How To Naturally Reverse Psoriasis

There is a lot of bunk info out there about psoriasis and how to treat it, so I want to effectively and scientifically tackle this autoimmune disorder. 

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that affects 1 to 3 percent worldwide, 3.2% of the US population (8 million Americans). R R

The most common form is plaque psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris), which accounts for the majority of cases. R

Psoriasis is characterized by well-circumscribed, erythematous plaques with scale that represent a response to an infiltration of inflammatory T-cells producing disease-stimulating cytokines in skin lesions. R

Symptoms

The symptoms of psoriasis are:

• patches of thick, red skin R

• skin inflammation R

• silvery scales R

• itching R

• pain R

These symptoms most commonly affect the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, face, palms, soles of the feet, nails, and soft tissues. R

Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, schizophrenia, sexual disorders, sleep disroders, samatoform disorders, substance abuse/dependence, and bipolar disorder are all commonly linked to psoriasis. R R

Psoriasis is also associated with:

• Autism Spectrum Disorders R

• Bechet's Disease R

• Coronary heart Disease R

• Diabetes R

• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) R

• Histamine Intolerance R

• Hypertriglycerdemia R

• Hyperuricemia R

• Hypertension R

• Sleep Disorders R

Microbiome of the Skin

The microbiome diversity of the skin appears to be less in psoriasis patients. R

There is a high amount of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria on the skin of psoriasis patients, but a lower amount of Proteobacteria and Bacteriodetes. R

Microbiome of the Gut

Psoriasis can be exacerbated by Staphylococcus aureus and fungi like Candida albicans and Malassezia. R

Psoriatic arthritis is similar to the profile commonly observed in the gut of inflammatory bowel disease patients. R

This possibly suggests a decrease of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and increase of E. coli. R

Gut dysbiosis in psoriatic arthritis has been shown to correlate to an increase of secretory IgA (sIgA) levels and a decrease of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANK-L) levels within the gut luminal content. R

Intestinal Permeability

Toxic-irritative pollutants can cause problems with the gut in patients with skin disorders.R

Serum histamine levels rise when they are exposed to lactose, sucrose, tyramine, serotonine or phenylethylamine. R

There are the biomarkers commonly found in psoriasis:

• C4a R

• alpha-MSH R R R

• IL-1ß

• IL-4 R

• IL-6 R

• IL-8 R

• IL-10 R

• IL-12 R

• IL-17 R

• IL-23 R

• IL-27 R

• TNF-a R

• Vitamin A (Retinol) R

• Vitamin D R R

• Homocysteine R R R

• Folate R

• Uric Acid R

• Selenium R

• Prostaglandin E2 R

• C-Reactive Protein R

• H. Pylori Infection R

• CRH R

• Prolactin R

• VEGF R

Here are the blood tests you can do to check for these levels.

Actions To Take

Get more sun exposure (UVB inhibits IL-17/TNF-α-induced IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL-1 production and decreases the expression of IL-17 receptors on fibroblasts through TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway) R

Decrease/Deactivate/Inhibit:

• Alpha-MSH (sun will increase this, so increase it if you have an infection like Candida , Streptococcus, E. coli) R

• Anxiety R

• AP-1 R R

• C4a

• Homocysteine

• IFN-gamma R

• IL-1b

• IL-6

• IL-8

• IL-23

• Nerve Growth Factor R R

• NF-kB R

• Prolactin

• Prostaglandin E2

• mTOR R R R

• Stress R

• TNF-a

• VEGF

Increase/Activate:

• BDNF R

• CB2 Receptors

• IL-4

• IL-10

• IL-27

Also, fix any underlying Dysbiosis and Histamine Intolerance.

Diet/Lifestyle Actions

• Avoid Alcohol R

• Avoid Excessive Arachidonic Acid R R R

• Avoid Gluten (psoriasis has been linked to celiac, as they both involve Th1 cytokines, so a lectin avoidance diet would help too) R R R

• Broccoli Sprouts R

• Dillenia Indica Fruit R

• FOS R

• Resistant Starch R

• Vegetarian Diet R

• Vegan Diet (somewhat effective) R

Supplements To Take

• Babchi R

• B. infantis (35624) R

• Bile Acids R

• Black Cumin Seed Oil R

• Boswellia R

These have all shown to bring about psoriasis:

• Beta-blockers R

• Lithium R

• Synthetic Antimmalrials R

• NSAIDs R

• Tetracyclines R

Avoid excessive:

• Methionine R R R

• Leucine (via inhibiting mTOR) R

• Taurine (still debated) R

Like many other autoimmune conditions, psoriasis is mediated by T cells and dendritic cells. R

Inflammatory myeloid dendritic cells release IL-23 and IL-12 to activate IL-17-producing T cells, Th1 cells, and Th22 cells to produce abundant psoriatic cytokines IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF, and IL-22. R R

These cytokines mediate effects on keratinocytes and mast cells to amplify psoriatic inflammation. R R

Activation of IL-17-producing T cells, leading to IL-17 release, activates CCL20, CXCL1, CXCL2, and CXCL8/IL-8 synthesis, leading to recruitment of more IL-17-producing T cells and neutrophils into the skin. R

TNF-a also stimulates VEGF and activation of NF-kB. R

Elevated levels of Nerve Growth Factor have been found in psoriasis. R

In psoriasis, skin cells have lots of Tregs but reduced Foxp3. Butyrate would help this. R R

Psoriasis patients who have itches usually have increased histamine. R

CD49a

Psoriasis is characteriszed by the accumulation of a subgroup of T cells called CD49a- and it in the afflicted skin and produces the inflammation-causing protein IL-17. R

Also, in vitiligo another kind of T cell is accumulated, called CD49a+, which recognise and are ready to kill pigment cells. R

In healthy skin, CD49a+ and CD49a cells are dormant, but quickly respond with inflammatory and cytotoxic effects when stimulated by IL-15, a protein secreted from skin cells as a rapid-response defence against microbial attack. R

MTHFR

C677T - CC is involved with psoriasis (38.46%). R

SOD

SOD activities were significantly decreased in mild (P < 0.01), moderate (P < 0.01), severe (P < 0.01) psoriasis patients, as compared with healthy controls. R

Decreased SOD activity might be related to epidermal hyper proliferation, because the ROS are thought to induce cell proliferation in various cell systems. R

CARD

CARD14 mRNA was found to be elevated 2.7-fold in the psoriasis transcriptome (activating Bcl10 and NF-κB). R

CDKAL1

rs6908425 - CC homozygotes were significantly more common responders to anti-TNF biological drugs among Psoriasis (Psor) patients. R

NLRP3

rs3806265- increased susceptibility to psoriatic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. R

PSORS

rs3823418 - mutation in this can predict psoriasis in 68% of patients. R
rs3130457 - mutation associated with psoriasis in Chinese. R

TNFα

rs361525 - associated with psoriasis in several populations worldwide R

VDR

An increased association of the A allele for the VDR was found in patients with psoriasis. R

VEGFR

Vascular endothelial growth factor is a powerful mediator of inflammatory diseases. R

VEGF is significantly up-regulated in psoriatic skin lesions. R

• Psoriasis and stress: NPF grantee Theoharis Theoharides discusses his psoriasis research V

• Treating Asthma and Eczema With Plant-­Based Diets V

• Glycine Regulates Protein Turnover by Activating Protein Kinase B/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin and by Inhibiting MuRF1 and Atrogin-1 Gene Expression in C2C12 Myoblasts. R