General Information about Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a disease, the multiple causes of which are still virtually unknown and inadequately controlled. This explains why, to date, no drugs can effectively fight this disease. The only pharmaceutical or medical answers in use today all have the same objective: to bleach psoriasis, to (more or less) remove its traces. Its resurgence, however, is inevitable as long as the causes are not clearly identified and treated.

Here is what the scientific community knows about psoriasis today:

1. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease which affects approximately 2% to 5% of the US population, both men and women.
2. The disease presents itself as red patches covered with whitish flakes which are raised from the skin: they are referred to as “the squama”.
3. The psoriasis patches are often located on the elbows, scalp and knees, but can also reach other parts of the body such as the face, the hands, the feet, the mucous membranes, etc.
4. Psoriasis is neither contagious nor allergy-based, but it is believed to be hereditary, in the form of a predisposition to developing the disease.
5. Psoriasis appears to be a genetic disease, caused by a cluster of genes and precipitated by external (changes of season, friction from clothing, etc.) and internal (infectious diseases, stress, certain types of medication, etc.) environmental factors.
6. Parallel to the genetic and environmental factors, indicating a particular predisposition to develop the disease, specific immune reactions appear at the skin level which maintain the inflammation.
7. The psoriasis plaques are the consequence of an accelerated renewal of skin cells: approximately one week for “psoriatic” skin compares to one month for “normal” skin.
8. Psoriasis can occur at any age, but the first signs usually appear between 10 and 30 years. It is a chronic disease the evolution of which is unpredictable, with phases of recurrence followed by phases of remission.
9. Psoriasis has a strong impact on an individual's quality of life. Due to its un-aesthetic aspect and its resilience, the disease often promotes feelings of low self-esteem, mental anguish and, with the passage of time, depression.
10. Psoriatic people often have communication problems, particularly when their lesions are exposed to the sight: this applies particularly to psoriasis of the face, the scalp and the hands.
11. Psychological traumas (emotional upsets, mourning, emotional break-ups) or physical shocks (accidents, surgery) are frequently the cause of first appearances and recurrences. Moreover, stress provokes new lesions, as a result of which the affected person can quickly become trapped in a self-feeding cycle.

Types of psoriasis

There are two types of psoriasis:

• Type I, where the disease appears in the child or the young adult, with family antecedents, accompanied by a rather rapid evolution.
• Type II, where psoriasis develops after 40 years, without family antecedents and accompanied by a more benign evolution.

Classifications according to lesion type

With regard to the type of lesion, one distinguishes:

• Psoriasis vulgaris. It is undoubtedly the most widespread form: it applies to 95% of people affected by the disease. The lesions, with well defined contours, are surrounded by a clear ring. This description covers various types of lesions which cause itching in 60% to 70% of cases.
• Plaque psoriasis, by far the most frequent, circular in shape.
• Guttate psoriasis, the lesions resemble small drops.
• Flexural psoriasis, characterized by round patches an inch in diameter.
• Two more severe forms:
• pustular psoriasis

• erythrodermic psoriasis.

For more information on the subject we suggest you consult: Psoriasis.org

TREATMENT INVENTORY

The following is an overview of the existing treatments against psoriasis. This document is the result of the compilation of thousands of pages on psoriasis, and yet it is not meant to be exhaustive. Our objective is to present the various alternatives suggested by doctors and practitioners on the treatments available for psoriasis. The information presented is not intended to be a complete listing or a recommendation on treatments for psoriasis – please consult your dermatologist for specific recommendations.

PSO NATURA

Our derma-cosmetics laboratory offers a non-pharmaceutical treatment with undeniable proven effects: Pso Natura. Pso Natura is a 100% natural organic treatment. It can be an alternative to medical care or used as a complement to medical treatment. Its excellent results and ease of use, have made it a treatment that is increasingly selected by the people suffering from psoriasis (guttate, patches). More about Pso Natura.


To find out more about the various treatments for psoriasis, we offer you the following overview:

LOCAL TREATMENTS

These require the application of a cream to the areas covered by psoriasis. 60% to 70% of patients use this kind of treatment. Some of the best known treatments are:

Corticosteroids - Containing cortisone. They appear to have a favorable effect on psoriasis, but the patches often return when the treatment is stopped. The best known and most popular are Diprosone (ointment or cream), and Diprosalic lotion for the scalp.

Risks: Dependency, which results in increased usage over time, however cortisone cannot be used daily over a long period. There is also the risk of a resurgence of the disease.

