Getting rid of skin pigmentation

Question : I HAVE a lot of skin pigmentation on my face and hands. These brown patches are so unsightly. Can you tell me what's the cause of them? How can I get rid of my problem? Please advise.

Answer : PIGMENTATION is caused by many factors, such as genetics, ageing, excessive exposure to sunlight and certain drug medications. These include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-malarials, amiodarone, cytotoxic drugs, tetracyclines and psychotropic drugs. Those suffering from auto-immune disorders are also more susceptible to pigmentation disorders such as vitiligo.

Exposure to the sun stimulates the production of melanin, so stay away from it. For moderate exposure, the skin should be protected by a sunscreen having a minimum SPF of 15. Using a sun block is a good practice to prevent pigmentation.

Dietary wise, you may want to supplement your diet with an anti-free radical supplement containing vitamins A, C, E and minerals such as zinc and selenium to help neutralise free radicals that are damaging to the skin. Increase your intake of fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables as they contain anti-oxidant nutrients. Essential fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3 are important to protect the integrity of the cell membranes of our skin. These nutrients help to "plump" up the skin, making it more radi- ant and also are beneficial for other types of skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema.


Article source : www.medical-explorer.com

Types of psoriasis

Here are a few types of psoriasis, check the interesting tidbit at the bottom.

• Plaque psoriasis.The patches most commonly seen are called plaques. They especially affect the back of the elbows and the front of the knees and the back.
• 
  
• Guttate psoriasis is many small patches of psoriasis, all over the body, and often happens after a throat infection.
• 
  
• Flexural psoriasis causes red, shiny areas in skin folds eg under breasts, between buttocks etc.
• 
  
• Pustular psoriasis. Smaller, circular patches, filled with pus, appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. This can sometimes cause a fever, and may need treatment with an antibiotic.
• 
  
• Scalp psoriasis. Scaling and flakes of the scalp, often particularly affecting the hair margins.
• 
  
• A serious, but rare, complication of psoriasis is erythroderma, where large areas of the skin become hot, red, and dry. This is one of the few emergencies involving skin conditions. If you suffer from this your doctor will admit you to hospital.

Did you know :

Psoriasis can cause as little as a single dimple on one of your finger or toe nails, or affect as much as the majority of your skin surface, your joints, and your eyes. 2% of people (1 in 50) have psoriasis to some degree.

Rotating Treatments

All of the treatments used for widespread, severe psoriasis have side effects when used for a long time. One way to reduce side effects is to use one treatment (or combination of ) for one to two years, then switch to another treatment, and continue like this through a series of different treatments. This is called rotational therapy.

If the skin clears up, stop the treatment until psoriasis reappears. Then the cycle of rotating treatments begins again.

And if anyone has a personal suggestion to share, please feel free to comment.

Phototherapy is an option instead of medication(s)

If medications aren't working effectively to help with your psoriasis or have the lesions are too extensive for topical treatment, phototherapy becomes an option. During phototherapy, your skin or just the lesions are exposed to ultraviolet light.

There are three options that are usually conducted right in your doctors office. Laser and or ultra-violet methods can be quite effective but they also have a few disadvantages :

Cannot treat entire body

Treatment may be painful

Darkening of the skin can occur

Scarring is possible

However, on the plus side there are several Advatages such as :

Well-tolerated

See results quickly, sometimes in 2 weeks

Fewer treatment sessions and shorter treatment time than with traditional UV therapy

Does not damage surrounding healthy skin

Effective on treatment-resistant lesions, such as those that frequently occur on the elbows and knees

Most side effects mild: redness, blistering, erosion

As always, discuss these possiblities with your doctor before making a decision on your own.


Thanks for reading,

Hope this was helpful.

Garret

Methotrexate is very effective

Okay here is an option that I strongly suggest you talk to your doctor about first....


Methotrexate is very effective for people with widespread psoriasis that does not respond to ultraviolet light treatment or to medications applied to the skin. It is also effective for psoriatic arthritis. Skin improvement usually begins within several weeks of starting treatment. Maximum improvement is usually seen within two to three months. Medications applied to the skin may be used to treat any remaining plaques.

