Psoriasis is a chronic disease with a long term development, manifested mainly by the occurrence of specific formations upon the skin, whose aspect varies with every individual in particular. In certain cases the psoriasis manifestations at skin level vanish, only to reappear after some time, in the same or in a more severe form.

In its mild or medium forms, psoriasis does not pose a threat to the patient's life. However, failing to treat the disease allows psoriasis to develop to the stage in which it can cause the patient's death.

Causes

The skin is the organ reflecting the condition and the functionality of the internal organs by its aspect. In the case of psoriasis, the skin modifications are caused by a serious hepatic disorder. From this reason, the peripheral circulation is diminished in certain dermal areas, and the skin cells no longer receive the necessary resources to function within normal parameters. The psoriasis lesions appear upon the skin because the skin's cells die too soon.

As the liver condition deteriorates, psoriasis evolves to more severe forms. One of these forms is psoriatic arthritis, a condition affecting the structure of the ligaments, of the tendons as well as of the inter-articular cartilages.

The liver plays a vital part in the development of the metabolic processes, as it carries out more than several thousand bio-chemical reactions. A change in its function or/and structure causes metabolic, hormonal and immune disorders. As far as the patients with psoriasis are concerned, the impaired functions of a certain liver area as well as the bad peripheral circulation do not allow the elimination of the dead cells any more. From these reasons, psoriasis acquires the characteristics of a self-immune reaction, because the immune system will try to eliminate the dead skin cells. But a number of dead cells are attached to living ones. Because of the local metabolic anomalies, the body's anti-bodies will attack these living cells, too. Thus an unnatural mechanism of dead cells elimination is formed, as the process also involves living skin cells.

Risk Factors

Researches reveal the existence of a number of risk factors generating hepatic disorder and consequently the liver deterioration followed by the occurrence of psoriatic lesions on the skin. Among them, we can mention: improper food regime, physical and psychic exhaustion, stress, concussions as well as hepatic or skin lesions (corresponding to the reflex liver areas).

The displacement of vertebrae T8, T9, T10 or/and T12 is a special case. Each vertebra is surrounded by a large number of nerve branches and blood vessels. The displacement of a vertebra from its natural position will generate pressure upon the nerve branches of the adjacent area, spoiling the information flow along the affected nerve branch. As the displaced vertebrae affect the root of the nerve innervating the liver, the information conveyed through this nerve's branches to the liver will be altered. In time, this altered information will lead to the onset of psoriasis by disturbing the hepatic area responsible for the vascularization, nourishing and oxygenation of the skin. If the vertebra is placed back in its position, these manifestations cease and the patient recovers completely.

Forms of Manifestation

In the case of psoriasis, the manifestation forms are classified according to the degree of affected tissue, its extent and its location. However, the manifestation varies with each patient and the mild and the medium forms may grow into serious ones under the action of certain triggering factors (such as emotional and psychic shocks, physical traumas, etc.) Under the action of triggering factors, there has also been recorded a reappearance of the disease in patients who did not have any psoriatic lesions for many years.

Manifestation Forms	Semeiology	Location	Observations
Psoriasis Vulgaris	Reddish formations at skin level, well defined and in relief, covered with easily-detachable ivory-white scales	Elbows, knees, scalp, and lower area of the back	The commonest form; over 80% of the patients suffer from this type of psoriasis
Guttate Psoriasis	Well-defined reddish spots, of small dimensions	Trunk and limbs	Sudden onset. The hepatic disorder is associated with streptococcic infections, respiratory diseases, stress, skin traumas or administration of specific medication (beta-blockers and malaria medication)
Inverse Psoriasis	Red inflamed tegumentary areas, with exfoliating tendency; to be noticed the absence of the ivory-whitish scales	At the level of the body's folds (axillaries, gluteal cleft, sub-mammary, inguinal areas, etc.)	It gives a great discomfort because of its location, especially in obese persons
Pustular Psoriasis	Pustules surrounded by inflamed and erythematous tegumentary areas	Hands and legs. It may become generalized, spreading over the entire surface of the body	In the case of acute generalized pustular psoriasis, the patient's life is endangered. Therefore hospitalization as well as proper medical attendance are necessary
Erythrodermic Psoriasis	Reddish eruption, with aspect of burning; tendencies of slight desquamation accompanied by itchiness, burning sensation, feverish episodes and chills, dehydration and great losses of iron and proteins	All over the body	In particular cases, the patients display hypothermia, renal and cardiac insufficiency, malabsorption syndrome and major infections

Treatment

In the traditional medicine, the treatment of psoriasis aims in the first place at the regeneration of the hepatic structure and the recovery of the hepatic functions. Simultaneously, one will act upon the endocrine system in order to restore the hormonal balance.

If psoriasis has evolved to the stage of immune deficiency or hyper immunity, the intervention is aimed at achieving balance of the immune system. In the case of immune deficiency, the patient displays major infections. In the case of hyper immunity, psoriasis acquires the characteristics of a self-immune disease.

The treatment of psoriatic arthritis covers all the mentioned stages but also the restoration of the articulations' structure.

If the hepatic disorder and the psoriatic lesions are caused by a displacement of vertebrae, these will be placed into their natural position. The treatment by acupuncture and phytotherapy aims at eliminating the body disorders. The treatment also acts upon the skin, regenerating and revitalizing it.

Treating the depression which the patients with psoriasis suffer from is an important part of the treatment. The depression sets in because of the existing immune and hormonal disorder but also because of the impact that psoriasis has upon the patient's public and private life.