Top psoriasis news of 2016

From healio.com

Research finding that psoriasis had a strong association with type 2 diabetes and obesity in a nationwide study of Danish twins, indicating a common genetic etiology between psoriasis and obesity was among the most-read articles of 2016 on Healio.com/Dermatology.

Other widely read articles included study findings that patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who were treated with Taltz reported improvement in work productivity between 12 and 60 weeks compared with patients treated with placebo and, in some incidences, those treated with Enbrel:

Psoriasis associated with type 2 diabetes, obesity in twin study

Psoriasis had a strong association with type 2 diabetes and obesity in a nationwide study of Danish twins, indicating a common genetic etiology between psoriasis and obesity, according to study results recently published in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers in Denmark conducted a cross-sectional, population-based twin study that included 34,781 Danish twins born between 1931 and 1982, and aged 20 to 71 years.

New guidelines for psoriasis treatment goals established

Members of the National Psoriasis Foundation medical board established defined treatment targets for patients with psoriasis in a recent paper published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

“This is a pivotal, groundbreaking effort that defines treatment targets for psoriasis patients in the U.S.,” April W. Armstrong, MD, MPH, National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) member and dermatologist at of the Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California, Los Angeles, stated in a press release.

Patients with psoriasis treated with Taltz reported improvements in work productivity

Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who were treated with Taltz reported improvement in work productivity between 12 and 60 weeks compared with patients treated with placebo and, in some incidences, those treated with Enbrel, according to study results.

Patients were randomly assigned subcutaneous placebo, or 80 mg Taltz (ixekizumab, Eli Lilly and Company) every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks in the UNCOVER-1 trial. Patients in the UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3 trials had the same three treatment groups, plus a treatment arm of Enbrel (etanercept, Amgen) 50 mg twice weekly.

Psoriasis patients treated by lasers show no indication of koebnerization

Patients with plaque psoriasis who underwent laser treatment did not show evidence of subsequent koebnerization, according to recent research.

“Koebnerization did not occur on the face, neck, or scalp in patients with plaque psoriasis who underwent laser treatment, irrespective of the severity of their psoriasis and medication they were receiving at the time of their procedure,” Suzanne M. Sachsman, MD, from the division of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote.

Patients with psoriasis effectively switch from Remicade to infliximab biosimilar

Patients with psoriasis being treated with Remicade had no significant change in clinical response and experienced minor adverse events when switching to an infliximab biosimilar, according to recently published study results.

Researchers studied two cohorts of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who were treated between July 1, 2015, and Jan. 20, 2016 at the University of Turin in Italy.

http://www.healio.com/dermatology/psoriasis/news/online/%7B6d0e03f0-8ca4-4395-aeda-0291215917ca%7D/top-psoriasis-news-of-2016

Weight loss can reduce psoriasis symptoms: Danish study

From egyptindependent.com

Psoriasis sufferers who are also obese can reduce their inflammatory symptoms by losing weight, a recent Danish study suggests.

According to researchers at the University of Copenhagen, obese or overweight people with psoriasis can reduce the severity of their symptoms and improve their quality of life by losing weight.

The scientists studied 60 obese psoriasis patients who each lost an average of 15 kilos over 16 weeks. At the end of that period, researchers found that the severity of their psoriasis had reduced. 

What's more, the results remained encouraging one year later. Participants had regained an average of five kilos, thus weighing 10 kilos less than their initial weights. But the beneficial effects of weight loss on the severity of their symptoms and general health were maintained, according to Dr. Peter Jensen.

A previous study, published in the journal Jama Dermatology, also observed clear improvements in the symptoms of obese patients with psoriasis after they lost between 10 and 15 percent of their starting weights. 

Reducing friction

The researchers consider that obesity is a stress factor for the body that exacerbates inflammation, and, in turn, the symptoms of psoriasis. It may lead to immune responses very similar to those triggered by psoriasis.

Excess weight also increases friction on the skin, which can aggravate psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition that notably leads to skin lesions (red scaly patches on the skin's surface). It is caused by a malfunction of the immune system. As well as skin lesions, affecting body to varying extents, psoriasis can cause itching and even debilitating rheumatism in 30 percent of cases.

