Hi, I am David aged 38 and have had plaque psoriasis for about 12 years on the palms of my hands, in ears, and lower back, and have tried many things, but think that possibly Candida Albicans could play a role in the cause of psoriasis???
Anyone whoever you are please feel welcome to join in and share your thoughts about this.
Below are my ideas so far on possibly how Candida Albicans could link to psoriasis. My ideas are researched from Leon Chaitow's book "Candida Albicans - Could yeast be your problem?", internet sources, Allergy UK, doctors and a reflexologist.
1. Candida Albicans is in everybody in a yeast form and it is kept under control by our friendly bacteria. Candida Albicans helps fight against harmful bacteria.
2. Antibiotics are taken which kill off the friendly bacteria in our gut, but the Candida Albicans are not affected as they are resistant to antibiotics.
3. As the friendly bacteria are now wiped out, the Candida Albicans is no longer regulated and so starts to grow out of control creating lots of colonies. This is called Candida overgrowth.
4. The Candida changes from a yeast form into a mycelial fungi form producing Rhizoids. (If Biotin is present in the body, this transformation is harder for the Candida to do).
5. The Rhizoids are roots which hook deep into the stomach lining and damage it by causing tiny holes. This is known as Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS).
6. Candida toxins such as Zymosan, undigested oversized proteins and fats get into the bloodstream through the damaged porus leaky gut.
7. Because of these foreign objects in the blood stream the immune system sees them as antigens and attacks them. The Thymus gland then sends T Lymphocytes (T cells) to attack the antigens which it does with its receptor.
8. Normally the T cells that attack the body's own proteins are eliminated in the thymus, but because these antigens are now in the blood stream the immune system does not recognise them as the body’s and therefore allows the T cells to attack them.
9. One of these T cells called helper T cells become activated when presented with a peptide antigen.
10. Once activated, the t Helper cells divide rapidly and secrete small proteins called cytokines which are Th1, Th2, Th3 and Th17.
11. The helper 17 (Th17) then further secrete cytokines to facilitate a different type of immune response called interleukin 17 (IL-17).
12. IL-17 acts synergistically with tumor necrosis factor TNF and IL-1 which are cytokines.
13. One tumor necrosis factor called TNF Alpha can stimulate cell proliferation.
14. It possibly does this by interacting with kerytinoxyte skin cells in the basal layer of the epidermis accelerating the skin cells which is diagnosed as psoriasis.
15. Furthermore the Thymus gland becomes tired and less effective because of all these extra antigens in blood stream it has to fight, and then regulatory T cells don’t clear up unwanted T cells in bloodstream, which then also interact with bodily tissues.
16. Also Candida in the bloodstream overpowers liver and stops it working properly.
17. The body lacks proper nutrients because of (LGS) also weakening immune system.
INTERESTING FACTS
1. Candida in the gut give off toxins such as zymosan. Research conducted at the University of Tennessee in Memphis found that zymosan is found to cause much of the inflammation associated with psoriasis. http://forum.jackkruse.com/showthread.php?2243-candida-and-psoriasis
2. "The fungus Candida albicans is a potent inducer of the Th17 response. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a strong pro-inflammatory mediator, which has proven to be essential for the Th17 response." - http://intimm.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/11/889.full
3. Intravenous injection of Candida albicans into mice produced elevated serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC174413/
4. Etanercept (trade name Enbrel) is a biopharmaceutical that treats autoimmune diseases by interfering with tumor necrosis factor (TNF; a soluble inflammatory cytokine) by acting as a TNF inhibitor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etanercept
5. ‘Interleukin 17 block’ clinical trial helps clear psoriasis http://www.inspire.com/groups/talk-psoriasis/discussion/week-36-and-cure-is -still-working/?ref=as&asat=52266399
TRY THIS AND SEE IF YOUR PSORIASIS CLEARS
1. Go on a Candida diet (No yeast, sugar or gluten).
2. Take a 50 Billion probiotic
3. Take an anti-fungal such as SPOREgone http://www.amazon.co.uk/SPOREgone-Combination-All---One-Supplement/dp/B001U F2TDK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1351266995&sr=8-1
Have a nice day :)
Edited October 26, 2012 at 11:58 am
Interestingly, my old PCP told me that P might be a yeast, and had me putting athletes foot cream on my scalp. Of course that didn't work. So I believe your theory.
What are you doing about it? I just read another interesting post about candida and think I need to attack it!