Psoriasis (so-ri’a-sis) [Gr., an itch]. This is a form of dermatosis that produces dry, flaky, silvery scales over inflamed reddish lesions. The lesions form well-demarcated papules that are clearly distinct from the surrounding healthy tissues, which makes it easy to distinguish this type of dermatitis from eczema, since the latter often gives rise to diffuse lesions. Head lesions are also easy to distinguish from yellow and greasy seborrhea. The most characteristic sign of psoriasis is the tiny bleeding marks that its scales leave upon removal (Auspitz sign). Allopathic medicine does not know the etiology of psoriasis, although it recognizes the importance of family history, often in the form of an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. In children, psoriasis may follow a respiratory infection.
In adults, eruptions may also follow local trauma, sunburn, topical medications, corticosteroidal therapy, and, in certain individuals, severe emotional trauma (e.g., grief in Nat-mur). In some people psoriasis affects nails too, causing a very peculiar pitting pattern; psoriasis on nails is often confused with fungal infection because of the similarity in appearance. Most of the time the face (eyebrows), trunk, head, and extremities are affected. The eruptions may or may not be itchy. Often the progression of the disease leads to the development of painful inflammation of joints, a condition which is referred to as psoriatic arthritis (q.v.) Psoriasis is considered to be chronic and incurable by allopaths. Homeopathy has a good record of keeping psoriasis under control, and the Repertory facilitates the search for remedies because Kent often catalogued skin diseases both by their symptoms and by their names. It is thus listed under Eruptions / psoriasis in "Skin" and other sections, but one can also search for distinguishing features in other "Eruption" rubrics. Allopathic treatments involve topical suppression with either petroleum derivatives or UV radiation. Corticosteroids are prohibited as they usually lead to exacerbation of the condition. In severe cases, toxic and teratogenic systemic drugs are used to reduce the inflammation and slow down the proliferation of epithelium, which is a major feature of psoriasis. For a successful homeopathic treatment of people with psoriasis it is important to take into the consideration the etiology, the distinguishing skin characteristics and organs involved, as well as the overall mental/general picture. Psoriatic Arthritis often affects people with psoriasis. The progression and symptomatology of this arthritis is very similar to rheumatoid arthritis and may lead to the same type of joint deformation. Unlike in RA, however, the autoimmune nature of this condition has not been established, though it is evident in some patients (some people with no rheumatoid factor have HLA-B27 antigen).