The Relationship Between Psoriasis and Candida
October 21, 2009 by Dee
Filed under Candida Symptoms
“Ahh, the heartbreak of psoriasis!” You may remember joking about that infamous phrase from an old television commercial, but psoriasis, 
like candida, can be a a serious and emotionally draining condition. Psoriasis comes in various forms and while a mild psoriasis flare up may only cause discomfort, a severe case of psoriasis can cause pain, disfigurement or disablement. Recent research has made evident a definite link between psoriasis and candida.
What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a condition which has a variety of affects on the skin and joints. The most common symptom of psoriasis is red, scaly patches of skin topped with silvery scales, called psoriatic plaques. These plaques are sites of rapid skin growth and inflammation and often occur on the knees and elbows, though they can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp, fingernails, toe nails and genitalia . In mild cases, only a few small patches of itchy, scaly skin appear but in serious bouts it can cause numerous eruptions that cover large areas of the body that not only itch but burn as well.
Some people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis. When psoriatic arthritis occurs, the victim not only suffers from the psoriatic plaques but swollen, painful joints as well. Psoriatic arthritis also causes discolored, pitted nails and may develop into inflammatory eye conditions such as conjunctivitis.
It is common for psoriasis to go through cycles, remaining active for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a period of time. It can even go into complete remission but the relief is usually temporary and eventually the psoriasis flares up again .
What Research Reveals about the Link Between Psoriasis and Candida
Several clinical studies have shown a connection between psoriasis and candida. When researchers compared skin cell, saliva and stool samples of people with psoriasis to those of people without the condition, the evidence was clear. The level of Candida albicans found on the skin, in the saliva and in the intestinal track of the psoriatic patients was significantly higher than those in the control group.
One theory surrounding this correlation is that when candida becomes severe enough, sufferers develop leaky gut syndrome, a condition that allows toxins to permeate the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. The liver works furiously to filter out the toxins, but is unable to keep up with the load, so the skin and lungs attempt to help do the liver’s job. Some of these toxins get deposited on the skin during this process and researchers feel this contributes to the development of psoriasis.
Treating Candida Alleviates Psoriasis
Studies have also shown that when psoriatic patients use candida treatments, many of them experience a marked decrease in their psoriasis symptoms. The plaques grow smaller and less noticeable and the itchiness is either greatly diminished or completely alleviated. Inflammation decreases and the pain eventually dissipates.
There are several forms of candida treatments, including anti-fungal drugs and diet and lifestyle changes. You can learn more about various ways to treat candida. It is always prudent to discuss any new treatments with your physician before you begin.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!Related posts:
