Psoriasis is a disease of the immune system which causes cells to appear on the skin surface. This is a disorder of the auto-immune system, which means that the immune system of the organism mistakes its cells as a pathogen and attacks them. Body skin needs 30 days to shed and be replaced by a new one. However, when one suffers from psoriasis, the shedding process of the skin takes 4 days instead of 30, so the outside of the skin is filled with dead skin cells.
Around 7.5 million American citizens suffer from psoriasis which has an impact on the overall economy. A research has reported that U.S. healthcare costs connected with this disease are somewhere around $63 billion a year. Furthermore, the overactive T cells speed up the growth cycle of the skin cells and they appear on the skin in only several days. Thick patches are characteristic for psoriasis. These thick patches contain the dead skin which can be easily removed.
Around 60 percent of people who suffer from psoriasis have a serious day to day difficulty since, often times; the skin gets inflamed, i.e. cracks and bleeds. Near 30 percent of patients even develop psoriatic arthritis that causes joint damage.
Vitamin D is crucial for everyone, but especially for psoriasis patients. This vitamin regulates keratinocyte (skin cell) differentiation and growth and also influences the immune functions of T lymphocytes and some other cells. Also, it contains cytotoxic T cells and has a natural killer activity of cells which improves the regulation of the skin cell growth. Additionally, deficiency of vitamin D can lead to Parkinson’s disease and there have been theories that it can lead to cancer as well.
Scientists claim that around 3,000 genes are under the influence of vitamin D, and researches show that this vitamin is crucial for disease prevention and health. The best way to include this vitamin in your body is through UV exposure. However, you can take supplements of vitamin D3, but if you decide to take supplements then it is necessary to take K2 and magnesium as well.