Getting To The Bottom Of Psoriasis And Stress

By Terry Robbins

Stress is toxic. It will rob you of your piece of mind and your health. While not the cause of many diseases and conditions including psoriasis, it is a contributing factor because it is so damaging to the body physically and emotionally. Psoriasis and stress is something to consider if you can't seem to get a break from psoriasis flare-ups.
Stress
Stress is a part of life and can even be considered a good thing if it spurs you on to achieve your goals, take and complete a class, get healthy, etc. We all have to deal with some level of stress about financial obligations, kids, deadlines, job pressures, emotional issues, etc.
Stress only becomes a problem when it turns into chronic stress. It is normal to be stressed out about completing a term paper, work deadline, etc. But at some point this stress should be relieved such as when the term paper is completed and turned in, when you meet your work deadline or get an extension, etc.
Being stressed out day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year is a recipe for disaster.
When faced with a stressful situation, your body will go into a "fight or flight" state when it releases certain stress hormones. This will cause;

• Rapid heart rate
• Sweaty palms
• Rapid breathing
• Increased blood pressure
• Digestion will stop
• Rigid muscles
• Fats and sugars being released into the bloodstream increasing blood glucose levels and cholesterol, etc.

In ancient times, there would be fighting or fleeing going on in stressful situations. In the modern world however, the "flight or fight" response by the body is redundant since most stressors such as financial worries and so forth, do not require this type of response. However, this response by the body to stress continues to occur anytime you are stressed out.
If this response is not constant, it will not be a problem, when you are dealing with chronic stress however, it becomes a problem and can be a contributing factor to most is not all diseases and conditions such as;

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Weakened immune system
• Diabetes
• Belly fat
• Headaches
• Ulcers
• Digestive problems
• Asthma
• PMS
• Sleep disorders
• Hair loss
• Etc

Stress and the Brain
Stress will exhaust your organs including your brain by actually shrinking your brain. The part of the brain that will be affected by chronic stress is the structure known as the hippocampus which is important for memory.
Stress is able to shrink this structure by decreasing or shrinking the existing cells. Tons of research validates this brain shrinkage due to stress. And this structure in the brain is usually the first place to be damaged when Alzheimer's disease is at play.
You CANNOT afford to live with chronic stress!!!
Stress and Psoriasis
As mentioned previously, chronic stress is a contributing factor for many diseases and conditions and this includes psoriasis. Stress has been identified as one of the common triggers for the various symptoms of psoriasis.
Chronic stress can be a contributing factor in making psoriasis worse. In people who are predisposed to psoriasis, chronic stress can be the trigger needed for a flare-up.
A study in the UK also showed that chronic stress can interfere with and delay the healing process. Chronic stress can affect the ability of being able to respond favorably or quickly to treatment methods for psoriasis such as light therapy.
Fighting psoriasis will require you to take a closer look at your stress levels and learn to manage stress effectively. It is impossible to have no stress at all but it is how you respond to stress that will be the difference between health and ill health.
Stress Management
If you suffer from chronic stress, learning to manage stress so that it does not affect your health and lead to psoriasis flareups requires that you first identify the triggers which could be any of the following;

• Financial pressures
• Family and relationships
• Work pressures
• Major life changes
• Pessimistic attitude
• Unrealistic goals and expectations of yourself
• Being a perfectionist and so on and so forth

The next step is to evaluate your response to stress. Do you;

• Have a rapid heartbeat
• Freeze
• Suffer from insomnia or sleep too much
• Become agitated
• Need to drink or smoke to relax (which actually worsens stress)
• Withdraw or become unusually quiet
• Avoid the issue
• Display a lack of concentration
• Become negative
• Become depressed
• Have mental fatigue
• Become hostile
• Become lethargic and so on and so forth

Knowing how you respond to stress will help you determine when you are under stress so that you can learn to manage it and avoid flare-ups and many of the other effects of chronic stress.
When you notice that you are dealing with an overload of stress, it is important to be proactive in the presence of excessive stress. Stress management is all about eliminating the stressful situation or minimizing it. Stress management is also about learning to relax or not being so consumed with the stressful situation.
This can be accomplished through;

