Usually following a strep throat infection, guttate psoriasis can manifest with widespread, small, tear-drop shaped lesions that are red, raised and scaly. While nasty looking, it is generally thought that guttate forms of psoriasis will usually clear on their own within a few weeks, or months. The problem is that for some individuals guttate psoriasis may also become chronic, even lasting one’s entire lifetime. So do we wait and see what will happen, or do we treat proactively in order to help prevent this condition from sticking around.
Personally, I like to treat. The problem with statistics is that no one can say whose guttate psoriasis will clear on its own, and whose will not. This seems to be a completely random experience for individuals and thus I think treatment is important. Chinese herbal medicines can be particularly effective at clearing psoriasis, especially the guttate forms, and should be looked at as a primary health option – that is, of course, with a doctor skilled in using herbal medicine for the treatment of psoriasis.
In my training and experience I have seen good results using the treatment principles of cooling blood, resolving fire toxins, and scattering wind. These are basically Chinese medical terms indicating which herbal medicine categories to choose from. Many of these Chinese herbs are found to be effective at clearing common oral bacteria, like streptococcus, and as such help rid the body of the infective aspect contributing to the psoriasis. I like to use raw herbal medicines, as I find their strength the best in these often stubborn situations. I also like to use externally applied herbal creams and salves, as the most effective way to treat most skin disease is truly done by working from the inside and out.
Recently I have been working with a young boy who developed guttate psoriasis a few months before coming to see me. His doctors had said that it would go away on its own, but there was no real evidence of this happening. Actually the psoriasis lesions were worsening – growing in numbers, enlarging, and connecting together to form plaques. They were also extremely itchy. This boy actually had a history of some previous psoriasis on his scalp and arms, making me think even more that his condition was unlikely to improve on its own. He was also using a variety of different steroidal creams that did not seem to be giving him benefit.
I prescribed him some herbal medicines based on the principles I outlined above, which he was very eager to try. At his two week follow-up appointment I was impressed to see that he had actually cleared by over 60%. He was no longer itchy and was finding the tea not to difficult to drink (although he did complain about the taste a bit). Below you can see some cropped aspects of his back and chest. The white areas are called post-inflammatory hypo-pigment, and are left over from the past psoriasis lesions disturbing the normal melanin production in that area. These white spots will most definitely go away on their own over time.
Guttate psoriasis of the Chest – Before herbal medicine treatment
Guttate psoriasis of the chest – 2 weeks into herbal treatment
Guttate psoriasis of the back – before treatment with herbal medicine
Guttate psoriasis of the back – 2 weeks into herbal treatment
Within 2 weeks of ingesting herbal teas that were specially crafted for this individual we can see more than 60% reduction in his psoriasis, including the disappearance of a relentless itch. It is obvious that this boy has received tremendous benefit from properly prescribed Chinese herbal medicines.
Wishing you health,
Dr. Trevor Erikson
Copyright © 2019 Dr. Trevor Erikson