Help is at hand for Psoriasis

Anyone currently stuck in the daily battle that is having Psoriasis knows how itchy, sore and down right painful it can be. Unfortunately, the physical symptoms can also be just a scratch (sorry) on the surface of what it’s really like living with the chronic condition.

The red and cracked patches of dry skin it causes can in turn elevate stress levels through trying to manage it, thus exacerbating the unpleasant symptoms. It’s no wonder that many sufferers report being stuck in a seemingly endless cycle. If you’re one of them, knowing what causes a flare-up, how to treat it effectively and how to keep it at bay can make all the difference…

WHAT IS IT?

The short answer is it’s an autoimmune disease where the body attacks healthy tissues instead of correctly eliminating the harmful ones. Psoriasis is medically defined as epidermal thickening due to keratinocytes proliferation. Confused? We don’t blame you.

In layman’s terms, instead of being shed normally and replaced every 3-4 weeks, skin cells in those who suffer from psoriasis take just 3-7 days to replenish, leading to a painful build up. You’d be wrong for thinking that Psoriasis just simply looks like dry skin, it’s much more complicated. It can be made up of various different types and usually involves periods where the condition seemingly disappears altogether but then returns with more vigour than ever.

DIFFERENT TYPES, YOU SAY?

That’s correct. There are many different types of psoriasis which contributes to it being so difficult to find successful long term treatment. Below are some of the most common and are identified by their appearance on the body:

• Plaque: characterised by large lesions covered by large scales
• Guttate: small red teardrop-shaped spots with fine scales
• Inverse: often found in the folds of the body that are red, shiny and smooth
• Pustular: exactly as it sounds. Red bumps filled with pus (lovely).
• Erythrodermic: a rarer kind that presents as a hot, peeling rash across the entire body.

If you’re reading this and think that sounds like what I’m suffering from, it’s important to know that it’s not uncommon to face multiple types at once. The bad news is that, that can lead to psoriatic arthritis, characterised by inflamed and swollen joints so effective treatment in these circumstances is a must.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

The bad news is Psoriasis is often generic, meaning you’re more likely to inherit it from close relatives and the exact cause isn’t really known. It’s thought that at first the condition is brought on by a fault in the immune system. The immune system’s role within the body is to defend against disease and infection but in this case it launches as an attack against healthy skin cells mistakenly. Bizarre, right?!

Anything from cold, dry weather, smoking, alcohol, being overweight, skin damage and diet and exercise have also been known to trigger a flare-up. Anecdotally stress can also be added to that list but it has not been conclusively linked to causing it.

NOW, IMAGINE BEING SYMPTOM FREE IN JUST 10 WEEKS…

It’s unsurprising that with all the different ways the condition can present itself that traditional treatments have been thin on the ground. Often topical creams and ointments are prescribed to be applied to the area but these only reduce the effects and fail to address the underlying cellular issues at play. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs also cannot be used for long periods so often the condition ‘returns’ when the medication is stopped. With this in mind, traditionally, the only real treatments for Psoriasis weren’t really treatments in the true sense of the word, that is until now…

Introducing Exciplex, the pioneering new light therapy treatment for autoimmune diseases including Psoriasis. We know what you’re thinking, light therapy can have some unwanted side effects such as premature ageing and even developing cancerous skin cells if not used correctly. As always, your safety and care are paramount in order to receive the revolutionary results you deserve.

The Exciplex innovative handheld technology is backed by over 180 clinical trials and uses ultraviolet light during your treatment to specifically target individual lesions without affecting the surrounding skin. The UVB rays penetrate the skin and slows the growth of the affected skin cells leading to treatment of the condition on a cellular level. This allows the Exciplex to adhere to the highest safety standards as it eliminates the need to expose any healthy cells to the ultraviolet light. Treatment sessions are quick, completely pain free and depending on your symptoms your trained technician would typically recommend a course of twice weekly treatments for ten weeks.

Sounds like a dream come true? Get in touch to find your nearest clinic offering the Exciplex treatment and get ready to be symptom free. If you enjoyed this week’s topic then keep your eyes peeled for the second installment of the autoimmune series all about Vitiligo.