• Prayer
• Deep breathing exercises (stress and deep breathing cannot coexist)
• Aromatherapy treatments
• Massage
• Stress reducing exercises
• Meditation
• Biofeedback
• Visualization techniques
• Yoga, etc

Identifying stressors may also require you to modify your behaviors such as avoiding work overload or avoiding taking on too many responsibilities, ensuring that you eat a proper diet filled with fruits and vegetables, avoiding alcohol, eliminating smoking, caffeine, unhealthy fats and sugars, creating a budget (and sticking to it!) etc.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a great way to relieve stress and there are certain essential oils that are used such as lavender, rose, chamomile, frankincense, orange, etc, that can help you relax and calm down when stressed.
Some essential oils can also help you recharge as well as revitalize and stimulate you in addition to helping to boost your immune system.
The use of aromatherapy baths, massage oils, inhalants, skin, hair and body treatments and so forth, can be a great way to not only pamper oneself but also relieve stress.
Psoriasis and stress are connected. If you do not get a handle on stress, stress will handle you. You will deal with psoriasis flare-ups after psoriasis flare-ups with no relief in sight if stress is not managed. For an aromatherapy recipe for stress relief as well as using herbs for stress management visit http://natural-psoriasis-treatments.com.
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Psoriasis, A Harmful Skin Disease

By Mihir Kumar Manu

People, who suffer from a chronic disease, can't make themselves happy in this earth. A healthy man finds himself set with the circumstances, he is bestowed. One should prefer to be preventative rather than be susceptible to any chronic diseases. Being infected with a harmful disease, one would only be having problems to get rid of it. Among all injurious skin diseases, Psoriasis is one, which sometimes proves to be quite distressing, as it equally impairs one's personality externally and internally.
Psoriasis is found, when the cells of one's skin get bigger suddenly. The body resistance can't prohibit cells growing at random. The body can't cast off these superfluously developed skin cells; let them amass on the exterior skin to have lesions ultimately. More than 5.5 million people of the earth are now made victim to this skin disease.
Grounds of Psoriasis:-
Psoriasis is no doubt a dangerous disease; but is certainly not a contagious one, which even does not make any harm to the people come close to the victim. Scientists agree to a conception that says when the immune method and genes of one's body fail, T cells (A variety of white blood cells), which protect external and harmful bacteria and viruses, erroneously, spark off an effect on the skin cells. Due to this effect, new cells are seen in the body instantly, and these new cells cause Psoriasis on the skin.
Treatment:-
Though, any permanent solution has not yet been met with the inventions of medical science so far, the following treatment processes may be tried out to help a victim.
Topical Treatments:
Very often doctors prescribe corticosteroids or steroids for people suffer from mild to moderate Psoriasis. Different forms of these steroids are foam, lotion, cream, ointment, etc.
General Drugs:
When a case of acute Psoriasis is found, the following drugs may be used in accordance with the advice of a good skin specialist.
Biological Drugs:
These are the drugs made from living organisms; sometimes, prove effective for victims of Psoriasis.
Phototherapy:
This is an ultraviolet and laser treatment process. It sometimes helps cure this harmful skin disease.
Homeopathic and Ayurvedic treatment:
This treatment often helps victims of Psoriasis to find a permanent solution for the disease.
A victim of Psoriasis should never be frustrated and is to be fearless enough to fight against this disease, as there is a definite solution available for him or her in this flourishing age.
Article written by Mihir Kumar, a web content writer, who mainly writes articles on health, education, science, products and current affairs. He always loves to share interesting facts with his readers on the said subjects.
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Alternative Medicine for Psoriasis

