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Psoriasis Revolution

A 7-Step Holistic Plan for Complete

Psoriasis Healing

By Dan Crawford

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2003-2018 Dan Crawford of Higher Ways Publishing, Inc.

All literary work contained within "Psoriasis Revolution™" belongs to and is the

sole property of its author and is reprinted with permission. Reproduction,

copying, or any other form of use of the pieces contained within the book is

strictly forbidden without express permission

from the author. If perjury is discovered, the offenders will be prosecuted

to the full extent of the law.

Note: The owner of this book is permitted to print one hardcopy of this

e-manual for personal use. These rules have been established

to protect the rights and ownership of the author and to ensure that the

author’s work is upheld as his own.

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Disclaimer

While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this

publication, neither the Author nor the Publisher assumes any responsibility for

errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.

Any perceived slights of specific persons, peoples or organizations are

unintentional. The Author neither makes nor attempts to make any diagnosis or

cure or prevent any disease.

This publication is an informational product based on my own experience and

research, and has not been evaluated by either the FDA or the medical

profession and is not aimed to replace any advice you may receive from your

medical practitioner or a qualified dermatology professional. The Author and

Publisher assume no responsibility or liability whatsoever on the behalf of any

purchaser or reader of these materials. The author is not a doctor, nor does he

claim to be. Please consult your primary care physician before beginning any

program of nutrition, exercise, or remedy. By consulting your primary care

physician, you will have a better opportunity to understand and address your

particular symptoms and situation in the most effective ways possible.

As always, before applying any treatment or attempting anything mentioned in

this book, or if you are in doubt, you should consult your physician and use your

best judgment. If you fail to do so, you are acting at your own risk. You, the

buyer or reader of this book, alone assume all risk for anything you may learn

from this book. PsoriasisRevolution.com, Higher Ways Publishing Inc., the

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Publisher and Dan Crawford are not liable or responsible for any increase in

severity of your Psoriasis or for any health problem you may encounter in case

you give up medical treatment.

By choosing to use the information made available on the Psoriasis Revolution

website and in this book, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless

Higher Ways Publishing Inc. and PsoriasisRevolution.com from all claims

(whether valid or invalid), suits, judgment, proceedings, losses, damages, costs

and expenses, of any nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorney's fees)

for which Higher Ways Publishing Inc. and PsoriasisRevolution.com may become

liable resulting from the use or misuse of any products sold through the

PsoriasisRevolution.com website.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................... 9

About This Book ............................................................................................................ 11

How This Book Is Organized .......................................................................................... 12

The 7-Step Psoriasis Solution ........................................................................................ 13

My Story ........................................................................................................................ 16

CHAPTER TWO: ALL ABOUT PSORIASIS ....................................................................... 20

All About the Skin .......................................................................................................... 21

What Is Psoriasis? ......................................................................................................... 24

The Types of Psoriasis ................................................................................................... 25

What Really Causes Psoriasis? ...................................................................................... 28

The Link Between Psoriasis and the Intestinal Walls .................................................... 29

The Link Between Psoriasis and Arthritis ...................................................................... 32

What Puts You At Risk for Psoriasis? ............................................................................ 37

Who Gets Psoriasis ........................................................................................................ 38

Psoriasis in Children ...................................................................................................... 40

The Physical Complications of Psoriasis ........................................................................ 44

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CHAPTER THREE: DIAGNOSING PSORASIS AND EVALUATING ITS SEVERITY ................. 54

Diagnosing Psoriasis ..................................................................................................... 57

Tests for Psoriasis .......................................................................................................... 59

Related Disorders .......................................................................................................... 60

CHAPTER FOUR: CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS FOR PSORIASIS – AND THEIR

CONSEQUENCES .......................................................................................................... 62

Oral and Injection Therapies for Psoriasis .................................................................... 66

Side Effects to Watch Out for When Using These Drug Therapies ............................... 67

CHAPTER FIVE: THE 7-STEP PSORIASIS PROGRAM SOLUTION FOR REVERSING

PSORIASIS ................................................................................................................... 78

Step #1: The Quick Psoriasis Relief Plan ....................................................................... 79

Step #2: The Psoriasis Program – Diet, Nutrition and Supplements to the Rescue! ... 87

Step #3: Boosting Your Immunity for Beating Psoriasis ............................................. 117

The Link Between Psoriasis and the Immune System ............................................ 118

How to Boost Your Immunity ................................................................................. 119

How Exercise Can Help You tO Have a Healthier Immune System ........................ 133

Step #4: Eradicating Candida for Fighting Psoriasis ................................................... 135

How to Control Candida Infections ......................................................................... 136

Anti-Candida Supplements ..................................................................................... 138

Replenishing and Re-Colonizing Friendly Bacteria ................................................. 142

