Tag Archives: Psoriasis Cure

Psoriatic Arthritis Drug Treatment

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Psoriatic Arthritis Drug Treatment

Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment

Psoriatic arthritis drug treatment is common, the conventional treatment of the arthritis symptoms of psoriatic arthritis is most always based on pharmaceutical drugs. The treatment initially involves a combination of anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and exercise.

If progressive inflammation and joint destruction occurs despite NSAIDs treatment, more potent medications such as methotrexate, corticosteroids, and antimalarial medications (such as hydroxychloroquine, or Plaquenil) are used. Let’s look a little bit deeper into the different drugs used in cases of psoriatic arthritis

Systemic Treatments

Oral medications are usually reserved for those who have severe forms of psoriasis (more than 20 percent of the body covered). Powerful drugs are prescribed for those who complain to their doctor about a significantly reduced quality of life, for example when serious psoriasis of the palms or soles of the feet prevents a person from living a normal life.

They are also given to those with psoriatic arthritis, and these make up about 10 to 15 percent of patients who have been diagnosed as having psoriasis. These are powerful synthetic agents that reduce the dramatically accelerated cellular reproduction of the skin found in psoriasis. These drugs are prescribed either as pills, or as a subcutaneous injection into the muscle, and they are commonly used in combination with either the topical therapies or UV treatment, especially when a psoriasis patient does not respond to a single type of treatment.

The most common forms of systemic treatments for psoriasis are methotrexate, cyclosporine and retinoids. While these drugs can provide considerable benefits in clearing chronic psoriasis, this action comes at a huge cost of producing both acute as well as chronic side effects. I have had many psoriasis patients over the years see me who wanted to come off these medications due to the side effects. The side effects occurred either shortly after starting therapy (acute side effects) or appeared only after prolonged usage (chronic side effects).

Some patients believe that if they stay on a drug for several years and then developed side effects, that these are not linked to the drug, but are in fact “another disease” that needs treating with yet another drug. And so the pharmaceutical merry-go-round continues. When you take any of these powerful drugs, you need regular check-ups with your doctor, including blood tests, blood pressure, etc.

NSAIDS

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of medications that are helpful in reducing joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, indomethacin (Indocin), and diclofenac (Voltaren). The problem with drugs are the inherent side-effects, and the most frequent side effects include stomach upset and ulceration, but these drugs can also cause more serious side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding and even stroke.

Disease Modifying Medications

Patients who experience progressive joint destruction in spite of NSAIDs are deemed to be by their rheumatologist or specialist to be candidates for more aggressive disease-modifying medications. Disease-modifying medications are regarded by your doctor as being important to prevent progressive joint destruction and deformity.

Chemotherapy agents. Methotrexate is the drug of choice with pain in auto-immune arthritis. I see patients with auto-immune joint problems who have conditions such as lupus, scleroderma, rheumaoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis take methotrexate and steroidal drugs and may “top-up” these drugs with pain relief such as diclofenac or paracetamol/codeine tablets. These medications include methotrexate, are used orally or can be given by injection on a weekly basis for psoriatic arthritis. Methotrexate is a very strong drug and causes many undesirable effects when given long-term, and to be better informed you can read a lot more on the side-effects of methotrexate on this good webpage. Methotrexate can cause bone-marrow suppression as well as liver damage with long-term use, and regular monitoring of full blood testing, including liver function should be performed 3 or 6 monthly during therapy with methotrexate. Antimalarial medication such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is also used for persistent psoriatic arthritis. The known side effects include injury to the retina of the eye, and regular 3 or 6 monthly ophthalmologist examinations are suggested while using Plaquenil. Read more on the web page called the side effects for plaquenil. There are natural options for psoriatic arthritis which are effective and 100% side-effect free. Injectable gold (Solganal) and oral gold have potential side effects including bone-marrow suppression which can lead to anemia and low white blood counts and cause adverse kidney effects, including the loss of protein or blood in the urine. Gold injections have of late become obsolete since methotrexate has become more popular. Sulfasalazine is an oral sulfa-related medicine that has also been helpful in some patients with persistent psoriatic arthritis. Traditionally, Azulfidine has been an important agent in the treatment of ulcerative and Crohn’s colitis. It should be taken with food, as it too can cause gastrointestinal upset. TNF-blockers. Medications that block the chemical known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) are another treatment option for severe cases. The TNF-blockers etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade), and adalimumab (Humira) can be very effective for severe psoriatic arthritis and they can significantly improve or eradicate both the psoriasis and the arthritis as well as stop progressive joint damage. Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory agents. Corticosteroids can be given by mouth (such as prednisone) or injected (cortisone) directly into the joints to reduce inflammation. They can have side effects, especially with long-term use. These include thinning of the skin, easy bruising, infections, diabetes, osteoporosis and, rarely, bone death (necrosis) of the hips and knees.

Skin and Joint Symptoms Linked

While the relationship between the skin disease and joint disease is not clear, many clinical cases have revealed that there is an improvement of the arthritis simultaneously with clearing of the psoriasis. Patients with psoriasis can benefit by direct sunlight exposure, ultraviolet psoriasis treatment and ocean water.

