psoriasis
Article by Dr. Zoltan P. Rona MD MSc

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that results in red, scaly plaques. Thick, silvery white scales surrounded by a red, inflamed border are characteristic. Scratching the scales causes pin-sized bleedings but no scars develop once the lesions have cleared. The rash does not usually itch but can become itchy if superinfected with fungi normally inhabiting the skin. Affected areas include the arms, the points of the elbows and knees, the legs, the trunk and the scalp but rarely the face. The nails become dull and develop ridges and pits. The most severe forms of psoriasis are associated with rheumatoid arthritis and the condition then is referred to as psoriatic arthritis.

The cause of psoriasis is unknown and sufferers respond to a variety of conventional medical treatments including coal tar, steroid creams, vitamin D cream, stress reduction techniques such as meditation and ultraviolet light. The disease lessens in severity in the summer or goes into remission from time to time for no apparent reason. Stress, anxiety, surgery, cuts, other illnesses, fungal (candidal) infections, food allergies, drugs such as lithium, chloroquine and beta-blockers may all trigger attacks.

Some studies suggest that psoriasis benefits from different types of fasting, a gluten-free diet, complete vegetarian diets and other restrictive regimes. Food allergy detection and control may be very important in some cases. Psoriasis sufferers have abnormally low serum levels of free fatty acids. Long term dietary changes with respect to fat intake may produce improvement. Animal fat, especially from red meat, eggs and dairy products, must be reduced or eliminated while fresh fruits and vegetables should be increased. Fats from fish (salmon, trout, cod, halibut), sesame seeds, flaxseed or soybeans improve most skin conditions including psoriasis. Supplementation of the diet with flax seed oil, evening primrose oil or fish oils is recommended.

Greenland Eskimos who consume a high amount of the omega-3-EPA oils found in fish have a very low incidence of psoriasis despite limited exposure to the sun. Many recent double-blind studies have shown that supplementation of the diet with 10 - 12 grams of these oils results in significant improvement in psoriasis. This is roughly equivalent to a daily intake of 150 grams of mackerel or herring. Cod liver oil or salmon oil capsules are more palatable for those with less enthusiastic appetites for fish. These high essential fatty acid foods interfere with the body's production of inflammatory chemicals, the ones causing psoriasis lesions to swell and turn red. Fats from red meats and dairy products have the opposite effect.

Other supplements that have been reported to be helpful for psoriasis include vitamin A, folic acid, vitamin B 12, selenium, zinc, digestive enzymes, whole leaf aloe vera juice, spirulina, chlorella, blue green algae and vitamin E. It may take 3 - 6 months to see the full benefit of supplementation with essential fatty acids and other nutritional supplements.

Herbal remedies of help to psoriasis sufferers include silymarin, dandelion, goldenseal, sarsaparilla, yellow dock, lavender and chaparral. Poultices made from these herbs for topical application are beneficial as well. Some cases of psoriasis benefit from anti-candida treatment with one small study showing a complete reversal of the disease in 75% of the cases using an anti-candidal regime. For more information on how to treat candidiasis by diet and natural food supplements, see "The Complete Candida Yeast Guidebook" by Jeanne Marie Martin and myself.