The Mystery of Psoriasis

It doesn’t seem possible that the cause of a lifetime condition for over 8 million Americans, is still a fugitive, escaping physicians and researchers for as long as modern man has been around – just for the record, that’s more than 3000 years.

Astonishingly, it was not until the 19th century that psoriasis - as a disease in its own right – was finally recognized and no longer regarded simply as a ‘skin condition’, but as a chronic autoimmune disease, distinguished by systemic inflammation.

We thank the scientists who, over the last several decades, formed the search party to capture the psoriasis perpetrators. Their work in molecular science and genetics have provided a deeper, scientific understanding of the disease mechanisms involved and eventually will learn how to outsmart the causes. Nevertheless, there is still a great deal about psoriasis that baffles them.

We think they would agree that progress in science is irregular and often stumbled on but their understanding of psoriasis as primarily an inflammatory condition has developed at astonishing speed and targeted therapies – aimed at specific molecules involved in the initial inflammatory response – are not just possibilities, they’re probabilities.

Here’s how they believe the immune system and inflammation are connected in psoriasis. They’re both a function of the body’s built-in alarm system when it detects an imminent ‘attack’. Then the immune system sends out danger signals of its own and produces inflammation. Now the immune system is totally out of balance and working overtime as full body armor. In its frenzy, faulty signals may be sent – ones that mistake healthy cells for harmful ones.  

Normally skin cells mature and are shed in an ongoing cycle of 28 to 30 days. In psoriasis, these cells mature in just 3 or 4 days and accumulate to form thickened patches of skin.

But what is it that turns on the immune system and inflammation in some and not in others?

Researchers say, it’s likely influenced by genetics. In fact, 1 out of 3 people with psoriasis has a relative who also has the disease. Not to mention that, up to 10% of the population inherits one or more of the genes that predispose them to psoriasis; interestingly however, only 2% to 3% will actually develop the disease.

So, is psoriasis hereditary? Maybe…

Or is somehow related to the structure of the skin itself and its specialized ecosystem?

Some researchers, after observing that the effects of psoriasis were seen not only in areas with visible skin lesions but also in unaffected skin, think it might. Their investigation, led by 25 scientists, was published in 2023* and showed that people with severe psoriatic disease had more abundant fibroblast cells (regulators of inflammation) and macrophages (a type of white blood cells instrumental in skin healing), suggesting that the presence of these cells may play an important role in the severity of psoriasis symptoms.

Surprisingly, they also found the same activity in healthy-looking skin located far from the visible psoriasis patches or sores. This, they report, is evidence of the broad effects of inflammation in this disease.

Genetics cannot be controlled, but the set-points can – in fact, a wide range of factors impact when and where psoriasis symptoms appear, reappear, or even worsen. Known as ‘triggers’, they vary from person to person, so knowing which ones are specific to you is invaluable…

The experts say:

Stress can trigger inflammation and may cause symptoms to appear, reappear, or even worsen.

Injury, even those that seem mild like scratches, bumps and bruises can irritate your skin and kick the immune system into high gear, aggravating psoriasis symptoms.

Infection. Fighting it is the prime function of the immune system. Those with psoriasis get to an overactive state rapidly causing faulty signal transmission that in turn trigger inflammation even after the infection has been cleared.

Weather, primarily fall and winter conditions, aggravate psoriasis more than the warmer seasons do. The combination of dry air, fewer hours of sunlight, and colder temperatures contribute to cold-weather flare-ups.

We’re told by our dermatologists that mild psoriasis responds well to topical creams – a finding echoed in a Journal of Drugs in Dermatology** article, published in 2022 citing studies that suggest “using adjunctive skincare products can reduce psoriasis symptoms, improve barrier function, and result in high patient satisfaction”.

As to why the investigators reached their conclusion lies in the close look they took in epidermal barrier abnormalities in lesional psoriatic skin. Although the cause-and-effect relationship is unclear, they reported that the complexity of genes and several structures in the barrier in psoriasis may be responsible for barrier dysfunction, leading to abnormal and rapid growth or reproduction of new cells in the epidermis in their attempt to repair the skin barrier.

Skin care products are well-known for their role in hydration, moisture retention, and symptom control in psoriasis and those with anti-inflammatory ingredients can reduce scaling and itching, soften cracks, and improve the penetration of topical drugs.

We favor NEOVA CLEAR RELIEF Multi Action Cream with Copper Peptide Complex where intense hydrators and Copper Peptide Complex do all the heavy lifting. Proof is in the science and Copper Peptide Complex, which has been researched thoroughly since our scientists invented it 4 decades ago with dozens of clinical studies validating their widespread aid in wound healing, controlling inflammation, and prompting healthy skin regeneration.

In one 8-week study, 9 out of 10 subjects experienced a median reduction of one full ranking unit [0-4] by week 8. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of Clear Relief in alleviating the signs of mild-moderate psoriasis. By enhancing the skin's natural barrier, the complex helps protect cells against irritants and infections that can worsen psoriasis and eczema.

This month is the perfect time to thank the researchers for their stunning advances and for raising psoriasis awareness in America.