Exercise May Help

Exercise can be done at home (a good occupational therapist or physiotherapist can help significantly here) and is customised according to suit each patient. Warm-up stretching, or other techniques, like a hot shower or heat packs (wheat bags are good) are helpful to relax muscles prior to exercise. Ice application after the routine can help minimise post-exercise soreness and inflammation. In general, exercises for arthritis are performed for the purpose of strengthening and maintaining or improving joint range of motion. They should be done on a regular basis for best results and you may also want to consider Tai chi or yoga.

Surgery For Psoriatic Arthritic Is A Last Option

Patients who have severe destruction of the joints may benefit from orthopedic surgical repair. Total hip joint replacement and total knee joint replacement surgery are now commonplace in many hospitals throughout countries such as the USA, England, Australia and NZ.

Apple Cider Vinegar For Psoriasis

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Apple Cider Vinegar For Psoriasis

Why Apple Cider Vinegar Is Good To Use With Psoriasis

Apple cider vinegar for psoriasis is a very clever idea, and an ideal home remedy for psoriasis. Use an apple cider vinegar (ACV), which is unfiltered and not pasteurized and made from whole organically grown apples, is the best type to use for psoriasis and will give you superior results.

Apple cider vinegar can be found in most local health food stores and you will even find a good apple cider vinegar in some general grocery stores.

Avoid white vinegar from the supermarket, and avoid commercial apple cider vinegars that have been pasteurized, filtered, refined, sterilized or distilled in order to make the product look good and more appealing to the general public. Unfortunately this extra processing destroys much of the lactic acid content, most of the benefits that were in the product in the first place. A quality ACV will look cloudy.

In the United States and Canada I recommend that you purchase a certified organic apple cider vinegar made by Bragg, I can highly recommend this brand. We have an ACV in New Zealand called Coral Tree, the product is certified biodynamic and like Bragg’s, one of the best to use. Please avoid the commercial white vinegar; this simply won’t give you the same results that a naturally fermented ACV will. Once opened, a good quality apple cider vinegar does not need to be refrigerated and has a minimum shelf life of 5 years. It is best to store it with the cap tightly closed and not in direct sunlight. Would you believe it, I have some Coral Tree vinegar which is more than twelve years old, and it is still highly useable ACV.

Apple cider vinegar is a food that can be used both topically, on the skin, as well as internally. It improves many aspects of your digestion, and will get your stomach and pancreas working better, and this in turn will allow to digest and absorb foods better. There are several ways you can use apple cider vinegar (ACV) when it comes to psoriasis, and I’d like to outline the three most popular ways. Spot treatments, internal treatments and using it in the bath.

Spot Psoriasis Treatment Using Apple Cider Vinegar

ACV can be successfully used as a local treatment; I recommend you make a compress. Use a washcloth and keep it for this purpose. Make up a solution of Bragg’s ACV, 1 part vinegar to 3 or 4 parts of tepid water. Soak the washcloth, and apply it as a compress directly to the areas affected. Hold the compress for up to a minute or even longer. Apply as often as is required.

For the worst affected areas you may like to use a cotton bud soaked in pure ACV and apply directly. Cider vinegar will make your skin’s pH a little more acidic and thereby reduce the irritation and itching you experience. Spot treatment is good to use at night to decrease irritation and itching, allowing a more comfortable night’s sleep. Leave the ACV dry without washing it off.

You can also soak your fingernails and toenails directly in pure ACV; this is a very powerful treatment and has helped many of my patients significantly. Leave your nails in the ACV for at least five minutes or more, and don’t wash your hands after, leave the ACV dry on your hands and feet. You can use a hair dryer on low to speed up the drying process.

Rubbing emu oil into your hands and feet after the ACV soak, you can read a lot more about the amazing emu oil in my book called Psoriasis – What To Do With Your Skin.

Apple Cider Vinegar In The Bath For Psoriasis

You can also use ACV in the bath, and this is a great way to treat your entire body or very large affected areas.Just add one to two cups of Bragg’s ACV to a bath of tepid water andsoak in the bath from 30 to 45 minutes. After you have had your bath, towel dry and moisturize your skin. You can read a lot more about what to do with your skin in Psoriasis – What To Do With Your Skin.

Internal Apple Cider Vinegar Treatment For Psoriasis

Apple cider vinegar has been widely used for over two centuries for many different kinds of ailments. I have seen many patients with psoriasis improve their digestion after they started to take ACV, and the dosage is generally one tablespoon in water before meals. Some folks sip ACV in water during meals to improve their digestion. You will notice over a period of time that your skin, hair and nails improve when you consume ACV regularly. Bragg’s ACV is safe to take, even if you have a yeast infection.

Psoriasis Diagnosis

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Psoriasis Diagnosis

A psoriasis diagnosis is considerably more common than you may think, and the amazing thing is that many people don’t even know they have psoriasis. The Psoriasis Program contains a large amount of high quality information relating to many areas concerning psoriasis and you will find plenty of self-help information. In addition to the Psoriasis Program, you may well already have done online research or maybe have been diagnosed by your doctor or dermatologist to find out for sure. But what do you do once you get that diagnosis? Do you panic? Let’s assume that the diagnosis for psoriasis has been confirmed, what is the next step and what are you options?