If psoriasis still does not clear completely, or if the drug dose must be lowered to reduce side effects, methotrexate may be combined with UVB or PUVA phototherapy or with another medication, such as a retinoid.

People taking methotrexate must be closely monitored. The drug can cause liver damage. It can also decrease the body's production of red and white blood cells and platelets. Chest x-rays, as well as regular blood tests, should be done to check the blood count and liver and kidney function. A periodic liver biopsy may also be recommended because the drug's effects on the liver may not show up on blood tests. People who have liver disease or anemia should not take methotrexate.

Methotrexate can cause birth defects. It cannot be used by pregnant women, women planning to become pregnant, or their male partners.
* Retinoids. These drugs are related to Vitamin A. They normalize the growth of skin cells in psoriasis. Acitretin and isotretinoin are systemic vitamin A derivatives used in treatment of psoriasis. They are useful in treating severe forms of psoriasis, such as erythrodermic and pustular psoriasis that do not respond to other therapies.

Step 3: Medications given as a pill or injection

Here is some more info I found from a psoriasis mailer, remember this is just helpful information I have been given permission to share with you, all of this information can be found at your local doctors office, local library or right off of the internet.

I hope it helps.

Doctors may prescribe medications that are given as a pill or an injection for severe psoriasis that does not respond to other treatments. Several new experimental biological therapies in development target specific steps in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The first biological therapy was approved in January 2003. Initial data suggest improved safety over older agents such as methotrexate and ciclosporin, but more research is necessary.

* Alefacept. In January 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Amevive (alefacept), the first biological therapy for psoriasis. The injected medication is used to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Amevive treats plaque psoriasis through a unique immunosuppressive mechanism of action. Specifically, Amevive is believed to work by simultaneously blocking and reducing the cellular component of the immune system that is thought to play a significant role in the disease process.

Patients taking this medication should have regular monitoring of white blood cell counts during therapy. Amevive must be administered under the supervision of a physician. The medication works by suppressing the immune system, which could potentially increase their chances of developing an infection or malignancy. Patients should inform their physician promptly if they develop any signs of an infection or malignancy while undergoing a course of treatment with Amevive. Because the effect of Amevive on pregnancy and fetal development, including immune system development, is not known, women who become pregnant while taking the medication are urged to register in the drug manufacturer's registry.

* Methotrexate. This medication slows down the build-up of dead skin cells by interfering with DNA and by suppressing the immune system and can have a dramatic effect on psoriasis. Methotrexate is also used to treat cancer. The doses used to treat psoriasis are much smaller than those used in cancer treatment. The drug is usually taken by mouth once a week, either in a single dose or in three doses taken 12 hours apart. A supplement of folic acid (a B vitamin) may be taken at the same time.

A few suggestions

Today lets take a look at a few ways to reduce side effects and even some of the "spots".

I found this in a research letter I was emailed and got permission to share it with everyone so its a bit long but has some great information. Here it goes, and I hope it helps.


Biologic agents are being introduced for the treatment of psoriasis and have substantial advantages over previously used systemic therapies because they have fewer risks and side effects. Two of the therapies currently being used, etanercept and remicade, are already available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Both therapies are tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, which work by interfering with specific immune responses that are responsible for psoriasis.

Step 1: Medications applied to the skin (topical therapy)

Doctors usually use medications applied to the skin first to treat psoriasis. These medications are most useful for treating mild to moderate psoriasis. The medication that is best may depend on the type and location of the psoriasis. For example, ointments may be very effective for thick, flaky plaques on the body but messy and uncomfortable on the scalp.

Improvements have been made in how often these need to be applied. Once daily applications for corticosteroids, vitamin D(3) analogues and retinoids have been developed, and intermittent applications, a few times per week, are now possible for corticosteroids, which proved to be very effective with reduced side effects.


Tar compounds. Crude coal tar is a byproduct of oil production. It makes the skin more sensitive to light. In its natural state it is a thick, brownish-black substance that is messy to apply to the skin. Refined coal tar preparations, many of which are available over the counter, may be more cosmetically acceptable.

