Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a very common, chronic, non-infective, inflammatory skin disease characterized by the presence of sharply defined salmon-red plaques with a scaly surface.

Psoriasis is found in about 2% of the population in NW Europe and N America and is probably less common in darker skinned races. The sex ratio is probably equal. Although Psoriasis can start in infancy, onset before four years is rare and before eight years uncommon. It is most commonly seen for the first time in adults between the ages of 20 - 40.

It is believed that psoriasis is inherited but it seems likely that genetic make up offers a predisposition to the disease, rather than being caused a specific gene.

Psoriasis Therapies

There is no cure for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, but people have a wide range of treatment options at their disposal to help them gain control over their psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Many different therapies can effectively eliminate or reduce the symptoms associated with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. No single treatment works for everyone, but something is likely to work in most cases. Some experimentation may be required before an effective approach is discovered.

Appropriate treatments are determined by a number of factors, including the type of psoriasis, its location on the body, its severity and a person's age and medical history. A physician - particularly a dermatologist - can provide guidance in selecting the right therapy.

Source: Dermatology by JS Pegum & Harvey Baker

Psoriasis and Omega 3

The relationship between psoriasis and the long chain polyunsaturates from fish oil is one which is quite well documented scientifically. Psoriasis is one of the inflammatory diseases and increasing the amount of the long chain omega-3 polyunsaturates in the diet is known to aid in bringing about a more anti-inflammatory state.

The first trials in this area were carried out in the early 1980s and they showed that taking 10g of fish oil daily for 3 months brought about a lessening of psoriatic symptoms such as itching, flakiness and redness of skin, as well as a reduction in the amount of the body affected.

Since the, several other trials have been carried out - all showing much the same thing. The disease is not cured by the omega-3 polyunsaturates, but it does become much easier to live with, and can be more readily controlled. Another aspect of the situation is that the omega-3 polyunsaturates can help to counteract some of the adverse effects of conventional psoriasis drugs.