Article of interest:

Look For The Cause Of Your Psoriasis

I always recommend that the very first thing you do is try to establish the actual cause or causes of your psoriasis are. If you are in a position to determine what helps to bring on the outbreaks you may be able to stop the frequency of the attacks. Figuring out the cause can be a real problem though, because there is no one trigger of psoriasis, there are many and they can all vary from person to person. Psoriasis outbreaks can be caused by genetics, which is hard to prevent, stress, the food we eat, or the weather.

More Info: Read the book “What Is Psoriasis” to determine if there are any likely triggers you may be experiencing in your life right now, this book is part of The Psoriasis Program.

The Psoriasis Program

If you have bought The Psoriasis Program, you will be reading all about the three following conditions that you must rule-out and work on if you have psoriasis. You will discover that these three conditions are explained in great detail in my Psoriasis Program booklets, but bear this in mind – they are the big three.

Rule out – candida yeast infection Rule out – gluten sensitivityRule out – leaky gut syndrome (intestinal permeability)

Keep A Daily Log

When you first get the psoriasis diagnosis, it’s a good idea to start keeping a log of your daily activities. It can be a time-consuming process at first, but in the long run it will really pay off and will only take several minutes of your day at the most. Writing down your daily activities as well as when the outbreaks happen, can give you a good idea of what your maintaining triggers are. Over time, you will become very good at discovering what your triggers are and can then take the right steps to avoid them.After self-analysis for a year or two, you will be expert in the cause and effect of your psoriasis triggers and will have noticed a major reduction in flare-ups.

The more you analyze you diet and lifestyle and develop that ‘sixth sense’, the more likely you will come up with answers. I have always found that when a patient with psoriasis takes the time to carefully examine their diet and lifestyle, they will invariably find one or several causes, and when these are corrected, the severity and duration of attacks of very much reduced, sometimes to the point where psoriasis is hardly noticeable.

More Info: Read the book: “Psoriasis and Understanding the Lifestyle” to determine the relationship between how you are living and how it can reflect in your psoriasis. This book is part of The Psoriasis Program.

 

It Takes Time To Heal Psoriasis

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Why I Recommend At Least 4 Months To Heal Psoriasis

It takes time to heal psoriasis, beware of anybody who offers a quick cure, they will most probably be speaking with a forked tongue! The Psoriasis Program, if adhered to correctly, will take about twelve to sixteen weeks (three to four months) to become really effective and this time frame is based on many cases successfully treated for this duration.

Article of interest:

While it is possible for good results with psoriasis to be achieved much sooner, in chronic cases it can take as long as six to twelve months to really clear a chronic case or recurring plaque psoriasis. This is not just my observation, but the observation of many different psoriasis experts I have spoken to or information I have gained from books on this topic.

It’s about self-discipline. Are you the kind of psoriasis patient who has had enough? Have you had enough of that itchy, flaky and embarrassing skin problem yet? What are YOU willing to do about it? Is it up top the doctor to “cure” you when you know full well that you body is perfectly capable of healing itself?

Why does it take so long for some people to recover, while others recover in a matter of a few months? This can easily be explained because every case of psoriasis I see, just like every patient, is different, and has developed psoriasis under a different set of circumstances. In addition, some cases of psoriasis will be straightforward, whereas others will be much more complex, such as psoriatic arthritis, around 10% of psoriasis cases. Some psoriatic patients will have one or multiple initiating as well as maintaining triggers (causes), and these can vary from case to case. In some situations there are even “hidden” causes that will ensure the person only ever partially recovers, until they finally overcome their own personal obstacles.

Another reason is that every patient will have his or her own reasons for wanting to recover, and this may be a partial or full recovery, as strange as it may sound. As you can see, there is no one hundred percent clear cut path to the recovery from psoriasis.

My advice is to steer clear of any health programs that promote “instant” psoriasis cures; in reality there is no such thing as instant when it comes to restoring as well as maintaining good health. This is similar to obtaining an “instant PhD” I have seen advertised online for five hundred dollars, and certain people will unfortunately fall for such scams for the instant things in life. Whenever you act in haste it often follows that you may well have to repent at your leisure.

It takes time to develop outstanding health because good health is based on the foundation of learning and implementing on how to lead a healthy and balanced life. Hopefully may be aware, developing outstanding health and recovery from psoriasis takes time because first you will need to learn some basic theory, and then there is the practice of adopting and implementing these healthy lifestyle and dietary habits. The main thing is to do the best you can, and even if you don’t entirely eliminate your chronic psoriasis, small but sustained improvements in your lifestyle and dietary habits as outlined in the Psoriasis Program will almost certainly bring about considerable improvements in your psoriasis, along with any other health problems you may.

Any improvements you get will make the Psoriasis Program just that more effective, because small improvements lead to greater self esteem and often lead to even greater improvements in time. When I wrote this book, I wanted you to eradicate your psoriasis for life, not just for a mere few months or years, but wanted to offer you a permanent psoriasis solution.

 

 

 

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