Step #5: Cleansing and Detoxifying the Body to Reverse Psoriasis and Its Affects .... 146

Why Cleanse? .......................................................................................................... 146

What Is Fasting? ...................................................................................................... 147

Why Should You Fast? ............................................................................................ 148

Types of Fasting ...................................................................................................... 149

General Fasting Guidelines ..................................................................................... 150

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The Psoriasis Revolution 3-Day Juice Cleanse ........................................................ 154

During the Juice Cleanse ......................................................................................... 162

Helping the Organs of Elimination to Remove Toxins ............................................ 163

Preventing Re-Absorption of Toxins into the Blood Stream .................................. 166

Colonics ................................................................................................................... 171

Heavy Metal Cleanse .............................................................................................. 172

The Healing Crisis and How to Survive It ................................................................ 175

Getting Rid of Parasites – One-Week Program ....................................................... 176

Liver Detoxification ................................................................................................. 178

Step #6: Spine Adjustments as a Psoriasis Cure ......................................................... 181

Step #7: Thought Changing and Relaxation Techniques for Psoriasis Sufferers ........ 185

Relaxation Techniques to the Rescue Mind and Body Prescription ....................... 192

ONE FINAL THOUGHT … ........................................................................................... 204

APPENDIX I: THE HEALING PROCESS ......................................................................... 206

APPENDIX II: SAMPLE MEAL PLANS AND RECIPES FOR TREATING PSORIASIS ............ 208

APPENDIX III: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PSORIASIS ........................... 232

IMPORTANT TERMS TO KNOW ................................................................................. 236

THE PSORIASIS GLOSSARY ......................................................................................... 236

LINKS & RESOURCES ................................................................................................. 241

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Chapter One:

INTRODUCTION

Psoriasis is incurable – or so say the

medical experts. Although the

traditional medical community has

long been stumped by this chronic

inflammatory disease and unable to

find any real cure for it, this doesn’t

necessarily mean that it is truly

“incurable.

Nature has many ways of offering the

aids we need to treat just about

every affliction that ravages the

human body. The key to healing is

finding which natural cure-alls are

designed to attack certain diseases

and disorders. Psoriasis is no exception.

One of the oldest skin disorders known to man, psoriasis has been plaguing its

victims for thousands of years. Why, there is even evidence that Ancient

Egyptians suffered with the disorder and had developed a system of herbal aids

to treat it.

For centuries, psoriasis was confused with leprosy, banning its victims to a life of

isolation and ridicule. It wasn’t until the 1800s when Doctors Hebra and Kaposi

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made the distinction between the two, and psoriasis was given its own definition

in medical history.

Still, the stigma that surrounds psoriasis remains. More often than not, the red,

scaly and bleeding pustules keep psoriasis victims hiding their condition from

their friends and acquaintances. For those who suffer severely with the disorder,

trying to hide their unsightly outbreaks can leave them isolated and lonely.

Even worse than the emotional trauma (and let me assure you that psoriasis can

cause some major emotional upset in some people) are the physical aspects of

the disease. When continual outbreaks are present, the skin itself is at high risk

of infection. Psoriasis-induced arthritis is also a major complaint of sufferers.

This, combined with the pain of the pustules themselves, can leave some

patients fighting chronic pain.

Still, the dermatology industry is stumped by the underlying cause of psoriasis.

While many people think that it is a condition in and of itself, those who have

been studying the disorder for any length of time understand that it is the result

of other health concerns. In other words, it is an outward manifestation of an

inward problem.

Many researchers believe that when the kidneys and liver fail to flush toxins from

the body, they find a new way to escape – through the skin. This caustic

secretion of toxins through the skin can irritate or even “burn” it, causing the

flaking, itching, burning sensation and actual scaling of the skin. Then, to help to

protect and repair itself, crusty pustules are formed on the surface. These

outbreaks become recurrent, depending on how much toxic residue is left inside

the body. This happens because other internal organs cannot keep up with the

excretion of daily toxins, and an overload continues to build up until it is finally

released through the skin, causing this painful inflammatory response again and

again.

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Unfortunately for many patients, what begins as a small rash or irritation can

become all consuming over months or even years, as the psoriasis spreads from

the hands and feet to arms and legs, back, stomach, and even face! In the worst

cases, psoriasis victims may report 80% of their bodies are covered in unsightly

and painful pustules.

If you suffer from these painful attacks, you may feel alone in your agony, but

you aren’t! As a matter of fact, nearly 8 million people in the United States

alone (and about 3% of the world population) suffer with the disorder!

Considered one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases in the United States,

psoriasis is becoming an epidemic, causing havoc in the lives of its victims.