By Daniel Fraser

Psoriasis is a noncontagious, skin disease that is caused by an overreaction of the body's own immune system, which speeds up the growth and life cycle of skin cells. Usually, a skin cell matures and falls off the body's surface in about 30 days. However, a psoriatic skin cell takes only three to four days to mature and move to the surface. Instead of falling off, extra skin cells build up on the skin's surface forming "plaques" which appear red, flaky and scaly that are often itchy and painful.
The plaques vary in size from being minute papules to sheets covering larger parts of the body. Not only does the disease affect knees, skin behind the ears or scalp, but it also affects the underarms and genital areas.
Common triggers that aggravate and precipitate the outbreak of psoriasis are severe stress, trauma or injury, severe illnesses such as strep throat, and change in diet.
Psoriasis is considered incurable, therefore treatment and medicine is focused on reducing or controlling the symptoms of psoriasis. Following are some non-prescription remedies for psoriasis.
Food Remedies for psoriasis
Psoriasis is a metabolic disease, therefore it is very useful to follow a well-balanced diet. Include foods with zinc: seafood, meat, seeds, and cooked dried beans, peas and lentils; beta carotene: sweet potato, kale, carrots, turnip greens, mustard greens, and spinach; vitamin D: cod liver oil, fish, fortified cereals, oysters, and caviar; and omega-3 fatty acids: salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel, sardines and herring.
Soluble fiber such as pectin, guar gum, and psyllium are very useful for binding toxins. However, you should also eat things like flaxseed oils, folic acids (present in bok choy, beets, chick peas, turkey, peas, and oranges). Foods that aggravate psoriasis are spicy foods and liver and other organ meats.
Homeopathy remedies
There are multiple homeopathic medicines available in capsules, ointments, and oils: arsenicum iodatum, graphites, calcarea carbonica, mezereum, mercurius solubilis, sepai, staphysagria, sulphur, rhus toxicodendron, and petroleum.
Other psoriasis remedies
Many non-prescription medications contain natural and herbal ingredients which are known to help soften and restore skin problems. You can use aloe Vera extract in a topical application (apply three times a day and do not cover). You can also use essential oils like avocado oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, cashew nut oil, Vitamin E, oatmeal, and buttermilk as homemade remedies.
Sunshine on the skin can clear up mild cases of psoriasis. The sun helps kill surface skin cells more quickly and this helps them shed faster.
To learn more about the different types of alternative medicine available, visit [http://www.med-e-zine.com] where you'll find this and much more, including information on holistic health and healing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Daniel_Fraser/1677159
http://EzineArticles.com/?Alternative-Medicine-for-Psoriasis&id=7952848

Alternative Medicine for Psoriasis

By Daniel Fraser

Psoriasis is a noncontagious, skin disease that is caused by an overreaction of the body's own immune system, which speeds up the growth and life cycle of skin cells. Usually, a skin cell matures and falls off the body's surface in about 30 days. However, a psoriatic skin cell takes only three to four days to mature and move to the surface. Instead of falling off, extra skin cells build up on the skin's surface forming "plaques" which appear red, flaky and scaly that are often itchy and painful.
The plaques vary in size from being minute papules to sheets covering larger parts of the body. Not only does the disease affect knees, skin behind the ears or scalp, but it also affects the underarms and genital areas.
Common triggers that aggravate and precipitate the outbreak of psoriasis are severe stress, trauma or injury, severe illnesses such as strep throat, and change in diet.
Psoriasis is considered incurable, therefore treatment and medicine is focused on reducing or controlling the symptoms of psoriasis. Following are some non-prescription remedies for psoriasis.
Food Remedies for psoriasis
Psoriasis is a metabolic disease, therefore it is very useful to follow a well-balanced diet. Include foods with zinc: seafood, meat, seeds, and cooked dried beans, peas and lentils; beta carotene: sweet potato, kale, carrots, turnip greens, mustard greens, and spinach; vitamin D: cod liver oil, fish, fortified cereals, oysters, and caviar; and omega-3 fatty acids: salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel, sardines and herring.
Soluble fiber such as pectin, guar gum, and psyllium are very useful for binding toxins. However, you should also eat things like flaxseed oils, folic acids (present in bok choy, beets, chick peas, turkey, peas, and oranges). Foods that aggravate psoriasis are spicy foods and liver and other organ meats.
Homeopathy remedies
There are multiple homeopathic medicines available in capsules, ointments, and oils: arsenicum iodatum, graphites, calcarea carbonica, mezereum, mercurius solubilis, sepai, staphysagria, sulphur, rhus toxicodendron, and petroleum.
Other psoriasis remedies
Many non-prescription medications contain natural and herbal ingredients which are known to help soften and restore skin problems. You can use aloe Vera extract in a topical application (apply three times a day and do not cover). You can also use essential oils like avocado oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, cashew nut oil, Vitamin E, oatmeal, and buttermilk as homemade remedies.
Sunshine on the skin can clear up mild cases of psoriasis. The sun helps kill surface skin cells more quickly and this helps them shed faster.
To learn more about the different types of alternative medicine available, visit [http://www.med-e-zine.com] where you'll find this and much more, including information on holistic health and healing.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Daniel_Fraser/1677159
http://EzineArticles.com/?Alternative-Medicine-for-Psoriasis&id=7952848

