Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that causes a lot of discomfort to those suffering from it. Although there is no cure at present there are many different treatment options available. One of the best locations for psoriasis suffers to be is the Dead Sea. Here’s why…
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease in which the immune system is mistakenly triggered into causing the over production of new skin cells at such a rate that they build up on the skin’s surface, forming thick patches (plaques) of red sores (lesions) covered with flaky, silver-white dead skin cells or scales. Although not contagious or infectious, psoriasis can nonetheless be itchy and sore in its mildest form and, at its worst, painful and disfiguring.
Different forms of psoriasis
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation/USA there are five forms of psoriasis:
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- Plaque with dry, red, scaly patches of skin
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- Guttate with small dot-like bumps or lesions
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- Postular with weeping lesions and intense scaling
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- Inverse with severe inflammation
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- Erythrodermic with intense shedding and redness of the skin.
Genetics play a role too
Hereditary, genetic, factors also play a role in psoriasis and the disease is therefore more common in certain families. Psoriasis can be triggered in children from such families through a streptococcus or other infection. However, the disease most often appears between the ages of 15 and 35 and only 10 to15% of people get it before the age of 10.
Emotional impact
Dealing with the emotional impact of the disease can be challenging. The constant shedding of dead skin scales and other symptoms are a cause of embarrassment to sufferers and often lead to bouts of depression and a diminished quality of life. Although there is no cure at present, there are many different treatment options available.
Treatment options
Three categories of treatment exist at present:
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- Topical treatment: Medication externally applied to the skin such as lotions, ointments, creams and gels
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- Light or phototherapy: Ultraviolet light applied to the skin either from the sun or an artificial source.
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- Systemic: Medication injected into the system or taken by mouth. Unfortunately, some systemic medicines carry the danger of birth defects and cannot be taken by pregnant women or those trying to fall pregnant. A lot of sufferers have turned to biologics, a medicine derived from living cells cultured in a laboratory, with very positive effects.
All these treatments need to be undertaken with the help and supervision of a doctor or skin specialist.
Best environment for psoriasis sufferers
Scientists also discovered that psoriasis develops earlier and more frequently in people living in colder climates and that one of the best locations for psoriasis suffers to be in is the Dead Sea region in Israel. This region not only has an unique location (the lowest point on the planet) but also has a unique climate, namely year-round sunny skies and dry air as well as a distinctive spectrum of ultraviolet sunlight. The overall UV radiation to which sufferers are exposed is markedly smaller here than in any other region on earth and also much smaller than that received with artificial light treatment.
This unique combination of weakened ultraviolet radiation and an atmosphere high in oxygen and low in pollen and other allergens is very beneficial to psoriasis suffers. Add to this the therapeutic value of bathing in the Dead Sea with its healing salt water, mud and minerals and you have a psoriasis utopia
The unique conditions present at the Dead Sea and the many spas and health clinics on its shores ultimately also offer psoriasis sufferers a relaxed environment where they can deal with the emotional impact of the disease by socially interacting with other sufferers and sympathetic health workers.
So, if you suffer from psoriasis, plan your next vacation at the Dead Sea!
Sources
Bren, L. Psoriasis: more than cosmetic. Retrieved from: http://www.psoriasis.org.za/morecosmetic.asp
Dead Sea. Retrieved from://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Sea#Climate
Psoriasis. Retrieved from://www.deadsea-health.org/new_html/diseases_skin.html
What is psoriasis? 1996. Retrieved from: http://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/faqs