Costing more than $11.2 billion every year, psoriasis has become far more than a

cosmetic issue – it has become a real medical one. Yet it remains one of the

most misunderstood autoimmune diseases out there, both amongst the general

medical community as well as those who suffer from it! That’s why this book is

so important – to help patients better understand their disorder and to help them

find the help they so desperately need, and to help highlight this disorder

amongst doctors themselves and to show the medical community the variety of

healing options that are available for this relatively mistreated affliction.

About This Book

This book was written primarily as a resource to help educate the general public

and the medical community about psoriasis. But it is more than just a guidebook

to explain psoriasis; it is also a step-by-step guide to help the sufferer cure this

so-called

incurable disease.

One of the most distressing aspects of psoriasis tends to be its permanency.

During the worst of an attack, patients can neither find relief nor have hope that

their physician can help ease their discomfort and rid them of future outbreaks.

This can be both distressing and disheartening, to say the least.

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But there is hope.

The Psoriasis Revolution

doesn’t just talk about the most

common treatment methods being offered by general practitioners or even

dermatologists in the fight against psoriasis. This book offers real hope to the

psoriasis patient in not only relieving their symptoms but actually curing the

disease. Better yet, this can all be accomplished without the need for dangerous

drugs.

To completely rid the body of psoriasis attacks, it is vital that the body works

properly from the inside out. When every system and organ is working at peak

capacity, toxins are unable to build up in the system causing a dangerous

overload, which results in a painful psoriasis outbreak. When all evidence of

psoriasis is finally gone, a patient can claim to be “cured.”

Unheard of in traditional medical practices, a psoriasis cure is a fairly new

phenomena and one only seen on the holistic level. Why? Traditional healers

tend to offer help in keeping its symptoms under control and not really dealing

with the underlying cause of those symptoms. Remember, the medical

community thinks psoriasis itself is a medical condition; but holistic healers

believe it is a symptom of something else going awry within the body.

This book does the complete opposite, tackling the root causes of psoriasis so

that the symptoms of the disease disappear completely – and permanently.

How This Book Is Organized

The Psoriasis Revolution

is presented in a way that will help you better

understand this disorder as well as find practical helps in dealing with its

symptoms, while also finding its underlying cause to cure it.

Broken down into five main sections,

The Psoriasis Revolution

begins by

discussing the facts about psoriasis. Here, you will learn more about your skin

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than you have ever known before: what kinds of psoriasis sufferers must deal

with, the real causes of the disorder, as well as:

• the link between psoriasis and the intestines

• how psoriasis affects (or even causes) arthritis

• the risk factors of psoriasis

• the statistical facts about the disease

• how children are affected

• the complications to watch out for

• and the psychological effects of psoriasis

Once psoriasis has been explained in detail, section three will begin to discuss

evaluation procedures and diagnosis. This section will outline the following:

• The signs and symptoms of psoriasis

• How a diagnosis is made

• What to expect during your physical exam

• The related medical disorders that may be inhibiting a true diagnosis

• Tests to expect

Diagnosis is only the first step to treating psoriasis. Next in your healing plan is

learning about the conventional treatments offered by the general medical

community. Without understanding what is available (and the risks of each

treatment), it will be impossible to understand the importance of using holistic

remedies to help rid your body of the toxins that are causing your skin condition.

Section five may be the most important part of the entire book since it outlines

the 7-step psoriasis elimination program that you both want and need.

The 7-Step Psoriasis Revolution

Reversing psoriasis is possible but only if you know what to do. Not everyone

does. It has taken years of research to compile this basic 7-step psoriasis-easing

program. At first it may seem too simple to work, but rest assured that

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thousands of people have taken the challenge and found relief from their

symptoms and a cure from their disorder.

Psoriasis doesn’t have to keep you from enjoying life and it doesn’t have to make

you stand out in a crowd. Leave those stares and giggles behind. Stop feeling

the burn and itch of an outbreak. Ease your suffering with this 7-step plan:

Step #1:

Quick Relief: All Natural External Applications to Ease Your

Suffering

This unique 7-step psoriasis revolution may take awhile to work, but in the

meantime, step #1 offers some quick relief to get you through the next few

weeks without feeling the sting of an outbreak.

Step #2:

The Psoriasis Diet, Nutrition and Supplement Program

The body can’t work well if it doesn’t have the right vitamins and minerals. Cells

need certain substances to thrive, and since every organ and system in your

body (including your skin) is made up of billions of cells, it makes sense that you

need to feed those cells properly for everything to work.

Fail to balance the minerals and vitamins in your body and the entire system will

begin to break down. This can cause all sorts of chaos, including psoriasis. In

step #2 you will learn what types of foods are needed to give your body’s cells

and organs the energy they need; how the acid balance in your body can affect

how your body eliminates toxins; the role good hydration plays in healthy skin

and how to fight psoriasis naturally with the right mix of nutritional supplements

and herbs.

