Monday, August 17, 2015

Psoriasis and how Vitamin D can help!

Psoriasis is often thought of as a contagious rash, and most psoriasis sufferers are often judged by the appearance of their skin.  What a lot of people don’t know is that psoriasis is actually an autoimmune disease where a type of white blood cell called a T cell mistakes healthy skin cells as a foreign invader and attacks them.  These overactive T-cells then trigger other immune responses that increase the growth cycle of the skin cells, causing them to move to the outermost layer of your skin in a matter of days rather than weeks.   These skin cells then build up into thick patches because the dead skin cannot be removed quickly enough.  The skin may become so inflamed that is cracks and bleeds.  Up to 30 percent of sufferers also develop psoriatic arthritis, which can cause debilitating damage.  Those who suffer from psoriasis are also at a higher risk for other chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. (Mercola)




One vitamin that is extremely important for managing autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, is vitamin D.  If you have psoriasis, it is imperative that you have your vitamin D levels tested and maintain levels in the therapeutic range of 50-70 ng/ml year-round.  Vitamin D plays an important role in immune system regulation and is thought to effect psoriasis on multiple levels, such as regulating skin cell growth and differentiation, as well as influence the immune function of T lymphocytes and other cells.  It also inhibits cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cell activity, potentially helping to regulate skin cell growth. (Mercola)


In Health, 

Dr. Amber Watson 



Works Cited

Mercola, Dr. Mercola. 6 January 2015. 14 August 215 <http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/01/26/psoriasis-costs-billions.aspx>.

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