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Skin, Hair & Nails
Psoriasis: Sufferers Can Benefit From Sunlight And Vitamin D
Date: 05/06/09
There are many types of psoriasis including Guttate, Plaque, Pustular, Psoriatic Arthritis and Flexural Psoriasis which can affect most areas of the body including the scalp, genitals and nails - both fingernails and toenails.
Psoriasis is a disease whose main symptom is grey or silvery flaky patches on the skin, which are red and inflamed underneath. Psoriasis affects 3 per cent of people globally. It is an autoimmune disorder and usually runs in families, and is not contagious. Although the tendency to contract psoriasis is stored in a person's genes, it is by no means certain that it will ever develop.
Around a quarter of people with psoriasis also suffer from psoriatic arthritis, which is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in its effects.
Sunlight to the rescue
Psoriasis is a dry, scaly skin condition in which cells are produced too quickly in the outer layer of the skin known as keratinocytes. Normally skin cells take about 21 to 28 days to replace themselves, in psoriasis they take around 2 to 6 days. Vitamin D regulates a large number of genes in the keratinocytes, which means that vitamin D might have a role to play in the regulation of the division of these cells. In fact, synthetic derivatives of vitamin D such as calcipotriol are sometimes used in the treatment of psoriasis.
A recent study tested the effects of sunlight on 20 Swedish psoriasis sufferers (men and women with the average age of 47). The participants were taken for a 3-week break in Gran Canaria. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to measure the severity of psoriasis in the group and during the time of the study their PASI scores declined an average of about 73 per cent.
There was no control group in this study but the results are nevertheless impressive, and add some scientific support for the anecdotal experiences of many psoriasis sufferers. Also keep in mind that many psoriasis sufferers benefit greatly from UVB Light Therapy. Regular readers of our alerts will know that the good sunrays are UVB rays, which forms the precursor to vitamin D in the skin.
Vitamin D to the rescue
The study did not only look at individuals’ responses to sunlight. The researchers also measured vitamin D levels. At the beginning of the study, the average vitamin D was 22.9 ng/ml (nanograms per millilitre). At the end of the study, levels had risen to an average of 41.8 ng/ml – a rise of almost 83 per cent.
Some of these changes might have been down, at least in part, due to changes in factors others than sunlight/vitamin D levels (such as diet). Though dietary change tends not to change these parameters very quickly. The speed of the changes suggests that non-dietary factors (e.g. sunlight) were more likely to be responsible for these positive changes.
This study demonstrates that sun exposure really does have the ability to improve skin psoriasis. The study also shows that sunlight exposure can dramatically enhance vitamin D levels. Keep in mind that the study subjects were from Sweden, and were likely to have had fair skin - more vitamin D is made in fair skin in response to a given amount of sunlight than in darker skin.
To UVB or not to UVB
In the northern hemisphere, it may be difficult for psoriasis sufferers to get enough sunlight to alleviate their symptoms and improve their condition, so a treatment option to consider is UVB Light Treatment.
A large number of studies show the positive effect of UVB on Psoriasis sufferers. Generally 80 per cent of sufferers will be cleared within 6 weeks, with 3 treatments per week. Sufferers who experience a reccurrence within a short time after healing may use maintenance programmes of treatment, once or twice per week.
Wrinkling of the skin (Actinic Elastosis) and skin malignancies are associated long-term side effects of UVB exposure. However, in one study in a Swedish clinic of patients who had been on UVB treatment during a 20-year period, no increase of wrinkling of the skin or skin malignancies were found, when compared to an age and sex matched group from the same city.
Short-term side effects can be avoided by following the instructions with care along with the guidance of a therapist qualified or trained in applying UVB Light Therapy. These are blistering with redness (erythema), which is uncomfortable but not dangerous.
The risks involved with UVB are about the same as for an outdoor worker such as farmer or builder, who are exposed to sunlight on a daily basis. It is advised that anyone undertaking UVB Therapy visit a dermatologist once or twice a year for regular check up.
Related Reading:
Psoriasis: Find Relief With An Ointment From The 'Sausage Tree'
Psoriasis: Natural Remedies Can Put A Stop To Maddening Itching And Persistent Pain
Psoriasis Treatments: Prevent Dry, Itchy Flare-ups With Borage Oil
Sources:
‘Sunlight found to bring big benefits for psoriasis sufferers’ by Dr. Briffa, published online 30.05.09, drbriffa.com
‘What is Psoriasis?’ published online by The Psoriasis Help Organisation, psoriasis-help.org.uk
‘UVB Light Treatment’ published online by The Psoriasis Help Organisation, psoriasis-help.org.uk
‘Effect of climate therapy at Gran Canaria on vitamin D production, blood glucose and lipids in patients with psoriasis’, by Osmancevic A, et l., J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, published 24th April 2009 [E-pub ahead of print publication]
Back to topPsoriasis is a disease whose main symptom is grey or silvery flaky patches on the skin, which are red and inflamed underneath. Psoriasis affects 3 per cent of people globally. It is an autoimmune disorder and usually runs in families, and is not contagious. Although the tendency to contract psoriasis is stored in a person's genes, it is by no means certain that it will ever develop.
