Vitamin Cure for Psoriasis

For most people who suffer from this skin disorder, it can be embarrassing. It can cause people to hide from the world and not be as social as they would like to be. There are many treatments for psoriasis, and there is even evidence that certain vitamins can cure this skin disorder.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a malfunction of the immune system. Psoriasis causes skin cells to grow too quickly--they will form in days, rather than weeks. Because the body does not shed these excess skin cells, they pile up on the surface of the skin and cause lesions to form. It is a noncontagious skin disorder that cannot be contracted by touching an infected person, swimming with them or using their towels. It is typically a disorder that is inherited and can be set off with certain triggers. Some triggers can be stress, an injury to the skin or having strep throat.

Can Vitamins Cure Psoriasis?

To date, there has not been a vitamin found that actually cures psoriasis, only treatments for the symptoms. What has been discovered is that certain vitamins play a very big role in keeping outbreaks of psoriasis at bay. Certain vitamins have shown to produce good results with these outbreaks.

Vitamin D for Treatment for Psoriasis

One vitamin that has been found to help with psoriasis is vitamin D. The skin has receptors for activated vitamin D. Activated vitamin D does not allow skin cells to produce too quickly, nor shed too quickly; it evens out the production of the skin cells. Researchers searching for a nontoxic version of vitamin D developed Dovonex, which is an ointment containing activated vitamin D which is applied to the skin. Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University says that over 50 percent of patients who use it see a big improvement in their skin within a couple of weeks.

Other Vitamins Known to Treat Psoriasis

Another vitamin known to have a profound effect on psoriasis is a potent form of vitamin A called etretinate, avilable only by prescription. To reduce the side effects from this high dose of the vitamin, patients are advised to take omega fatty acids in the form of fish oil. There have been good results with this treatment for many patients.
A 1990 report in Better Nutrition indicated that some patients can obtain relief by taking significant amounts of vitamin C. Folic acid and zinc have also been indicated as helpful.

Considerations

Most sources recommend a balanced, healthy diet--which naturally contains essential vitamins and minerals--to help minimize psoriasis outbreaks. All supplement treatments should be followed closely by a physician.