More than a skin disease Psoriasis

World psoriasis day: Psoriasis is a relatively common skin disease, which often brings a significant emotional burden for those affected. On the occasion of World Psoriasis Day 2012, the professional association of German dermatologists (BVDD) in Berlin has pointed out that although modern, highly effective drugs are available, many psoriasis patients continue to be undersupplied in Germany.

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Psoriasis is called a disease „underestimated in Europe and worldwide and not taken seriously enough“, reports the BVDD. Nearly two million sufferers include psoriasis in Germany „the most common chronic inflammatory disease ever“, About half of the patients with severe psoriasis are, according to the experts, therapeutically undersupplied. Accordingly, around 500,000 people in this country do not receive adequate medical care. Especially in the psoriasis treatment of children, the BVDD sees significant deficits.

125 million people suffer from psoriasis
Psoriasis is a worldwide disease that affects more than 125 million people, according to the BVDD. Psoriasis is considered to be incurable, but the symptoms can be significantly alleviated by appropriate medical care. Typical signs of psoriasis are reddish, often roundish, localized, severe scaling skin irritations, which usually occur in the squat, elbow, on the scalp or in the area of ​​the navel. Psoriasis is perceived by patients as an unpleasant itchy rash. The illness occurs according to Professor Dr. med. Matthias Augustin, head of the Competence Center for Health Services Research at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, often for the first time at the age of ten to 20 years and accompanies those affected often a lifetime. „That's a topic for 30, 40 years or more“, explained Prof. Augustin under the heading „Psoriasis knows no borders - supply in Germany and Europe“ on Monday in Berlin.

Psoriasis diseases far more complex than previously thought
According to the statements of the BVDD experts, psoriasis is „Part of an inflammatory event that affects the entire body and can be associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes or stroke.“ Also, the disease often affects the psyche of those affected and possibly favors the onset of depression. The BVDD state chairman Rhineland-Palatinate, Dr. med. Ralph von Kiedrowski explained that „Psoriasis is a much more complex disease than previously thought“ and this is also the cause of the deficit in the care of many patients. Prof. Augustin also emphasized that „the disease psoriasis goes far beyond the skin.“ For example, 40 percent of psoriasis patients also show nail disease, and in 20 percent of those affected, the special form of psoriatic arthritis with joint inflammation, according to Prof. Augustin on.

Deficits of psoriasis treatment especially in children
Deficits in the medical care of psoriasis patients, according to the experts, especially in children. On the one hand because for the small patients significantly less drugs are approved for the treatment of chronic inflammatory skin disease. On the other hand, because children are usually not the first to consult a specialist (dermatologist) but the pediatrician. Thus, according to the BVDD experts, 70 percent of adults with a first psoriasis surge go directly to the dermatologist (dermatologist), who can often provide them with significant relief from the external vitamin D applications. However, the majority of affected children first end up at the pediatrician, who rarely resorts to appropriate treatment.

Psoriasis sooner recognize
„Children are usually not treated by the pediatrician for psoriasis“, explained Ottfrid Hillmann, Deputy Chairman of the German Psoriasis Federation. This results in a shortage of patients, which can significantly affect the quality of life and other health conditions. But a visit to the specialist is no guarantee for an appropriate psoriasis therapy, because not every dermatologist knows it well enough, explained Prof. Augustin. The aim of dermatologists must therefore be to detect psoriasis and possible comorbidities earlier and even more reliably.

Naturopathy as an essential part of psoriasis treatment
For the treatment of psoriasis, a variety of therapeutic approaches are available, in principle, the severity of the disease must be considered. Often less severe forms can be successfully remedied by the external application of creams, ointments, lotions and tinctures, using ingredients such as coal tar and dithranol to slow down cell division and corticosteroids for the treatment of inflammation. For more severe cases of psoriasis, conventional treatment usually relies on the internal use of drugs such as methotrexate, retinoid corticosteroids and certain immunosuppressants. These, however, bring massive side effects, which is contrary to a long-term therapy.

Due to the side effects, which can be associated with the conventional medical treatment of psoriasis, treatment methods from the field of naturopathy often form an integral part of psoriasis therapy. Here are among other methods of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), homeopathy and nutritional therapies, light therapies and so-called bath therapies with sulfur-containing natural Fango and volcanic water to call. (Fp)

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Blue light pulses against psoriasis

Picture: psoriasis plaque; Icefields 12-2004, GNU FDL