The question of whether vitamin supplements are necessary in the management of psoriasis is often asked by patients and physicians alike. They play only a minor role, provided that a patient adheres to the dietary regimen. Necessary vitamins and minerals obtained from their natural state, that is, from foods such as fruits and vegetables and their juices, fat surpasses those obtained from synthetic, manufactured sources, Nevertheless, there are instances when they may be of some value, if only from a psychological point of view.
The vitamins and minerals most frequently associated with psoriasis are vitamins A and D, as well as the B vitamins. According to a ten-year experimental psoriasis study, 118 out of 155 patients responded with purified granulated soya phosphatides. Crude lecithin, 3 ro 6 grams daily, was also given, in addition to small amounts of vitamins A, D, B1, B2, B6, and calcium pantothenate. When using vitamin D with a control base, applied topically, five out of five patients showed “remarkable improvement.” Other sources indicate that similar results have been obtained by using vitamin E topically.
In short, vitamin supplements may prove beneficial in some cases and generally pose no threat to the patient. A person should, however, first consult with a licensed health practitioner before embarking on a therapeutic regimen of vitamins, whether they are administered systemically or topically.
Vitamin A for psoriasis
I’ve read that vitamin A treatment is good. What is it allabout?
Otherwise known as retinoids, vitamin A-derived treatments can be very helpful with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Neotigason (acitretin) is the (oral) drug name you are most likely to encounter.
Get a free trial of Dermasis psoriasis cream. and Read the Quick Action Plan to cure psoriasisThere are a number of side (unwanted) effects with this class of drug, as well as some circumstances when it should not be used. Because it is teratogenic (it damages the unborn child), it should be given only in exceptional circumstances to women of childbearing age. It can also cause nausea, dryness of the mucous membranes (mainly the eyes and lips) and temporary hair loss. A cream derived from vitamin A is also available (Zorac [tazarotene]) and is a useful addition to the treatments on offer, although it can also cause dryness and irritation of the skin.
Vitamins should be present in a normal healthy diet, and taking supplements will have little or no effect on the skin, whatever some adverts may claim. Vitamin A in particular is harmful if taken to excess, especially if you are pregnant. It can cause liver damage. I have been taking Neotigason tablets for 2 years and now I am thinking of trying for a baby. How long will I have to wait before the effects have worn off?
Neotigason is a retinoid drug derived from vitamin A and is very useful in some forms of psoriasis. Unfortunately, it can lead to severe deformities in a developing baby, so you must not take it when pregnant. The drug persists in the body in very small amounts for a long time, and as this would be enough to cause the damage, you should wait for 2 years after stopping treatment before trying for a baby.
Treatment using a retinoid (Neotigason) and PUVA is called RePUVA. The combination works quite well but is usually reserved for difficult cases – such as when there is little improvement after 50 PUVA treatments, when the psoriasis returns within 6 months of successful PUVA treatment or when there is severe psoriasis of the palms and soles. The advantages of using this combination are that the retinoid can decrease the total amount of UV exposure needed and that it also acts to prevent some of the skin changes that might lead to cancer.
Vitamin D for psoriasis
Topical applications that contain vitamin D derivatives and have been very helpful in the treatment of milder forms of psoriasis. Vitamin D is essential for the healthy growth of the skin. The topical vitamin D applications (e.g. Dovonex) are less messy than dithranol and tar, and many people find them very effective! They are available as creams, ointments and scalp applications. For the treatment to be effective, it is important to apply a ‘thick smear’ and then gently rub it in. A ‘thick smear’ means covering the area with cream or ointment so that you can see it on your skin before rubbing it in. Vitamin D creams do not need to be used ‘sparingly’, as do steroid creams and ointments, as long as you do not use more than 100 g a week.
Dietary Supplements
The popularity of dietary supplements, especially natural ones, has recently grown to an all-time high. Throughout history across all major cultures and civilizations, natural herbs were once the only means of cure or relief for disease. Then came the pharmaceutical companies- -need I say more? The rest is history-c-or current events!
Today, certain herbal remedies are associated with the healing of psoriasis. In 1999, Reader’s Digest published an extensive book The Heating Power of Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs, which included an impressive discourse on psoriasis as well as eczema. It contains perhaps the most concise, detailed list of supplements available to the psoriatic patient.
Incases of eczema, the chart indicates that most of the same measures are called for in cases of eczema (atopic dermatitis), except for the addition of a cream that contains chamomile or licorice (called glycyrrhetinic acid cream). These herbs reduce skin inflammation and can be surprisingly soothing when applied three or four times a day directly to the lesions.
Chinese herbs
Chinese herbal treatments come in two main forms: creams, and preparations taken by mouth. The latter are most commonly used and have been subject to some trial work by traditional doctors. There seems to be some evidence that this treatment can be beneficial in psoriasis, but studies have been quite small scale and need further evaluation. It is unlikely that the treatment will become available on the NHS in the foreseeable future as the licensing of drugs and similar items takes many years and is very expensive. This is necessary to try to exclude any products that might have dangerous long- or short-term side-effects.
• There is no evidence that Chinese herbs cure psoriasis, but there may be some benefits.
Chinese herbs are not always safe as they can cause inflammation of and damage to internal organs such as the liver and kidneys in the short term. The long-term side-effects are unknown.
• The raw ingredients or herbs are not under any form of quality control, so the chemical composition can vary enormously. Different countries of origin, times of year picked and storage of the herbs can all have an effect on quality.
• There is a similar lack of control over the ‘doctors’ who sell the herbs. They are not medically qualified Western doctors under the control of the General Medical Council. Many are responsible practitioners, but you must remember that anyone can sell these herbs. A lot of money can be made if you think that the cost can be £20–£30 per patient per week.
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