Step #3

begins to

explain the role your immune system plays in

keeping psoriasis at bay.

In this step you will learn more about the link

between psoriasis and the immune system and how to use your immune system

to protect your body from internal toxins and keep the skin from fighting back in

a negative way.

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Step #4

talks about the link of Candida fungi and psoriasis

and how

eradicating Candida can help to reverse the skin responses that causes psoriasis

outbreaks.

In Step #5,

The Psoriasis Revolution

will explain how to cleanse and

detoxify the body once and for all and get rid of those built up toxins to free the

body and skin. Once these toxins are eradicated, the body no longer has to

overreact and fight them. This frees the skin from working as a toxin evacuator

and will immediately stop any signs of psoriasis.

Finally in Step #6 and Step #7 of this unique psoriasis program, you will learn

how to use both spine adjustment and relaxation exercises to help

calm the skin’s reactions

to stress and enable it to release toxins naturally to

keep the skin from having to do it through a psoriasis attack.

As thorough as we have tried to be in this unique guide, there are always some

questions left unanswered, so we have also included a variety of appendices in

the back to help you quickly find the answers to additional questions you may

have. Some of the topics discussed here include:

• The Healing Process

• What to Eat (sample meals plans)

• FAQs

• Terms to Know

• Additional links, Resources and Research Opportunities

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My Story

At this point, you may be wondering what qualifies me to offer such a

comprehensive healing guide for the psoriasis sufferer. Am I a trained

dermatologist? No! Am I a medical doctor? No! Am I a medical researcher? No!

Then, who am I?

I am you! I am a psoriasis sufferer who has spent years meeting with doctor

after doctor looking for answers, only to be told that psoriasis was incurable and

to learn to deal with my disfiguring affliction. As the years passed and the rest

of my health began to suffer, my relationships became non-existent, and my life

began to crumble around me. But I decided to take action. If no one in the

medical field was going to help me then I was going to help myself.

From books and interviews, I found some of the newest psoriasis research being

conducted throughout the world as well as tapped into a tremendous amount of

information regarding the holistic aids that others were using to treat their

symptoms.

But there was still a problem: most of what I was reading offered only partial or

temporary relief. The attacks still came. Yes, with the aids I was finding online, I

controlled them more and found at least some relief from the itching, burning,

and pain I felt externally. But without a real cure to stop the disease, my

internal pain remained.

I felt as if I would never be a complete person, a normal person, with this

disorder plaguing me. So I began to look for a cure. And to find that, I had to

figure out what was causing my skin to erupt in painful pustules in the first

place.

It was this realization – that psoriasis is the result of another medical problem –

that helped me find the permanent help I longed for.

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I had spent most of my teenage years hiding behind long sleeves and pants,

trying to keep my scaly skin covered no matter what the temperature outside.

Suddenly, I wanted to look at my skin (really look at it) and figure out why it was

erupting in such a nasty way. Yes, my body was trying to tell me something –

actually, it was screaming for help. Instead of hiding it, I was finally ready to

look at my psoriasis head on and listen to what it had to say. It was then that I

found the answers no one else was capable of finding.

Once I made the medical connections between the internal workings of the body

and my skin affliction, I was able to begin tackling those issues one at a time,

using more holistic remedies. Suddenly all of those creams, lotions, and steroids

weren’t needed. The side effects I had experienced from these heavy-duty

medications were gone.

As I healed my internal self, my outer skin began to clear. It took months to

figure out the right mix of holistic aids to completely rid my body of the scaly

sores that had once permeated more than 60% of my skin’s surface. But

eventually, my skin looked smooth and healthy once again – maybe for the very

first time ever!

All of the stares, giggles and nasty remarks I had heard whispered my way at

school, at work, even on the bus or in the grocery store, were replaced with

comments like “

Wow, you look great! How did you get your skin so clear?

” My

inner beauty was now shining on the outside and my entire life started to

change.

The way I looked at myself had clouded the way I looked at the world around

me. Now that I could look into the mirror without gasping in distress, the more I

smiled and talked with people outside of my intimate group of friends and family.

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I felt better and happier and it showed. My life with psoriasis was over and I

was determined to begin living a richer, fuller life of gratitude. But wait, I had

one more thing to do – share my good fortune.

After several years of psoriasis-free skin, I knew it was time to unleash my

findings on the world and share my secret. I was a psoriasis survivor and I had

the magic cure. Maybe not magic, but it sure felt that way. Regardless, I had

answers to the questions that millions of psoriasis victims were looking for.

So, I took my research findings and the outline for my own therapy and

developed a 7-step plan that virtually anyone can use. The result:

The Psoriasis

Revolution

. The pages to follow are the exact treatment I used to cure myself.

