Hypnosis Skin Disesases

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“The uses of hypnosis in the treatment of the skin disesases ” It is generally recognised that many physical conditions are caused or exacerbated by the mind and its emotions. Skin disorders in general are my particular interest in this regard, and my focus among them is that of psoriasis. I am fascinated by the way in which hypnosis can alleviate dermal symptoms, and even help eliminate them. An intimate connection exists between mind and body, between the psychological and physiological, and I intend to relate this primarily to dermal conditions. The psychosomatic element has been widely recognised as important within psoriasis, and I shall examine this aspect, as well as some research into the effectiveness of hypnosis, and its psychophysiology.…show more content…
This results in ‘psoriatic plaques’ on the surface of the skin, which are raised red patches covered with silvery white scales. The plaque is an accumulation of skin cells waiting to be shed, and the redness is due to the increase in blood vessels required to feed the rapidly growing skin cells. These skin changes start within the immune system when certain immune cells, (T cells), are triggered and become overactive, producing inflammatory chemicals, and really acting as if they were fighting an infection or healing a wound. For this reason, psoriasis is recognised as an “auto-immune disease” or “immune-mediated condition”. Severity varies enormously from person to person: some have only small patches; for others the whole body is affected. Most often, plaques occur on elbows, knees, lower back and scalp, although any part of the body can be affected. About 80% of people who develop psoriasis have this plaque psoriasis but in fact there are nine types, each with unique signs and symptoms. Psoriasis can also affect a person’s joints. In approximately 10-15% of sufferers the inflammation can lead to psoriatic arthritis, symptoms of which include pain, stiffness, and inflammation…show more content…
It is accepted that a trigger is required for psoriasis to develop and this can be a throat infection, injury to the skin, certain drugs and, importantly, stress of some kind. Research has found that very often there is a significant emotional factor in the triggering of psoriasis, which is why hypnosis has proven so helpful in many cases. Psoriasis can have a negative impact on one’s quality of life, interfering with many different areas. Sleeping may also be a problem. Many people with psoriasis tend to persist with a poor self-image, always thinking negative thoughts about themselves and feeling they “deserve it”. Since there is no known cure for psoriasis, the treatment of many doctors emphasises the only controlling of the psoriatic symptoms. The most commonly used therapies are topical, i.e. ointments and lotions applied directly to affected areas and also exposure to ultraviolet light, which is also beneficial. For those with moderate to severe psoriasis, prescription drugs can be used, variously to slow skin cell division, suppress the immune system, and calm inflammation, and these require blood tests and blood pressure monitoring. For more severe cases, including those of psoriatic arthritis, fortnightly biological injections work to block the action of certain immune cells (or the

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