Is psoriasis linked to hay fever?
The National Institute of Health recently did a study that shows a relationship of certain illnesses such as hay fever, asthma, eczema and psoriasis. Theses particular illnesses are caused by inflammation of the tissues. The immune system reacts to allergens that enter the body causing this inflammation. The body produces a specific protein that interrupts the protective properties in skin. Once these protective properties or barriers are disrupted, the skin fails to repair itself properly. This causes skin cells to grow very quickly. In turn, making the protective function of the skin less able to fight off allergens. This increases inflammation and eventually causes skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema and allergy conditions such as asthma and hay fever.
"Approximately 50 million Americans suffer some form of allergy or hay fever, experiencing sneezing, runny nose or watery eyes, though the symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening." -NIH
There may be a way to block these allergens from entering the skin by creating an artificial wall to place on the skin. This could be something as simple as a lotion. If we keep allergens off the skin, we are able to keep the immune system from over-reacting. This allows the skin cells to slow down giving it time to create a successful protective layer or barrier. Studies have shown that people with eczema and psoriasis are likely to develop hay fever allergies and asthma. There is a common reaction for these disorders. The immune system is affected and over-reacts producing inflammation and allergy symptoms.
This study opens up an understanding of skin disorders and their possible relationship to allergies entering the barriers in the lung and nose. Until more research is done, the only way to treat skin disorders, like psoriasis and eczema, is by taking immune suppressing drugs, many with unwelcome side effects. If this relationship exists, increasing your body's ability to heal itself and healing your immune system naturally would be most beneficial. Sublingual immunotherapy with products such as Allergena Natural Allergy Remedy may be one successful way to encourage this healing.
For more information on this study, or other studies related to allergies, you can visit http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy.html.
