It is a chronic non-infectious inflammatory skin disorder, characterized

by well-defined erythematous plaques bearing large adherent silvery

scales. It can start at any age but is rare under 10 years, and appears most
often between 15 and 40 years. Its course is unpredictable but is usually
chronic with exacerbations and remissions.
Cause and pathogenesis
The precise cause of psoriasis is still unknown. However, there is often a
genetic predisposition, and sometimes an obvious environmental trigger.
There are two key abnormalities in a psoriatic plaque: hyperproliferation
of keratinocytes; and an inflammatory cell infiltrate in which neutrophils
and TH-1 type T lymphocytes predominate. Each of these abnormalities
can induce the other, leading to a vicious cycle of keratinocyte
proliferation and inflammatory reaction; but it is still not clear which is
the primary defect. Perhaps the genetic abnormality leads first to
keratinocyte hyperproliferation that, in turn, produces a defective skin
barrier (p. 11) allowing the penetration by, or unmasking of, hidden
antigens to which an immune response is mounted. Alternatively, the
psoriatic plaque might reflect a genetically determined reaction to
different types of trauma (e.g. physical wounds, environmental irritants
and drugs) in which the healing response is exaggerated and
uncontrolled.
ARSENICUM IODATUM
1. Skin.--Dry, scaly, itching. Marked exfoliation of
skin in large scales, leaving a raw exuding
surface beneath.
2. Ichthyosis. Enlarged scrofulous
glands. Venereal bubo. Debilitating night-
sweats.
3. Eczema of the beard; watery, oozing, itching;
worse, washing. Emaciation.
4. Psoriasis. Acne hard, shotty, indurated base
with pustule at apex.
5.
CALCAREA CARBONICA
1. Skin.--Unhealthy; readily ulcerating;
flaccid.
2. Small wounds do not heal readily.
Glands swollen. Nettle rash; better in
cold air.
3. WARTS ON FACE AND HANDS. Petechial
eruptions. Chilblains. Boils.
BORAX VENETA
1. Unhealthy skin, slighjt injury suppurates.
2. Wilted wrinkled skin.
3. Skin dry, festers easily, won’t heal.
4. Psoriasis. Eruptions of fingers and hands, itching
and stinging eczema.
5. Ulceration of the feet from rubbing of shoe or
boots.
6. Dread of downward motion in nearly all
complaints. For homeopathic purposes, the peculiar
nervous symptoms are very characteristic, and have
frequently been verified, especially in the
therapeutics of children. Of much value in
epilepsy. Aphthous ulceration of mucous
membranes.
CICUTA VIROSA
1. Eczema; no itching, exudation forms
into a hard, lemon-colored crust.
2. Suppressed eruption causes brain
disease.
3. Elevated eruptions, as large as peas.
Chronic impetigo.
4. Pustules coalesesce into thick,
yellow massive scabs, worse head
and face.
5. Barber’s itch. Baker’s itch.
6. Red vesicles on right scapula,
painful to touch.
CLEMATIS ERECTA
1. Red, burning, vesicular, scaly, scabby.
2. Itches terribly; worse, washing in cold
water; worse face and hands
and scalp around occiput.
3. Glands hot, painful, swollen; worse
inguinal glands.
4. Glandular indurations and tumors of
breast. Varicose ulcers.
GRAPHITES
1. Rough, hard, persistent dryness of
portions of skin unaffected by eczema.
Early stage of keloid and fibroma.
2. Pimples and acne. Eruptions, oozing out a
sticky exudation. Rawness in bends of
limbs, groins, neck, behind ears.
3. Unhealthy skin; every little injury
suppurates. Ulcers discharging
a glutinous fluid, thin and sticky.
4. Swelling and induration of glands. Gouty
nodosities. Cracks in nipples, mouth,
between toes, anus.
5. Phlegmonous erysipelas of face; burning
and stinging pain. Swelling of feet. Wens.
Chronic Poison Oak. Psoriasis.
CORALLIUM RUBRUM
1. Red, flat ulcers. Coral-colored, then
dark red spots, changing to copper-
colored spots.
2. PSORIASIS OF PALMS AND SOLES.
LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM
1. Ulcerates. Abscesses beneath skin;
worse warm applications. Hives;
worse, warmth. Violent itching;
fissured eruptions.
2. Skin becomes thick and indurated.
Varicose veins, nævi, erectile tumors.
3. Brown spots, freckles worse on left
side of face and nose. Dry, shrunken,
especially palms; hair becomes
prematurely gray. Dropsies.
4. Offensive secretions; viscid and
offensive perspiration, especially of
feet and axilla. Psoriasis.
IRIS VERSICOLOR
1. Herpes zoster,
associated with gastric
derangements.
2. Pustular eruptions.
3. Psoriasis; irregular
patches with shining
scales.
4. Eczema, with nightly
itching.
KALIUM BROMATUM
1. Like all Potash Salts, this weakens the heart and lowers
temperature.
2. General failure of mental power, loss of memory,
melancholia, anæsthesia of the mucous membranes,
especially of eyes, throat, and skin; acne; loss of sexual desire,
paralysis.
3. Leading remedy in psoriasis.
4. Acne of face, pustules. Itching; worse on chest, shoulders, and
face. Anæsthesia of skin. Psoriasis.
5. Acne: simplex, indurata, rosacea; bluish-red, pustular, on face,
chest, shoulders; leaves unsightly scars (Carbo an.); in young
fleshy persons of gross habits.