But first, I wanted to make sure that it worked on other people too, so I sent out

a message to the psoriasis world, asking for volunteers to try my therapy. The

response was unbelievable. Better yet, the results of my unofficial experiment

worked. Hundreds of people tried

The Psoriasis Revolution

and within weeks I

started getting letters telling me how much better those who tried it felt – and

looked. Their health was stronger, their skin clearer, and their attitudes – well,

that may have been one of the biggest benefits of using the plan.

People who had hidden themselves away from the outside world for years were

now going out and making friends and trying new adventures. No longer afraid

that someone would “see” their outbreak and run in fear or in ridicule, these

former victims began to live the life they deserved – psoriasis free! And now,

you can too!

No longer must you fear your next outbreak or experience the harsh realities of

living with erupting skin. Freedom from psoriasis is yours. I’ve survived and so

can you. Now, isn’t it about time that you got started?

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Chapter Two:

ALL ABOUT PSORIASIS

For centuries, psoriasis was

considered a dirty disease.

Often confused with leprosy,

those afflicted with the scaly,

bleeding scabby sores of

psoriasis were often shunned

from society for fear that their

condition was contagious. It

wasn’t until the 1800s when

scientists realized that psoriasis

was not contagious. No one

really knew anything about

autoimmune disorders back then, so they still didn’t know what was causing

these painful outbreaks on the skin. But at least they knew that coming into

contact with someone with psoriasis did not mean you would fall victim to the

condition too.

Unfortunately, the stigma associated with the disorder still did not go away. Even

today, almost 300 years after the first doctors announced that psoriasis was not

contagious, many people still shy away from close contact with its victims.

Maybe they still fear contacting the disease, or maybe they emotionally feel

uncomfortable with its victims because it looks so nasty. Either way, those who

suffer with debilitating psoriasis are left feeling abandoned and in the worst

cases, even worthless.

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Psoriasis has long been considered a skin condition. While yes, it does affect the

skin with outward signs like blistering scabs and oozing sores, we now know that

psoriasis is much more insidious than just a cosmetic affliction that affects the

way the skin looks. It is a dangerous autoimmune disease that can affect a

person’s overall health. Psoriasis is just one sign that the immune system has

been compromised, and when the immune system is compromised, all other

kinds of unhealthy consequences can result.

But before we go into too much detail about the other health concerns related to

psoriasis, let’s back up a moment and take an in-depth look at the skin. Until you

understand exactly what the skin is and how it functions, you can’t truly

understand what is happening during a psoriasis outbreak.

All About the Skin

The skin is the largest organ in the entire body – and maybe one of the most

important. More than just a cosmetic layering to cover up all of the other

important organs and systems that make the body work, the skin is essential to

life. It is an intricate web of nerve endings, receptors and protective layers that

has a lot of different jobs to do. I bet you did not know that without your skin

you would die in minutes. It’s true! The skin is responsible for:

•

Regulating Your Body Temperature

: When the body gets colder than

97 or hotter than 100 degrees all kinds of bad things can happen. So,

how does the body stay at its optimal 98.6 degrees all of the time? The

skin of course! When the body gets too cold, the skin heats up, creating a

thermal blanket to keep in the heat; and when it gets too hot, it begins to

sweat, causing a cooling evaporation effect.

•

Working as a Message Board

: When one organ or system needs to

communicate with another, it uses the billions of receptors found in the

skin. Within seconds, messages can be sent all over the body.

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•

Keeping Infections and Disease Away

: Our first line of defense

against disease is our skin. This outer layer of the body works as a barrier

to keep toxins and free radicals from causing chaos. Even though some

germs and infections do sometimes make their way through the skin,

without this protective barrier, our bodies wouldn’t stand a chance against

all sorts of dangerous bacteria and toxins.

•

Offering Feelings of Sensation

: Feel that biting wind? Notice that itchy

bug bite? The nerve endings in your skin are warning the rest of your

body about things that could harm it. Feel cold? Your skin is advising your

brain to tell you to put on a jacket! Feel that sting from a bee? Your skin

is warning you to get away from that hive! Imagine life without feeling

anything. You would never know when you were hurt and need help.

•

Metabolizing and Storing Fats:

Your skin is responsible for

metabolizing and storing fats for your entire body. What does that mean?

Basically, if your skin is too sick to do its job properly, you won’t be able

to metabolize fats correctly and that can lead to obesity. So, while

counting those calories, also be sure to take good care of your skin to

help boost your weight loss efforts.

•

Producing Vitamin D:

Vitamin D is necessary for a strong immune

system. Of course, the best way to boost your Vitamin D levels is to get

plenty of sunshine. But did you know that the sun doesn’t contain Vitamin

D. On the contrary, it contains ultra violet light that your skin turns into

vitamin D. No other part of your body can do that – just the skin.