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/weight-loss-can-reduce-psoriasis-symptoms-danish-study

Health Check: why swimming in the sea is good for you

From theconversation.com

If you live near the sea, make frequent trips to the beach, or are planning an island holiday this summer, chances are you’re getting more out of it than just enjoyment. It has long been thought sea frolicking has many health benefits.
Historically, doctors would recommend their patients go to the seaside to improve various ills. They would actually issue prescriptions detailing exactly how long, how often and under what conditions their patients were to be in the water.
Using seawater for medical purposes even has a name: thalassotherapy.
In 1769, a popular British doctor Richard Russell published a dissertation arguing for using seawater in “diseases of the glands”, in which he included scurvy, jaundice, leprosy and glandular consumption, which was the name for glandular fever at the time. He advocated drinking seawater as well as swimming in it.
To this day, healing and spa resorts by the seaside abound. They are thought of as places where people can not only let go of their troubles but, in some cases, even cure arthritis.
But does the evidence actually stack up? Does seawater cure skin conditions and improve mental health symptoms?

Skin conditions and wounds

Ocean water differs from river water in that it has significantly higher amounts of minerals, including sodium, chloride, sulphate, magnesium and calcium. This is why it’s highly useful for skin conditions such as psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune (where the immune system attacks healthy cells) skin condition. People with psoriasis suffer often debilitating skin rashes made of itchy, scaly plaques.
Bathing in natural mineral-rich water, including in mineral springs, is called balneotherapy and has long been used to treat psoriasis. There is also evidence for climatotherapy (where a patient is relocated to a specific location for treatment) in the Dead Sea being an effective remedy for the condition.
Patients suffering from psoriasis have themselves reported feeling better after swimming in the ocean, but this may also have to do with sun exposure, which has been found to improve psoriasis symptoms.
Ocean swimming also has benefits for eczema, another immune-mediated condition. Swimming in the sea can be a good exercise option for those with severe eczema as they often struggle to exercise in the heat and chlorinated pools.
But the response of eczema sufferers to saltwater is variable: some find it soothing, others uncomfortable.
There is some evidence to support the idea magnesium absorption is beneficial for the skin of eczema sufferers – presumably because it makes it less dry – as those using Epsom salt baths will attest. This may happen because magnesium-rich seawater may improve moisture retention in the skin, making it stronger and more rigid.
Because it is rich in other mineral salts such as sodium and iodine, ocean water can be considered an antiseptic, meaning it may have wound-healing properties. On the other hand, swimming in the ocean with open wounds may expose you to potential bacterial infections.

http://theconversation.com/health-check-why-swimming-in-the-sea-is-good-for-you-68583

Weight loss can reduce psoriasis symptoms: Study

From talk921.com

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec. 22 (UPI) — Researchers have found that weight loss has a significant and prolonged positive impact on psoriasis symptoms in adults.
A study, by the Herlev and Gentofte Hospital and the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, showed improved psoriasis symptoms in participants who lost an average of 33 pounds over a 16-week period.
Researchers followed 60 test participants who lost between 10 to 15 percent of their body weight and revisited them a year later.
“When we revisited test subjects one year later, they had only regained five kilos [11 pounds],” Dr. Peter Jensen, senior resident, Ph.D., at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, said in a press release. “Thus, they remained 10 kilos [22 pounds] beneath their starting weights. This was impressive in and of itself, but it was even more positive that they had maintained the effects of their initial weight loss with regards to the diminished severity of their psoriasis and quality of life.”
According to Professor Lone Skov, senior physician at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital’s Department of Dermatology and Allergy and project manager of the study, “150,000 Danes suffer from varying degrees of psoriasis.”
“We know that both psoriasis and obesity are linked with an increased incidence of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes,” Professor Arne Astrup, co-author of the study, said in a press release. “If we could get obese psoriasis patients to lose weight and keep the weight off, we could potentially derive positive effects on their overall health and quality of life.”
Results demonstrated that weight loss led to significantly better quality of life and reduced psoriasis symptoms in the long run.
“The results underscore the importance of focusing on weight loss as one element in a broad spectrum approach to effective psoriasis treatment for overweight patients,” Astrup said. “A by-product of weight loss might be a reduction of the complications associated with obesity. This results in a significant effect on the overall well-being of patients.”
The study was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