Treatment for Scalp Psoriasis

By Stacy Merry Scott

Unfortunately, the cause of psoriasis is not known and this in itself makes it difficult to treat. It most often is evident on the trunk of the body and the scalp as well. It's recognized by various sizes of red patches that are covered with a layer of dry silver colored scales.
At first you may be thinking that it's just dandruff that you are suffering from. You will be able to tell the difference because dandruff affects the entire scalp whereas scalp psoriasis only affects areas in patches. It used to be thought that this condition once it affected the scalp would cause hair loss, but this is not the case.
The first step to getting the proper treatment is recognizing you have scalp psoriasis and then getting it properly diagnosed. From here, there are several treatment options. In some cases, it has been said that the UV rays from the sun or sun beds may be beneficial. This is something that has to be approached with extreme caution. Overdoing it can actually make the condition much worse.
Unfortunately, there is not just one treatment that can be totally relied on for the cure of scalp psoriasis. There are many types of treatments that seem to work well in some and not in others.
Most often some type of topical treatment will be given. These are creams or lotions that are applied and they may be corticosteroids, or tar creams just to name a few. One of the issues with psoriasis is that the lesions are thick and must be reduced in order for the treatments to be effective they must be thinned down. Ideally, the topical treatment should be a lotion, liquid or a gel. Creams and ointment-based products are far too difficult to apply to the scalp as it gets entangled with the hair.
Quite often, these types of treatments will start to work within a two-week period. The other topical treatments vary. For example, treatments that are a derivative of vitamin D usually take up to two months to start working. They in many cases though are safer to use than the steroids and the results are more long term. The downside is that it can be irritating to the skin.
The retinoid treatments, which are based on vitamin A, are also quite successful, but can be an irritant as well. These treatments should not be used by pregnant women.
On occasion oral treatments will be used but not too often. This is more readily used when the psoriasis is just not responding to any of the topical treatments. They may also be used if the itch is out of control. When this is the case, there is a chance of infection from scratching, so attempts have to be made to get it into control.
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Coping With Itchy Penis Skin: Soothe Psoriasis With Shea Butter

By John Dugan

Men who suffer from psoriasis often have to deal with the uncomfortable itching, flaking and red skin patches that come with this chronic condition. It is an uncomfortable and, at times, embarrassing problem, and as if itching, flaking arms weren't bad enough, some men even develop patches of red, itchy penis skin.
When it comes to the delicate skin of the penis, some men may be hesitant to use steroid creams or other types of medications that are typically used in treating this issue, so what other options are available? Fortunately, there are natural options to help reduce symptoms of penis psoriasis and keep the penis healthy; these are something any man can feel good about using.
Is below the belt itching always psoriasis?
Some men may struggle with below the belt itching and wonder if their symptoms warrant a diagnosis of psoriasis. While it is a good idea to make a trip to the dermatologist to get any persistent itching or skin condition checked out, here are the symptoms that may indicate psoriasis is present:

1. Skin flaking;
2. Inflammation and redness of the skin;
3. Thick patches of skin that may be red, white or silvery in color;
4. Rash-like appearance that may easily bleed if scratched or rubbed;
5. A few red bumps that spread out into larger patches;
6. Flare-ups triggered by stress, medications, smoking or drinking alcohol.

Because many of these symptoms can indicate numerous problems, it really is best to get a professional opinion before embarking on a course of treatment.
What are the treatment options for psoriasis?
Depending on the severity of the condition, there are numerous treatments that a doctor may recommend. Many patients may need to try different options to find the best course of treatment for them.

