Must-Have Information on Psoriasis

Psoriasis Is A Very Unpleasant Disease

Psoriasis is characterized by itchy, painful, reddish patches with silver-like scales. It is an autoimmune disorder and people with this skin condition suffer from a lot of discomfort and a great deal of stress.

There is no cure yet for psoriasis and scientists are still baffled by what exactly triggers this skin ailment. It has been found out that a malfunction of the immune system is involved but the very root as to why there is a misfiring of the immune system is not yet known.

Genetics also play a role, however, it is not automatic that offspring of parents suffering from psoriasis will get it too. Psoriasis happens when the rate of skin cell turnover is accelerated.

In babies, normal skin cell turnover is at the rate of every 14 days, with teens, skin cell turnover is every 21 to 28 days, as we get older the rate of skin cell turnover slows down to 30 to 40 days and after we reach the 50-year old mark, skin cell turnover slows down to a rate of every 1 1/2 months to 3 months.

However, with psoriasis, the process of skin cell turnover is a lot faster, sometimes occurring in less than 7 days. Because of the fast rate of skin cell turnover, dead skin cells start piling up, eventually resulting to several layers. New skin cells therefore do not have anywhere to go so overtime they start to become itchy and even painful.

Psoriasis Treatments

There are a number of psoriasis treatments available. These are topical treatments, light therapy, and oral or injected medications. Treatments for psoriasis aim to disrupt the cycle causing overproduction of skin cells, therefore cutting down inflammation and the formation of plaque. Treatments also aim to get rid of scales, and make the skin smooth.

Can Argan Oil Relieve Symptoms of Psoriasis

A number of psoriasis patients are using Argan oil to get relief from the symptoms of this skin condition. So can the oil really provide relief from the uncomfortable symptoms of this autoimmune skin disorder? Let’s find out.

Argan oil is packed with fatty acids and carotenoids. These two nutrients work in balancing out the skin’s natural moisture levels. Dry skin can make psoriasis worse which is why it is important that people with this condition regularly moisturize their skin.

Applying Argan oil daily is therefore helpful since the oil is loaded with nutrients having potent moisturizing properties. Aside from essential fatty acids and carotenoids, the oil is also packed with Vitamin E, sterols and squalene, which also have moisturizing properties.

As mentioned, Argan oil contains a high amount of Vitamin E, which is also a potent antioxidant and antioxidants are known to neutralize free radicals before they start wreaking havoc on the skin. Aside from having anti-oxidative properties, Vitamin E is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties and may therefore help bring down inflammation caused by psoriasis.

A number of psoriatic patients say that relief from pain and itchiness is immediate after applying the oil. According to some psoriatic patients using Argan oil, redness of psoriatic patches is also reduced by the oil, making them less noticeable.

This may be because of the high amount of Vitamin E found in the oil. It is important to note however that scientific studies on the oil’s effectiveness against symptoms of psoriasis are lacking. Currently, the evidence at hand are purely anecdotal or based from experiences of those who are using the oil for this skin condition

To get the best psoriasis treatment, be sure to consult a dermatologist.