Corticosteroid derivatives, treatments associating cortisone and calcipotrine (Vitamin D derivative) - Vitamin D is synthesized during exposure of the skin to the ultraviolet light of the sun. Calcipotrine treatments can thus replace PUVA-therapy in particular. The best known are: Daivonex, Daivobet (calcipotriol betamethasone).

Risks: at high dose calcipotriol becomes toxic. Slight irritant potential.

Salicylic acid - best known: Salicylated petroleum jelly 5% to 10% (warning, not for children) – soothing action, known to alleviate fever. Used in preservatives. For example: Anexeryl.

Risks: toxic in large quantities.

Tar - the treatments are soiling, very malodorous, but effective. Notably in particular shampoos containing oil of Cade, tar, or carbodome. Emollient baths (Caditar soap, Aveenoderm, Polytar). Another example is Coaltar.

Disadvantages: Soiling, bandages for night time, and therefore very inconvenient.

PUVA-therapy (A or B ultraviolet rays) /Phototherapy – A recognized degree of effectiveness. Variable tolerance level according to patient. Can obviously be combined with other treatments. Burdensome treatment: 8 to 10 weeks, with thrice-weekly meetings with dermatologist in general.

Risks: patients are exposed to heliodermy and the risk of melanomas.

GENERAL TREATMENTS (or SYSTEMIC)

These treat the body as a whole by disseminating the medication via the bloodstream. They are generally used in stage 2, after having tried local treatments. Systemic treatments are often heavy and can present mid to long term risks. 30% to 40% of patients are concerned.

Methotrexate: Common treatment for stage 2 psoriasis. This treatment appears to show good results in approximately 70% of the cases.

Retinoids – Properties closely resembling Vitamin A, for serious types of psoriasis which do not respond to other therapies. Frequent resurgence after interruption of the treatment. In particular Soriatane.

Risks: can cause birth defects in the event of pregnancy of the patient. Soriatane can cause hair loss, dry lips, and dryness of the mucous membranes.

Cyclosporine: most powerful of the general treatments. Immuno-depressor, can produce positive effects, but also serious side effects mainly due to the weakening of the auto immune system.

Other risks: renal toxicity, maximum 1 year duration.

New on the market

Raptiva. 1st biological treatment for plaque psoriasis. Primarily used for stage 3 psoriasis, after the failure of local treatments followed by general treatments. According to the FDA, Genentech, the manufacturer of the psoriasis drug Raptiva (efalizumab), announced that it has begun a voluntary, phased withdrawal of the product from the U.S. market.

Anti-TNF alphas: some already present on the market, but not yet indicated for psoriasis.

Fairly new also: Alefacept or Enbrel. Intravenous treatment. Remissions reportedly fairly durable. Disadvantages: Burdensome and must be repeated.

ALTERNATIVES TO MEDICINAL TREATMENTS

These alternatives are natural.

• Pso Natura … naturally; Pso Natura is a 100% organic, foaming, regenerating complex. An organic derma-cosmetic treatment, proven to deliver very convincing results to the problems of squama.
• 87% effective in guttate or plaque psoriasis.
• Its advantages: natural, does not cause dependency, ease of application.
• Sylvie Méliet, the founder of our "Laboratoires des Mascareignes", and a psoriatic for more than 20 years says “the most effective answer I know.”
• Results in approximately 1 month. Everything you need to know about Pso Natura
• Essential oils (phytotherapy): namely burdock, wild pansy and salsaparilla. Can be useful. Warning, often greasy and very malodorous. Ill advised to self medicate as some oils can be very toxic for the organism. Very progressive improvement (slow).
• Aloe Vera - Results are often visible, but very seldom entirely removes the traces. Most effective: freshly collected Aloe Vera, therefore not easy to find.
• Combination of local applications of “active substances” combined with patient relaxation (important since psoriasis is triggered by stress). Relatively effective, but often of short duration when one returns to normal life. The best known are:
• Dead Sea Cure: Minimum 2 weeks (avoid Dec & January, too little sun - and August, too much sun). Expensive, typically not by health insurance, repeat visits necessary.
• Icelandic Blue Lagoon Cure: 37 degree hot water lagoon deep in the Icelandic countryside. Care necessary when exiting the bath. Very expensive (travel, hotels etc), but rather effective. Repeat visits necessary.
• Some 15 different locations in France (Avène, La Roche Posay etc…) 3 weeks total program similar to the above, sometimes with group discussions. Reduction of the traces, rather than disappearance.
• Homeopathy – More suitable for light psoriasis, less than 5 years. 3-4 months to see results, only in certain cases.
• Chinese medicine - based on the observation of the laws of energy circulation. Take care to find a genuine professional. Can be helpful.
• Nutritherapy: 3 best known alternatives
• Nutritional methods of Dr. Seignalet, who recommends returning to ancestral type foods. Eating organic, banishing many things considered dangerous introduced by civilization. Very prone to controversy by experts.
• There are also the marine phospholipids, such as marine natural lecithin. Extracts of wild pelagic fish (rich in omega-3). Acts on liver, heart, brain. Could have virtues against psoriasis. Studies still in progress to confirm this point. For example “Psoriacalm“. 9 gelules per day, minimum 2 months treatment.
  Warning: Could cause thinning of the blood. A particular warning for people following an anticoagulant treatment.
• Probiotics : lactic ferments and bifidus, believed to have an influence on our internal wellbeing and thus on psoriasis. Presented as gelcaps. Consult a naturopath.

