Psoriasis is finally being recognized as a serious non-communicable disease that has profound impact on the lives of the sufferers and their families. Recent research into symptomatic treatments and possible cures of the disease are increasing, and for those are affected by this auto-immune condition, this is hopeful news indeed.
One of the more recent and promising treatments involves vitamin D. While vitamin D deficiency has long been linked to health issues such as depression, osteoarthritis, heart disease and rickets, the importance of vitamin D for the skin is becoming more evident.
Vitamin D is manufactured exclusively in the skin when exposed to sunlight. When the body has insufficient amounts which are not bolstered by supplements or diet, the effects have a critical effect on the immune system. In fact, vitamin D is considered an immunomodulator, meaning it has the ability to changes or alter the immune system. For some chronic skin conditions considered an auto immune disease, such as psoriasis, it’s postulated that vitamin D can help bring things back into balance.
Although treatment with oral vitamin D for psoriasis has been studied for several years, long-term use has been limited due to concerns about the impact it has on calcium levels (elevated in the blood and urine). Topical application of synthetic vitamin D however, currently represents one of the safest and most effective alternatives to corticosteroids in the treatment of mild to moderate psoriasis, according to a 2010 study. Current conventional treatments include immunosuppressive drugs that must be taken indefinitely to keep the disease in check and to minimize its impact on daily life. But because these medications disrupt the normal activities of the immune system, they carry the downside of opening the door a little wider to infections.
As of today, there is no cure for psoriasis. In fact, there is no one known cause of this widespread disease that affects an estimated 125 million people globally. With the recognition in 2014 by the World Health Organization of the severity and seriousness of psoriasis, there is hope that research will increase with the goal of finding a cure for the most common autoimmune disease in America.
