Psoriasis affects around 2% of people in the UK. It can start at any age, but most often develops in adults under 35 years old and affects men and women equally.
The severity of Psoriasis varies greatly from person to person. For some it’s just a minor irritation, for others it can majorly affect their quality of life, and in some extreme cases this disease can be a continual lifelong battle.
But what causes Psoriasis?
The exact cause of Psoriasis is not known, however it is mostly thought to be an autoimmune disorder. This means that the immune system, which is your body’s defence against diseases and infections, attacks healthy skin cells by mistake. Normally, skin cells are made and replaced every 3 to 4 weeks, but with Psoriasis this process only takes about 3 to 7 days. The resulting build-up of skin cells create the patches associated with Psoriasis.
How do you cure Psoriasis?
There is no known cure for Psoriasis and the symptoms of Psoriasis can often develop or become worse with certain triggers such as infections that weaken the immune system, skin injuries or excessive stress and tension. Triggers vary from person to person and the symptoms can vary from a few spots of dandruff-like scaling to major eruptions that cover larger areas.
Psoriasis tends to come and go in cycles. Flaring for weeks, sometimes months and then subsiding. Sometimes the symptoms of Psoriasis can go into complete remission permanently or until another trigger starts the whole process again. Further complications can develop for some people such as psoriatic arthritis which starts with pain and swelling in the joints and connective tissue.
What treatment options are available?
There are various treatments available to help manage the symptoms and these range from topical creams, steroid treatments, PUVA courses and sometimes immunosuppressant medication. What is often overlooked is the necessity to incorporate lifestyle habits, stress coping strategies and nutritional guidelines.
Psoriasis sufferers are starting to learn about and understand the long-term difficulties that strong medications can cause and are trying to find ways to manage their symptoms holistically, using meditations, plant-based diets and natural skin care products.
We started our own full range of M-Folia products using 100% pure extract of Mahonia Aquifolium (Oregon Grape Root) after coming across some exciting clinical trial and research results for psoriasis sufferers using this amazing plant extract.
Shop our range of Psoriasis and Eczema creams and ointments.