http://talk921.com/weight-loss-can-reduce-psoriasis-symptoms-study/

Coconut Oil - The Elixir Of Life

By Satvik Mittal

Coconuts are known for their immense versatility ranging from traditional uses in certain societies to modern uses, based on scientific analysis. They are the fruit of the coconut palm, and are grown abundantly in many tropical and subtropical countries like India. Coconuts are known for their large quantity of water, and when immature, they are harvested for this water which is very refreshing to drink and loaded with minerals. Mature coconuts still have a little amount of water, but by then the endosperm has formed a thick white kernel which is processed to yield oil. Coconut palms produce their first fruit in six to ten years, reaching peak production in 15-20 years. In ideal conditions, a single tree can yield 75 fruits in a year.
Coconuts are processed to yield both oil and what is called coconut milk. Coconut oil, an edible oil, is extracted from the kernel of mature coconuts. It has a high fat content, which renders it more resistant to oxidation or rancidity allowing it to last up to six months at 24 degrees C without spoiling. Its high fat content also makes its regular consumption a contentious issue, with most doctors advising against it.

However, in recent times, certain hidden benefits of coconut oil have come to light, vindicating its regular use without harm in some societies like Indian, Sri Lankan, Thai etc.
These benefits accrue to the cold pressed virgin coconut oil.
- Many skin specialists recommend coconut oil application for dry skin. As an excellent massage oil, it is a safe solution for dry and flaking skin, which are sometimes symptoms of skin problems like eczema and psoriasis. It is a soothing balm for most forms of dermatitis.
· It is excellent for hair growth and curing dandruff. It provides the essential proteins for nourishing and healing hair that is damaged.
· It contains lauric acid which is beneficial for the heart by reducing high cholesterol levels in the blood and preventing high blood pressure
· It is easy to digest. Hence it increases the metabolic rate and helps in weight loss. It is also beneficial to the thyroid and endocrine systems.
· It strengthens the immune system with its constituent antimicrobial lipids namely lauric acid, caprylic acid and capric acid which can fight harmful fungus, bacteria and viruses.
· Used as a cooking oil, it aids digestion and for the same reason above, it prevents any stomach infection caused by bacteria, fungus or viruses.

· It is believed to be effective in the treatment of pancreatitis
· It dissolves kidney stones and is considered helpful in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases.
· Bones and teeth are also thought to benefit from coconut oil on account of it improving the body's ability to absorb calcium and magnesium.
· Coconut oil controls the blood sugar and improves the secretion of insulin. Hence it is beneficial for diabetic patients.
· There is research to suggest that the oil is beneficial for patients suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.
· It is held that coconut oil is beneficial for cancer patients and people suffering from HIV.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Coconut-Oil---The-Elixir-Of-Life&id=9592785

Fight Psoriasis With the Right Diet

From toyourhealth.com

Imagine certain skin cells multiplying rapidly, uncontrollably – up to 10 times faster than normal. Imagine red, raised plaques on the skin, covered with white scales. Imagine itching, pain and bleeding. That's psoriasis, an unpredictable skin condition that manifests in several forms and can affect the knees, elbows and scalp primarily, but also the torso, palms and soles of the feet.

Psoriasis symptoms generally last only a few months, but they can recur – and who wants to experience any of the above in the first place? It's about keeping symptoms in check, and evidence suggests proper dietary considerations may help. Here are a few good choices:
Anti-inflammatory foods such as salmon, flaxseed, etc.

Antioxidant-rich foods (many fruits and vegetables)

Gluten-free foods (gluten has been linked to psoriasis)

Lean meats (as opposed to fatty red meat, which is pro-inflammatory)

Healthy-fat foods (avocados, nuts and seeds, etc.)

Keep in mind that most of the above food categories have one thing in common: They are anti-inflammatory, and as you might expect, inflammation is appears to be a major contributor to psoriasis flare-ups. Talk to your doctor to learn more about psoriasis and what you can do to limit your symptom expression.

http://www.toyourhealth.com/mpacms/tyh/article.php?id=2324