Coal tar has been used for more than 100 years to treat psoriasis and it has few side effects. However, it does not work for everyone. In addition to being messy to use, it has a strong odor and can stain skin and clothing.

Coal tar can be combined with ultraviolet light treatment in the Goeckerman regimen for treating severe psoriasis. This regimen, developed at the Mayo Clinic, combines tar with gradually increasing exposure to ultraviolet light, which vary depending on the severity of the psoriasis and skin sensitivity. The regimen is usually performed daily in a supervised medical setting.

Anthralin. Anthralin is a synthetic medication that has an effect on enzymes in the skin cells of people with psoriasis. It comes in a variety of strengths and in the form of an ointment, cream, or paste. Generally it works best on people with plaque and guttate forms of psoriasis and it can be used with ultraviolet therapy. Side effects include irritation of normal skin.

In the past, old formulations of anthralin temporarily stained skin, clothing, and furniture purplish-brown. However, a new mixture of anthralin does not stain household items. It is applied to the skin at body-surface temperature. Warm water releases the active ingredient in this product, so it should be washed out with cold water.

In the so-called minutes therapy, anthralin cream is applied to skin plaques for 30 minutes to two hours, then thoroughly removed with a detergent-based soap and water. Over a period of weeks, redness and scales decrease and plaques gradually flatten. In the Ingram regimen, anthralin paste is applied to widespread plaques of psoriasis. This is followed by a tar bath and ultraviolet light treatment. This regimen produces significant clearing in about three weeks at a supervised day-treatment center.

Vitamin D. Synthetic vitamin D is also called calcipotriol or calcipotriene and is a chemical cousin of Vitamin D3. It is odorless and non-staining. It can be used alone but often works best in combination with other topical agents or phototherapy.

Applying the medication twice a day reduces scales by controlling the build-up of dead skin cells. Calcipotriene is most effective for mild to moderate psoriasis. It can irritate the skin and is not recommended for use on the face or genitals.

Calcipotriene's safety for the treatment of psoriasis that affects more than 20 percent of the skin is unknown. Using it on widespread areas of the skin may raise the amount of calcium in the body to unhealthy levels.

Vitamin D3 is not the same as the Vitamin D found in over-the-counter vitamin supplements. Vitamin D3 should not be taken by mouth because it may raise blood calcium levels and increase the risk of kidney stones. It should be used with caution in children.

Retinoids. These prescription medications are chemical cousins of Vitamin A and are used to treat a variety of skin conditions. Tazarotene is a synthetic retinoid introduced to treat mild to moderate plaque psoriasis, and psoriasis of the scalp and nails. Tazarotene clears skin more slowly than topical steroids but has fewer side effects. It may be used in combination with topical steroids or ultraviolet light treatment. Introduced in gel form, it is now available in a cream that may be better tolerated.

Tazarotene clears skin more slowly than topical steroids but has fewer side effects. It may be used in combination with topical steroids or ultraviolet light treatment.

Tazarotene can be irritating to normal skin and should be used with caution in skin folds. Like other retinoids, tazarotene can cause birth defects. Pregnant women must not use it. Women of childbearing age who use it must also use an effective method of birth control.

Non-prescription skin treatments. A variety of over-the-counter products may be helpful in treating psoriasis in some people. They will not work for everyone, but they are unlikely to cause harmful side effects.

* Applied regularly over a long period, moisturizers can soothe the skin and relieve itching and scaling. Thick, greasy preparations that hold water in the skin usually work best.
* Creams and lotions containing salicylic acid can help to remove scales. These products are sometimes used to boost the effectiveness of tar, anthralin, or topical steroids.
* Soaking in bath water containing tar solutions, bath oil, oiled oatmeal, and Epsom salts may remove scales and relieve itching.
* Creams and lotions containing extracts of plants such as aloe vera and jojoba may be soothing to the skin.

Wrapping skin affected by psoriasis with cloth or tape after first applying a mild topical steroid is known as occlusion. This may improve or clear psoriasis in some people. Occlusion should be done with a doctor's guidance.

Okay that is all for today, :-)

Garret Belisle

P.S Please feel free to post any thoughts back also just hit the reply button. And if you would like I will use your reply for a post topic as well.