• Topical Treatments: Some men find relief from itching and redness by using topical steroid creams or ointments. These creams include ingredients such as: salicylic acid, retinoids, coal tar, and anthralin, which in some cases men find irritating to the penis skin.
• Phototherapy: A common treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis is phototherapy, which uses special UVA or UVB lights in a carefully controlled setting to help clear up the lesions. Some patients experience negative side effects from this treatment type, including increased risk of skin cancer.
• Laser Therapy: This type of treatment uses specialized lasers to treat patches of psoriasis on the skin without involving healthy skin. Though the side effects and risks may be lower than that of phototherapy, some men are still skittish when it comes to having a laser pointed at their penis.
• Oral Medication: For individuals who have severe psoriasis, oral medication may be needed. Psoriasis is the result of an overactive immune system, which is what oral medications seek to target. Many medications come with serious side effects, making them a last-resort option for treatment.
• Natural Remedies: Given the number of side effects and risks that can come with pharmaceutical treatments for psoriasis, many men seek natural treatments and remedies - particularly when it comes to their most sensitive skin - the penis skin. Natural options include products containing tea tree oil, oatmeal baths, aloe, Shea butter, and vitamin E.

Soothing Penis Skin Care
Men wishing to go the natural route may benefit from selecting a specially-formulated penis vitamin cream which contains Shea butter, vitamin E and other carefully selected nutrients to keep the penis healthy (most health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil). Using such a product daily can help reduce psoriasis symptoms and keep them at bay, which can add up to clear and healthy penis skin in no time. Not only can a penis oil improve the health of the skin, the rich moisturizing cream also soothes on contact to relieve itchy, irritated skin.
Visit www.man1health.com for more information about treating common penis health problems, including soreness, redness and loss of penis sensation. John Dugan is a professional writer who specializes in men's health issues and is an ongoing contributing writer to numerous online web sites.
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How to Cure Psoriasis Fast

By Jesse A West

To date, no one actually knows whether Psoriasis is an infection or an allergy. Basically, it is an extremely mysterious disease. It has been believed that nearly 35% of its patients have a family history of Psoriasis and for the remaining patients sedentary lifestyle, alcoholism, and weight issues are the major causes.
Like any other bacterial disease, Psoriasis too has a treatment and medication that can relieve the patient from this disease in a short duration of time. Both medical and natural remedies work for Psoriasis. The choice of treatment depends entirely on your preference. The following are a few ways to cure Psoriasis fast:
Topical solution: Many topical solutions are available to cure Psoriasis, some of them being moisturizers, petroleum jelly and Epsom salt. These creams and moisturizers help to curb the itching and dryness of the infected areas and relieve the patient from Psoriasis. Numerous varieties of ointments and creams in this category reduce inflammation and clear the infected skin quickly.
Special blends of oil: Many people have experienced relieve from Psoriasis by using mixture of specific oils on infected area. Coal tar and dandruff shampoos are also considered to be worth a try when treating Psoriasis.
Changes in lifestyle: Yes, a few basic changes in one's lifestyle can help to cure Psoriasis at a fast rate. Various studies conducted from time to time suggest that a healthy lifestyle is the key to get rid of Psoriasis. Low energy, vegetarian diet with special component of fish oil is considered to be extremely beneficial in treating Psoriasis. To cure Psoriasis, one needs to quit smoking and alcohol on priority basis.
Systematic treatment: The other way of treating Psoriasis effectively is taking medicines orally or by injecting. The systematic treatment of Psoriasis consists of Methotrexate, Cyclosporine and Retinoid. A relatively new drug known as biologics are also given as a part of systematic treatment these days. These are proteins that interrupt the process of faulty immune system that cause Psoriasis.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is considered to be highly beneficial for skin. Hence, a person suffering from Psoriasis can take vitamin E in the form of capsules or apply creams containing vitamin E.
Natural ways of combating Psoriasis consist of:
Frequently exposing infected body to sun helps combat Psoriasis.
Chamomile tea is also considered an extremely effective way to cure Psoriasis as helps calm your skin.
Researchers believe that controlling levels of anxiety and stress helps in curing Psoriasis quickly.
So, there are many ways in which Psoriasis can cured quickly, just make sure to complete one type of medication before going on to the other option.
Let us know what you think about the article and if you need help with treating your psoriasis today!
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