Everything you want to know about Pso Natura

Customer Testimonials

Spectacular! My husband has suffered from psoriasis for over 20 years. I had to push him a little to try the Pso Natura experiment. I must say that I found the appearance of his legs and face a little repugnant. It has all gone! Never have I seen something so effective. I tell everyone around me about it. Natacha - 59 years - Congleton (the U.K.)

I visited your web site and I heard about PSO NATURA from a friend. I had psoriasis problems for years (elbows, hands, knees). My friend already had a jar which she gave me to try. After 2 days, the results were already so incredible that I immediately placed an order. After using 1 jar, I had no more traces of psoriasis! I now use PSO NATURA 1 to 2 times per week. Josiane - 39 years - Beauvais (FR)

I inherited psoriasis from my grandmother. My whole family started using Pso Natura. We passed the word on to each other, because it really is the only treatment which has had such a dramatic effect. Thank you to everyone at the "Laboratoires des Mascareignes" for developing this product. Caroline - 25 years - Paris (FR)

When I first heard about Pso Natura, I did not really believe it, because I had tried just about everything for psoriasis, and even my dermatologist had told me that there was not much that could be done. Pso Natura is revolutionary! Truly it works! My skin is psoriasis-free. I always keep a jar at home, as a preventative measure (I fear that it might return in the former spots) and to treat the slightest reappearance in just a few days.Jean-Marc - 33 years - Rennes (FR)

Thank you "Laboratoires des Mascareignes" and PSO NATURA. My life has changed. I had severe psoriasis on the joints, especially the elbows. I did not dare wear T-shirts any more. Now I can expose my body again. I no longer have to suffer the heat in summer because of long sleeves, and I especially no longer have to suffer the embarrassed looks of others on my arms. Thank you, thank you! Sandrine - 39 years - Mauritius

I had psoriasis problems, and as my skin is also very fragile I often develop allergies and red patches. I saw that PSO NATURA is an entirely natural product, and since I started using it my psoriasis has disappeared. I recommend it to everybody.Maryvonne - 65 years - Montignac (FR)

I was so enthusiastic about the results of Pso Natura that I rubbed with the sponge like a madman, hoping to make all my psoriasis disappear more quickly. I only succeeded in irritating my skin, and as a result I could not use Pso Natura for a few days because of the stinging. It is necessary to tell people not to rub until they hurt themselves. It works, there is no point in wanting to accelerate things too much. Peter - 42 years - Düsseldorf (GER)

I can confirm: Pso Natura really is very effective. However, I wish to point out to all users or future users, that it is a “miracle” product only if used daily, as you indicate. I did my own tests. It was so effective, that I slackened off in its use. My psoriasis had almost disappeared, but it started to reappear slightly after 2 days of not using it. I obviously immediately started using it again, and I now know that it is necessary to continue the treatment until the complete disappearance, and even 2 weeks longer to be safe and that Pso Natura is totally effective.Armand - 39 years - Vesoul (FR)

Pso Natura should be voted product of the year. It is fantastic! My patches have disappeared! As you suggested, I used it in conjunction with a cortisone ointment (which I was using already), and the results are incredible. I am so happy that I speak about it all around me and I discovered that many people suffer from psoriasis in silence. Those who tried it are all complimentary about Pso Natura. Thank you. François - 46 years - Vevey (CH)

A completely natural product which makes psoriasis disappear, it sounded too good to be true, since even the corticoid cream only had a limited effect. I tried all the same; I had nothing to lose. I would have paid 1000 Euros to rid myself of my psoriasis. I am going to become a faithful customer because I want to make sure I never have problems again. Mario - 32 years - Seville (SP)

I ordered Pso Natura because of my problems with psoriasis, and the results are incredible! It all eventually cleared up in a few weeks. Thank you! Fred - 20 years - Paris