Amazing!

How the Skin Works

Now that you know a little more about the skin, let’s talk about how it works.

With so many jobs to do, you may be wondering how all of that fits together.

The skin is an amazing organ made up of multiple layers that each have their

own job to do. When working together all of these layers (and responsibilities)

help the skin to protect and nurture our other organs and internal systems. But

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when something goes awry, the skin fights back – sometimes in the form of

crusty pustules that are most associated with a psoriasis attack.

So, what are these important skin layers?

The Epidermis

The epidermis is the top layer of the skin that we see. It is pretty thick, actually

featuring five of its own sub-layers. These sub-layers continually produce new

cells, which are pushed up to the top, replacing old, sickly ones. These sub-

layers consist of:

1. The stratum corneum: This is the outermost layer of the skin. Since it

takes a lot of abuse from the outside world, it can often look dry, cracked,

burned, flaky and yes, even wrinkled. Although these dying cells can

make your skin look bad, there is something to be happy about – these

cells will soon be replaced with newer ones and if you learn to care for

your skin better, these newer cells will make the skin everyone sees look

and feel healthier. As a matter of fact about every 45 days your epidermis

is completely replaced.

2. The stratum lyeidum: This is the skin found on the soles of your feet

and the palms of your hands. It is a clear layer that reflects light to

protect the other skin layers.

3. The stratum granulosum: Found deep within the epidermis, this sub-

layer is made of flat, discolored cells that look like small granules of sand.

4. The stratum spinosum: This is the spot where new skin cells are

formed.

5. The stratum basalelies: This is the layer of the epidermis where

keratinocytes and melanocytes are formed to make their way to the top of

the epidermis and replace old dying cells there.

The Dermis

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The second layer of the skin is called the dermis. It sits directly beneath the sub-

layers of the epidermis. An important elastic-like layer, the dermis is sometimes

called the glue that holds the skin together. Containing a lot of blood cells, the

dermis often looks pinkish. Like the epidermis, the dermis has its own sub-layers

called the:

1. Papillary – an elastic fiber woven together to connect the dermis and the

epidermis.

2. The Reticular – or the storage house of collagen and fibers that helps to

make the skin strong and elastic-like.

The Subcutaneous Tissue

This fatty layer of skin connects the dermis, epidermis and muscle. The

Subcutaneous Tissue gives your skin its smooth foundation. It also works to

protect your internal organs by providing a protective sheath around them.

Individually, all of these layers do a good job at protecting our bodies, but when

working together they create a formidable force against free radicals and the

damage they can cause. Research shows that our skin can be attacked by

several hundred different toxins within the course of a day. These toxins and

free radicals cause such things as cancer. The skin helps keep these toxins from

penetrating into the body. Of course, only healthy, strong skin can do this.

Aging skin becomes thinner and can leave you open to all sorts of disease and

infection – including psoriasis. Maybe that’s why the older we get, the harsher

the psoriasis attacks may become.

What Is Psoriasis?

If you suffer from psoriasis you know this much: it can itch (but it doesn’t always

have to), it looks terrible, it is often painful (some people report severe pain, but

about half of all patients don’t really mention much pain during an attack), it

results in crusty or oozing pustules and can come back again and again without

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any real notice. Okay, so you know what psoriasis looks and feels like, but do

you know what it really is?

The medical definition of psoriasis is something like this: a chronic inflammatory

skin disease that is not contagious and is characterized by:

• silvery-white scales

• crusty sores

• bleeding lesions

During a psoriasis attack you can expect to find this type of scaly rash on the

elbows, knees, scalp and back. However, it can appear all over the body (even

the face). Those with the most severe cases of the disease report coverage of

anywhere from 50% to 80% of the entire body!

Psoriasis can be quite mild or can be extremely severe as mentioned above.

Anywhere from 15% to 30% of all patients report severe outbreaks that impact

their daily lives or even become disabling.

Psoriatic arthritis is one of the main side effects of the disease, and when

present can limit a patient’s ability to work, or even walk, making all movement

excruciatingly painful.

In addition to how it looks and the arthritis it can cause, psoriasis can feel itchy

or even increase into a major burning sensation. Depending on the level of

discomfort, patients may be unable to concentrate or focus on the task at hand.

Relationships and leisure activities may also be impacted, as the patient’s

condition deteriorates.

The Types of Psoriasis

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As you can see, there are several different types of psoriasis that patients have

to deal with. Each degree offers its own level of pain, discomfort, emotional

trauma and health-related side effects.

