Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that is associated with the immune system. Zinc is a trace mineral that plays a vital role in stimulating your immune response to infections. A deficiency of zinc increases your risk of infections and increased intake of zinc may reduce risk of certain immune-related diseases. Nonetheless, scientists have conducted few studies on the relationship between zinc and psoriasis. Consult your doctor about zinc and psoriasis.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is characterized by scaling and inflammation of your skin that affects more than 3 percent of the population in the U.S. The skin disease afflicts mostly adults equally by gender. Psoriasis can cause itching and soreness and most often occurs in patches on your elbows, knees, legs, scalp, lower back, face, finger nails, toe nails and genitals. Psoriasis is associated with overactive T-Cells, an immune cell that your body normally produces to protect it against infection.
Types
The types of psoriasis are numerous and it is common for one type to appear, go away and for a different type to subsequently appear. Plaque psoriasis, also called psoriasis vulgaris, is the most common type, affecting approximately 80 percent of psoriasis sufferers, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Psoriasis vulgaris is characterized by raised red lesions that are inflamed. Guttate psoriasis is small, red spots on the skin that begin in childhood and often appear following upper respiratory infections and certain medications, such as anti-malaria drugs and beta blockers. Inverse psoriasis is bright red lesions that occur from rubbing, irritation and sweating. Pustular psoriasis is white blisters with pus triggered by infections, steroids and certain topical agents. Erythrodermic psoriasis is characterized by redness and shedding of skin that causes protein and fluid loss and increased risk of congestive heart failure.
Blood Levels of Zinc
Scientists at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey investigated the role of the immune system in patients with psoriasis vulgar, according to research published in "Immunological Investigations" in August 2001. The biological parameters the scientists studied included blood levels of zinc and different types of immune cells and inflammatory markers in patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The results demonstrate there was no significant difference in blood levels of zinc between patients with psoriasis vulgaris and healthy controls, yet there were higher levels of certain immunoglobins and inflammatory markers in the psoriasis patients.
Zinc Treatment
Although scientists have studied the relationship between psoriasis and blood levels of zinc, no clinical studies have been published on the effectiveness of zinc therapy on preventing or treating the skin disease. Scientists at Martin-Luther University at Halle Wittenberg in Germany report that zinc therapy appears potentially effective in treating psoriasis only in patients with a zinc deficiency, according to research published in "Hautarzt” in December 2000. With exception of zinc deficiency, there is minimal evidence to demonstrate efficacy of zinc as a first-line treatment for any dermatological condition, according to scientists at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester and published in the "Journal of Dermatology Treatment" in 2006.
References
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; Psoriasis; 2009
- Linus Pauing Institute at Oregon State University; Zinc; Emily Ho; February 2008
- National Psoriasis Foundation; Types of Psoriasis; 2010
- "Immunological Investigations"; Natural Killer Cell Activity, Serum Immunoglobulins, Complement Proteins, and Zinc Levels in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris; G. Ozturk, et al.; Aug 2001
- "Hautarzt"; Analysis of Serum Zinc Level in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis Vulgaris and in Probands with Healthy Skin; B. Kreft, et al.; Dec 2000
- "Journal of Dermatology Treatment"; Zinc in Skin Pathology and Care; Yuval Bibi Nitzan; 2006