LEDUM PALUSTRE PETROLEUM

Adapted to the rheumatic, gouty diathesis;
constitutions abused by alcohol (Colch.). Haemorrhage
into anterior chamber after iridectomy. Contusions of
eye and lids, especially if much extravasation of blood;
ecchymosis of lids and conjunctiva. Rheumatism or
gout; begins in lower limbs and ascends (descends,
Kal.); especially if brought to a low asthenic condition
by abuse of Colchicum; joints become the seat of
nodosities and "gout stones." which are painful; acute
and chronic arthiritis. Affects left shoulder and right
hip-joint (Agar., Ant. t., Stram.).
1. Acne on forehead, sticking pain therein. Eczema
(facial). Itching of feet and ankles; worse,
scratching and warmth of bed.
2. Ecchymosis. Long discoloration after
injuries. Carbuncles (Anthracin. Tarant cuben).
3. Antidote to Rhus poisoning (Grindel; Cyprip;
Anac).
1. Itching at night. Chilblains, moist, itch and burn.
Bed-sores. Skin dry, constricted, very sensitive,
rough and cracked, leathery. Herpes. Slightest
scratch makes skin suppurate (Hepar). Intertrigo;
psoriasis of hands.
2. Thick, greenish crusts, burning and itching;
redness, raw; cracks bleed easily. Eczema.
Rhagades worse in winter.
Very marked skin symptoms, acting on sweat and oil
glands; Ailments are worse during the winter season.
Ailments from riding in cars, carriages, or ships;
lingering gastric and lung troubles; chronic
diarrhśa. Long-lasting complaints follow mental
states-fright, vexation, etc. Chlorosis in young girls
with or without ulceration of the stomach.
PHOSPHORUS PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA
1. Wounds bleed very
much, even if small; 1. Skin.--Itches, becomes dry, shrunken, pale. Papular and pustular
they heal and break lesions. Most useful in early stages of cutaneous diseases.
out again. Jaundice. 2. Disposition to boils, and when sloughing occurs. Squamous
eruptions. Syphilitic eruptions. Swelling and induration of glands.
Little ulcer outside
3. Venereal buboes. Scarlatina-like rash. Warts and moles.
of large ones.
2. Petechiæ. Aching, soreness, restlessness, prostration, are general symptoms guiding
Ecchymosis. Purpura to Phytolacca. Pre-eminently a glandular remedy. Glandular swellings
hæmorrhagia. with heat and inflammation. Has a powerful effect on fibrous and osseous
Scurvy. tissues; fasciæ and muscle sheaths; acts on scar tissue. Syphilitic bone
3. Fungous hematodes pains; chronic rheumatism. Sore throat, quinsy, and diphtheria. Tetanus
and excrescences. and opisthotonos. Decrease of weight. Retarded dentition.

RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS
Skin.--Burning and intense itching; worse,
contact. Hard excrescences. Herptic
eruptions, with great itching. Shingles, bluish
vesicles. Itching in palms. Blister-like
eruption in palms. Corns sensitive. Horny
skin. Finger-tips and palms chapped.
Vesicular and pustular eruptions.

Acts especially upon the muscular tissue and

skin, and its most characteristic effects are
upon the chest walls, like pleurodynia. Bad
effects of Alcohol; delirium tremens.
Spasmodic hiccough. Hydrothorax. Shocks
throughout the whole body. Sensitive to air
and touch. Chronic sciatica.