Treatments for psoriasis sometimes include the application of a man-made form of vitamin D to the skin. It may seem logical then to conclude that vitamin D deficiency causes psoriasis. However, psoriasis is most often due to a genetic malfunction in the immune system, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, or AOCD. Taking extra vitamin D supplements to reduce psoriatic outbreaks do not help, and too much vitamin D may actually be dangerous. There is no cure for psoriasis, but there are effective treatments available.
Identification
Psoriasis is a common problem in the United States, most frequently affecting individuals between the age of 15 and 35 and striking men and women with equal favor, says the American Academy of Dermatology, or AAD. It usually appears as itchy, red patches, or plaques, on the skin. The plaques are typically a few inches in size with an overlay of silvery scale. It may also occur as red areas in the skin folds of the groin, breasts and other regions. It tends to come and go. In about 10 percent of cases, individuals may develop psoriatic arthritis, a type of psoriasis that affects joints.
Symptoms
The redness, itching and skin thickening that accompany a psoriasis outbreak signal your body's typical immune defense to any fungal infection, according to the AOCD. White blood cells, specifically the T-cells, try to heal what they perceive as a fungal infection on your skin by growing extra cells to remove or grow the fungus off your skin. These areas then become red, inflamed and itchy.
Triggers
Studies indicate that most individuals with the condition inherit gene mutations that result in psoriasis, reports the AAD. Not everyone with the gene malfunction actually develops the skin condition, but research shows that emotional stress, a skin injury, climate changes, certain medications or an infection, such as strep throat, may trigger a psoriatic response.
Vitamin D Treatment for Psoriasis
Calcipotriene, brand name Dovonex, is an ointment that contains a synthetic form of vitamin D. It works by controlling the excessive production of skin cells that produce the plaques associated with psoriasis, according to the AAD. The side effects are generally mild but may include irritation and burning. Doctors generally recommend twice-daily application but often limit use after a time due to the possibility of excessive accumulation of vitamin D in the body.
Considerations
Many treatments for psoriasis often become less effective over time. Doctors may start your treatment with topical steroids and switch to calcipotriene and then to UVB phototherapy to help treat your outbreaks. Notifying your physician when a treatment loses its effectiveness can help him formulate new therapies for your psoriasis.
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