To better understand what you are dealing with, look here to find out which of

the seven main types of psoriasis you suffer from. Remember, it is possible to

suffer from more than one type of psoriasis at the same time:

Plaque-Type Psoriasis (Common vulgaris)

Considered the most common form of psoriasis, common vulgaris (or

plaque type psoriasis) is easy to spot. It features round or ovalish pustules

that appear in a symmetrical pattern, usually around the elbows, but it

can also affect the scalp and genitals. Raised areas of the skin appear to

be a silvery-white or powdery scale, which is usually at least 1.0 cm in

diameter (in many cases much larger). Plaque type psoriasis features a

distinct border between affected skin and unaffected skin. Nearly 90

percent of cases involving common vulgaris last for days, weeks or even

months.

Guttate Psoriasis

Guattate Psoriasis is usually suspected when small red, scaly bumps

appear to arise on the skin’s surface within either a few days or a few

weeks after a strep infection of the throat is diagnosed. These tiny red

bumps (usually only 2 to 3 mm in diameter) may appear in one isolated

area, but usually cover larger areas on the trunk, arms, and legs. Children

are most susceptible to this type of psoriasis after a throat infection and

usually recover quickly with no recurrence. On the other hand, adults

usually aren’t so lucky, often reporting repeat flares after an initial attack.

Flexuralor Inverse Psoriasis

Found in the folds of the skin (like the breasts, armpits, groin and

buttocks), flexuralor inverse psoriasis is often misdiagnosed as a Candida

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yeast infection. The reasons are simple: this type of psoriasis does not

show the typical scaly, silvery pustules but instead a smooth, shiny

salmon-colored rash. Often extremely uncomfortable, it is also difficult to

treat due to the fact that it is hard to keep these parts of the body dry.

Erythrodermic / General Psoriasis

One of the most severe forms of psoriasis, erthrodermic general psoriasis

often takes over the skin, covering as much as 80% to 90% of the body’s

skin surface. It can become so red and inflamed that the victim looks

much like a boiled lobster. Scales and peeling are so severe that the skin

actually looks and feels raw.

There are two type of erythrodermic vernal psoriasis:

1. A chronic plaque-like version that appears after plaque psoriasis begins to

worsen and spread over the entire body, or

2. Unstable psoriasis that is triggered by such things as stress, trauma,

illness, or even corticosteroid use.

One of the things that makes this form of psoriasis so horrible is that it also

brings on a variety of other health attacks including high fevers and chills.

Patients are also much more prone to skin infections during a flare-up and may

even find it hard to maintain normal fluid levels and body temperature as a result

of the disease. Those with heart disease may also be at a higher risk of heart-

related complications. Immediate medical care is necessary during flares of this

type of psoriasis attack.

Pustular Psoriasis

Often triggered by infection, stress or some medications, pustular

psoriasis comes in two main forms:

• Generalized, which can cover most of the body.

• Localized Palmoplantar Pustulosis, which affects only the hands and

feet.

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People suffering with generalized pustular psoriasis can become quite

seriously ill, as non-infectious lesions begin to appear on the body. These

blister-like pustules are small and raised, yet can cause a lot of pain and

anguish amongst their sufferers.

Exfoliative Psoriasis

The most severe form of psoriasis, it affects the entire body with

untreatable scaling and inflammation, ultimately leading to the patient’s

death in just 2 to 3 years from the start of the outbreak.

Psoriatic Arthritis

When the psoriasis has become so severe that it begins to affect the

joints, Psoriatic Arthritis is diagnosed. In the past, this disease has been

confused with rheumatoid arthritis, but blood tests will confirm a lack of

the rheumatoid factor in the patient, making it apparent that the psoriasis

is causing the demineralization of the affected bones and joints. We’ll

discuss this serious condition in more detail later in this chapter.

What Really Causes Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a complicated disease. Maybe, in part, because it really isn’t a disease

so much as a symptom of an underlying cause. Although technically considered a

disorder of its own, psoriasis is not in and of itself the problem; but rather the

consequence of other problems or problems going on inside the body.

For a long time people considered psoriasis just a skin condition, but researchers

have learned in recent years about several important key factors that may have

more to do with the reaction of the skin than anything else.

First, let’s look at the role the immune system plays in psoriasis and its painful

attacks. The first clue that an imbalance in the immune system may be one

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cause of psoriasis came when patients were given Cyclosporine to help ease their

arthritis pain. As the drug suppressed the immune system to lessen the arthritic

inflammation, it also worked to ease the inflammation of psoriasis.

That realization started scientists on a hunt for the link between the immune

system and psoriasis. Early indications suggested that a faulty message to the

skin caused it to thicken. This is why psoriasis is considered an autoimmune

disease: because it causes the immune system to go into overdrive, making

more cells than it needs. It is this overabundance of skin cells that cause those

hard, crusty and scaly outbreaks. But why does the skin suddenly begin to

produce too many cells? That question has yet to be answered. But there are a

lot of theories including these other important links:

The Link Between Psoriasis and the Intestinal Walls

Who would have thought that a severe psoriasis outbreak could start because of

something going wrong inside of your stomach and intestines? Yet new research

shows a distinct link between a “leaky gut” and a scaly psoriatic episode.