Around a quarter of people with psoriasis also suffer from psoriatic arthritis, which is similar to rheumatoid arthritis in its effects.
Sunlight to the rescue
Psoriasis is a dry, scaly skin condition in which cells are produced too quickly in the outer layer of the skin known as keratinocytes. Normally skin cells take about 21 to 28 days to replace themselves, in psoriasis they take around 2 to 6 days. Vitamin D regulates a large number of genes in the keratinocytes, which means that vitamin D might have a role to play in the regulation of the division of these cells. In fact, synthetic derivatives of vitamin D such as calcipotriol are sometimes used in the treatment of psoriasis.
A recent study tested the effects of sunlight on 20 Swedish psoriasis sufferers (men and women with the average age of 47). The participants were taken for a 3-week break in Gran Canaria. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to measure the severity of psoriasis in the group and during the time of the study their PASI scores declined an average of about 73 per cent.
There was no control group in this study but the results are nevertheless impressive, and add some scientific support for the anecdotal experiences of many psoriasis sufferers. Also keep in mind that many psoriasis sufferers benefit greatly from UVB Light Therapy. Regular readers of our alerts will know that the good sunrays are UVB rays, which forms the precursor to vitamin D in the skin.
Vitamin D to the rescue
The study did not only look at individuals’ responses to sunlight. The researchers also measured vitamin D levels. At the beginning of the study, the average vitamin D was 22.9 ng/ml (nanograms per millilitre). At the end of the study, levels had risen to an average of 41.8 ng/ml – a rise of almost 83 per cent.
Some of these changes might have been down, at least in part, due to changes in factors others than sunlight/vitamin D levels (such as diet). Though dietary change tends not to change these parameters very quickly. The speed of the changes suggests that non-dietary factors (e.g. sunlight) were more likely to be responsible for these positive changes.
This study demonstrates that sun exposure really does have the ability to improve skin psoriasis. The study also shows that sunlight exposure can dramatically enhance vitamin D levels. Keep in mind that the study subjects were from Sweden, and were likely to have had fair skin - more vitamin D is made in fair skin in response to a given amount of sunlight than in darker skin.
To UVB or not to UVB
In the northern hemisphere, it may be difficult for psoriasis sufferers to get enough sunlight to alleviate their symptoms and improve their condition, so a treatment option to consider is UVB Light Treatment.
A large number of studies show the positive effect of UVB on Psoriasis sufferers. Generally 80 per cent of sufferers will be cleared within 6 weeks, with 3 treatments per week. Sufferers who experience a reccurrence within a short time after healing may use maintenance programmes of treatment, once or twice per week.
Wrinkling of the skin (Actinic Elastosis) and skin malignancies are associated long-term side effects of UVB exposure. However, in one study in a Swedish clinic of patients who had been on UVB treatment during a 20-year period, no increase of wrinkling of the skin or skin malignancies were found, when compared to an age and sex matched group from the same city.
Short-term side effects can be avoided by following the instructions with care along with the guidance of a therapist qualified or trained in applying UVB Light Therapy. These are blistering with redness (erythema), which is uncomfortable but not dangerous.
The risks involved with UVB are about the same as for an outdoor worker such as farmer or builder, who are exposed to sunlight on a daily basis. It is advised that anyone undertaking UVB Therapy visit a dermatologist once or twice a year for regular check up.
Related Reading:
Psoriasis: Find Relief With An Ointment From The 'Sausage Tree'
Psoriasis: Natural Remedies Can Put A Stop To Maddening Itching And Persistent Pain
Psoriasis Treatments: Prevent Dry, Itchy Flare-ups With Borage Oil
Sources:
‘Sunlight found to bring big benefits for psoriasis sufferers’ by Dr. Briffa, published online 30.05.09, drbriffa.com
‘What is Psoriasis?’ published online by The Psoriasis Help Organisation, psoriasis-help.org.uk
‘UVB Light Treatment’ published online by The Psoriasis Help Organisation, psoriasis-help.org.uk
‘Effect of climate therapy at Gran Canaria on vitamin D production, blood glucose and lipids in patients with psoriasis’, by Osmancevic A, et l., J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, published 24th April 2009 [E-pub ahead of print publication]
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