Psoriasis is a challenge for medical community. A very detailed description is available in Ayurvedic Texts about this disease. This disease is described as AKK Kushta in Ayurveda, where fish like scales appear on the skin. Ayurvedic theory agrees with modern theory of autoimmune origin, stress and effects of climatic changes on Psoriasis. But in Ayurvedic texts we also see a very detailed reasoning with regard Triggers of Psoriasis.
Triggers of Psoriasis according to Ayurveda.
In my clinical practice I have noticed that two pillars which support our body system .
A person who is taking proper food, have good digestion and having good sleep at night is less likely to be affected by Psoriasis, even though he might be having a family history of Psoriasis.
It is a very simple theory, If a person is bitten by a poisonous insect, itching and rashes appear on the entire body. Our natural body system is throwing out that poison of insect out of our body through our skin. Similarly the slow poisons produced by above mentioned deeds are also thrown out through the skin and this takes the form what we call PSORIASIS.
To cure Psoriasis permanently we must consider the above mentioned triggers along with the obvious triggers like Stress and Climate Change.
Common Causes of Psoriasis according to modern research.
Autoimmune disease:
The autoimmune process is found to be the main problem causing this disease. We have T cells in the body that provide cell mediated immunity as they defend the body against foreign substances like viruses or bacteria. But in psoriasis, the T cells attack healthy skin cells contradicting the effort to heal a wound or to fight an infection. T cells become overactive and in turn induce rapid production of healthy skin cells, more T cells and other white blood cells called neutrophils. This excess production leads to the skin becoming red and inflamed. Sometimes pus also starts forming in pustular lesions. Ultimately, it tends to become ongoing where more number of new cells are added to the topmost skin layer in rapid progression such that there is a thick, scaly patch of skin's surface making it crusty and shiny.
Although the T cell malfunction is apparently one cause, researchers do believe both genetics and environmental factors also have a major role to play in psoriatic patients when at least 10 percent of people have one or more of the genes leading to psoriasis. In fact, only 2 percent to 3 percent of the population gets this disease.
Genetic progeny inheritance:
Genes are the control markers of the human body. They regulate the color of skin, height and weight and every vital statistics a person inherits from his parents. Proper functioning of genes tends to show normal working of the body and its cell structures and certainly, a change in normal genetic structure can lead to unwarranted results. One of the outcomes is psoriasis. Genetic engineering and improvement in medical science confirm that genetics are the identifiers in psoriasis formations in progeny as their ancestors had this onset. The 25 key variants of genes have been classified by scientists that make a person more susceptible to develop psoriasis. Dr. J.T. Elder of the University of Michigan with his research team has studied extensively how the human genome factor and its genes transition psoriasis down from one descendant to another.
A form of gene, named the CARD14 gene was recently identified by Anne Bowcock, Ph.D. in samples taken from a large family as the first gene that directly incorporates the most common form of psoriasis. It was observed that a mutation in the gene along with an environmental trigger provoked plaque psoriasis.
DNA sequencing of the four bases to identify the trigger markers by Dr. Wilson Liao at the University of California helps identify rare trigger genes that may be the leading causes of psoriasis in some people.
Obesity:
Research shows a form of direct association between an overweight individual and psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis and the relationship between the two is bidirectional although whether obesity leads to psoriasis or the other way around is still a study of contention. A high body mass index can lead to psoriasis later in life. Commonly ascertained, psoriatic patients lead a sedentary lifestyle and they don't exercise or eat properly. Some studies found that patients gain weight after the onset of psoriasis. A recent survey of 78600 female nurses revealed that 892 had psoriasis who had increased weight.
Those who suffer from psoriasis often exhibit signs of social isolation, alcohol intake and depression.