Renowned psoriasis researcher Edgar Cayce has for some time acknowledged

that psoriasis is a disease that begins on the inside of the body, finally

manifesting itself on the outside. According to Cayce and his research, the

primary source of psoriasis can be found in the intestinal tract. It is here, he

states in his writings, that toxins are permitted to enter the body, causing havoc

and disease.

But before we go into details about how these toxins affect the skin, let’s first

discuss the intestinal/digestive tract itself. A long tube that runs from the mouth

to the anus, the digestive tract is responsible for taking the food that we ingest

and the nutrients the body needs and sending those nutrients all over the body

to be used for energy. Whatever is left is then sent back out of the body in the

form of waste materials.

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Of course, this whole process takes time. When we eat, food particles are sent

down the esophagus and into the stomach, where they may remain for hours as

acids and enzymes get to work, breaking them down for the body to use. Then

food particles are sent to the small intestine. First, they go into a short foot long

section called the duodenum and then into the jejunum, and finally into the

ileum. It is in these three sections of the small intestine where the trouble likely

begins. Because of the thinness and twistiness of the small intestine, there are

spots where the three sections meet and where the tissue can become porous.

When this happens, toxins, bacteria, fungi and other dangerous substances that

should normally be expelled by the body are unleashed into the bloodstream.

When these substances are allowed to seep through he intestinal walls, they

make their way to the lymphatic system, ultimately getting into the bloodstream.

Here, they build up, and over time they become toxic to the body. It is then that

the skin (the body’s largest organ) tries to purify the system and rid itself of this

dangerous toxic overload.

Psoriasis isn’t the only health effect of this condition. Even more dangerous

diseases are caused by this Leaky Gut Syndrome like lupus, irritable bowel

syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, to name just a few.

What Causes This Intestinal Seepage?

Leaky gut syndrome seems to be causing all sorts of medical problems in today’s

patients, but what is causing this relatively new phenomenon to take place?

Some believe it is caused by one or a combination of the following:

• Antibiotics: Although these medications can offer life-saving aids in

treating many infections, they also have the tendency to lead to the

overgrowth of bacteria, Candida, and fungi in the intestinal tract. This

can all lead to the thinning of the intestinal walls.

• Caffeine: This is an extremely strong stomach irritant and may be doing

more harm to our “gut” than we realize.

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• Contaminated foods: It is not uncommon to eat parasite-ridden foods.

When we get an overabundance of parasites in our system they can

cause trouble, eating away at the intestinal walls before the body kills

them off naturally.

• Chemicals found in processed foods. Any unnatural chemical that

goes into the body can have an adverse reaction.

• Diets high in refined carbohydrates. Example: white bread, cookies,

cakes, snacks, soda.

• Birth control pills.

• Mold and fungal mycotoxins found in stored grains, fruits, and

refined carbohydrate foods.

• Insufficient water intake. The average person needs at least 6 to 8

glasses of water each day to stay sufficiently hydrated.

• Chronic constipation.

• Saturated fats.

• Emotional trauma, stress, and depression.

• Genetics.

As you can see, quite a few common food items may be contributing to the

thinning of your intestinal tract and its resulting toxin seepage into the

bloodstream. This ultimately causes the skin to try and rid the body of these

dangers in the form of a psoriasis outbreak. However, it isn’t necessarily the

foods that cause the problem, but the reaction those foods and substances

create in the body.

More specifically, it isn’t necessarily a certain food causing your psoriasis, but the

acid levels increasing in the body. When pH levels get out of whack, yeast can

grow in the body. When this yeast grows in the intestinal tract, it can damage

the lining, causing it to thin to the point of becoming porous. That is one reason

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why many people experience intestinal distress while using antibiotics. The

antibiotics elevate the acid levels in the system, which allows higher yeast

productions and irritates the intestines. While short-term use of antibiotics will

not cause lasting damage, eating the same irritating foods day after day and

week after week can – and will.

Is There Help For Damaged Intestinal Walls?

Now that you know what may be causing your psoriasis attacks on the inside,

you may be wondering if there is a way to fix the damage that is already done.

The answer: absolutely! The good news is that the body is wonderful at

repairing itself. As a matter of fact, one of the most important intestinal areas

called the lumen (which is often affected by leaky gut syndrome) actually

regenerates itself every week. That means, that if you can get whatever is

irritating it out of your system – and keep it out – your body can (and will) fix

itself relatively quickly.

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Dan Crawford

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