Psoriasis can often have ravaging effects on a person suffering from the malady. Add heavy consumption of alcohol and psoriasis can cause flare-ups, make any medications less effective, and cause the psoriasis to become far worse than previously. Even though the most obvious symptoms of psoriasis are on the surface of the skin, inside the body of someone with psoriasis a battle is going on, and certain things – especially alcohol – makes that battle an uphill one.
If you are a heavy smoker and drinker, what is the one bit of admonition you receive every time you go to the doctor? Of course, that advice is to quit smoking and be very moderate with alcohol consumption. Psoriasis or not, it is a pretty good idea. In fact, many researchers believe that certain cases of psoriasis are actually caused by excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption.
Scientists have a difficult time determining if either cigarettes or alcohol alone – or a combination of the two – cause or worsen psoriasis symptoms. Many physicians believe that a person suffering from psoriasis should not smoke or drink at all, as even small amounts of alcohol and nicotine cause havoc in the liver leading to the body over-producing Candida – a yeast thought to contribute heavily to psoriatic conditions. Physicians also say that psoriasis patients taking methotrexate or acitretin should especially avoid alcohol due to very serious potential drug interactions.
The visible scaly plaque and itchiness can lead to isolation and depression. As we all know, many folks turn to cigarettes and excessive alcohol consumption in an attempt to self-medicate. However, the fact is, alcohol and psoriasis do not play well together. And due to the often-changing nature of the disease, a person who has a minor case of psoriasis with a few reasonably unnoticeable patches can suddenly have a terrible outbreak after one beer too many, or perhaps sampling an unusual drink that sets of the body’s response.
Excessive alcohol consumption dries the skin, something psoriasis victims do not need. It knocks Ph balance out of whack, which leads to poor absorption of necessary nitrogen and removes beneficial and protective bacteria and acids from the skin.
Overweight people should also take special precautions with alcohol and psoriasis. People who are overweight tend to be more prone to psoriasis anyway – for a long list of reasons. Inverse psoriasis occurs between deep folds of skin and overlapping areas where sweating and friction occur – in the armpit or genital area, under breasts and buttocks.
Speaking of weight issues, experts say quite possibly the simplest and most effective way to at least alleviate many of the symptoms of psoriasis is to alter diet. Fruit, vegetables and whole grains are best – avoid fatty, sugary or greasy foods as these types of foods can start chain reactions that eventually lead to a flare-up. It does not really matter if you are taking the medicine properly – if you shove piles of bad food down your throat, you will likely exacerbate your psoriasis, as well as develop other long-term health issues. Doctors say lifestyle changes are the easiest approach to controlling psoriasis, and reducing alcohol intake and eating better are the first steps.
Mixing alcohol and psoriasis causes abnormalities in lipid metabolism. Alcohol and ethanol, a substance converted from alcohol inside the human body, reduces the effectiveness of most topical ointments by fifty percent and most oral or injected drugs by as much as ninety percent.
Psoriasis can be an emotionally draining disease – with the embarrassment, the swelling and itching, and often severe pain involved. To alleviate some of that emotional pain and embarrassment many people begin to drink heavily. Psoriasis sufferers have a twenty percent higher chance of developing alcoholism, as well as higher chances of heart, lung, kidney and liver disease. Doctors may prescribe anti-depressants, but they generally require a liver function test before prescribing an anti-depressant, and unfortunately many people with moderate to severe psoriasis have pretty serious liver issues as well that prevent them from taking prescription drugs or especially the highly toxic, cancer-like drugs. Some research has been done that suggests cannabis, either smoked or ingested orally can alleviate pain due to its anti-inflammatory characteristics. Tea tree oil, aloe and oatmeal extracts have also seen definite success in relieving the itching and irritation. Again, doctors often try a number of approaches before they find a treatment combination that suits the individual patient. As psoriasis has many forms and can change its behavior or appearance even on the same patient, doctors often take a “try this” approach and then carefully monitor the results.
Treatment plans range as widely as the sundry forms of psoriasis and the extent of the infection. The most simple plan and the one many doctors start out with is simple light therapy where the sufferer spends some time out in the sunlight each day as well as certain focused UVA and UVB phototherapy treatments. In severe cases, toxic chemicals are introduced into the body in an attempt to kill off the cells responsible for the itching and swelling. Many of these concoctions are the same preparations used in chemotherapy patients – often leading to temporary sickness and lethargy.
People can become emotionally distraught over their appearance and the social stigma unfairly associated with psoriasis. Long sleeved shirts and long pants are common while a victim is having an outbreak, and many victims report not leaving their house for many days while the disease ravaged across their faces and necks. The depression rate among people with psoriasis is higher than the average population, and sufferers are admonished to see their doctor concerning their depression or anxiety over their condition. It is believed depression can suppress the immune system somewhat, potentially leading to further health issues.
So if you have or are developing psoriasis, please do not think of it as a simple rash or minor infection that will simply go away and allow you to live your life as always. Certainly, psoriasis is fatal in only extremely serious cases where the skin has lost its ability to properly function as an organ, but even in moderate cases the detrimental effects can be far more serious that unsightly scales and redness.
