15% of patients who have psoriasis also develop an associated inflammation of their joints. Patients who have inflammatory arthritis and psoriasis are diagnosed as having psoriatic arthritis.

What causes psoriatic arthritis?

The cause of psoriatic arthritis is currently unknown. A combination of genetic, immune, and environmental factors is likely involved. In patients with psoriatic arthritis who have arthritis of the spine, a blood test gene marker called HLA-B27 is found in about 50%. Several other genes have also been found to be more common in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Certain changes in theimmune system may also be important in the development of psoriatic arthritis. For example, the decline in the number of immune cells called helper T cells in people with AIDS (HIV infection) may play a role in the development and progression of psoriasis in these patients. The importance of infectious agents and other environmental factors in the cause of psoriatic arthritis is being investigated by researchers.

What are the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis can develop slowly with mild symptoms, or it can develop quickly and be severe. Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis can help prevent or limit extensive joint damage that occurs in later stages of the disease. The disease can develop in a joint after an injury and may seem like a cartilage tear.
Here are common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis:
Generalized fatigue
Tenderness, pain and swelling over tendons
Swollen fingers and toes that look like sausages
Stiffness, pain, throbbing, swelling and tenderness in one or more joints
A reduced range of motion
Morning stiffness and tiredness
Nail changes—for example, the nail separates from the nail bed and/or becomes pitted and mimics fungus infections
Redness and pain of the eye, such as conjunctivitis
Psoriatic arthritis usually affects the distal joints (those closest to the nail) in fingers or toes.
You may also experience symptoms in your lower back, wrists, knees or ankle.
In 85 percent of patients, psoriasis occurs before joint disease. If you have been diagnosed with psoriasis, it is important to tell your dermatologist if you have any aches and pains.
There is little connection between your psoriasis severity and psoriatic arthritis severity. Having a severe case of psoriasis does not necessarily mean a person will have a severe case of psoriatic arthritis. A person could have few skin lesions, but have many joints affected by the arthritis.
How to treat Psoriatic arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic, progressive disease that can lead to permanent joint damage if treatment is delayed. Like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis is associated with other comorbidities. The good news is that treating your disease can lower your risk of developing some comorbidities, like cardiovascular disease.

This makes the relationship you have with your doctor particularly important. To receive the highest standard of specialized care for your joints and connective tissues, people with psoriatic arthritis should consider seeing a rheumatologist. This is a doctor who specializes in arthritis. You can ask your current health care provider to refer you to a rheumatologist. A doctor referral can help you get into a rheumatologist more quickly. You also can search the Beijing Meidi Skin Disease Hospital to find a rheumatologist near you.