Psoriatic scarring alopecia.

An Bras Dermatol. 2013 Nov-Dec;88(6 Suppl 1):29-31. doi: 10.1590/abd1806-4841.20132241.
Psoriatic scarring alopecia.
Almeida MC1, Romiti R2, Doche I1, Valente NY3, Donati A1.

Psoriasis is a relatively frequent inflammatory dermatosis. Scarring alopecia due to scalp psoriasis was first reported in 1972, but few reports have been written since then, showing that this is a very rare complication of a common disorder. We report a young Brazilian woman with longstanding scalp psoriasis, which progressed to scaring alopecia.

Full Study:

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0365-05962013000800029&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en

smartest guy on the subject of psoriasis in my opinion is Dr Alex Vasquez, hes got a whole chapter in this book just finished reading it

from http://www.amazon.com/Integrative-Rheumatology-Second-Edition-Vasquez/dp/0975285874:

"multifocal dysbiosis is the major initiator and perpertuator of this systemic autoimmunity-inflammatory disorder"



The role of microorganisms in psoriasis.

Noah PW.

Abstract
The microflora of 297 psoriasis patients was extensively examined. Throat, urine, and skin surfaces from scalp, ears, chest, face, axillary, submammary, umbilical, upper back, inguinal crease, gluteal-fold, perirectal, vaginal, pubis, penis, scrotal, leg, hands, feet, finger, and toenail areas were cultured for aerobic bacteria, yeast, and dermatophytes. Antibody levels to streptococcal enzymes were performed (streptolysin-O, DNAse-B, hyaluronidase, STREPTOZYME). Giemsa smears and KOH preparations were also used to determine yeast and dermatophyte presence.
Associated organisms thought to provoke a psoriatic attack were as follows: streptococcal groups A, B, C, D, F, G, S viridans, S pneumoniae; Klebsiella pneumoniae, oxytoca; Escherichia coli; Enterobacter cloacae, E aerogenes, E agglomerans; Proteus mirabilis, P vulgaris; Citrobacter freundii, C diversus; Morganella morganii; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P maltiphilia, P putida; Serratia marcescens; Acinetobacter calbio aceticus, A luoffi; Flavobacterium specie; CDC groups Ve-1, Ve-2, E-o2; Bacillus subtilis, cereus; Staphylococcus aureus; Candida albicans, C parapsilosis; Torulopsis, glabrata; Rhodotorula and dermatophytes. One or more antistreptococal enzyme tests was positive in 50% of patients. Titers to hepatitis E were elevated in one patient and to HIV in two patients.

The role of microorganisms in psoriasis.

http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/41/1/31.full

"In a previous screening study of 302 patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PsoV), 16% were found to have immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to gliadin (AGA) [1]. The majority of AGA‐positive patients had no serum antibodies to endomysium. Endomysium antibodies are markers of coeliac disease, but the absence of these antibodies does not preclude the presence of gluten sensitivity. Although the increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes in the duodenal mucosa was mild in 40% and seemingly absent in 60% of IgA AGA‐positive PsoV patients [2], a controlled study of the effects of a gluten‐free diet showed that there was a significant improvement of the psoriasis [3]. The mechanisms of the improvement are not yet known."

This whole study is a great insight into the relation between skin dermatoses like psoriasis and the gut. The connection between psoriatic arthritis and casein (milk) and gluten is pretty stunning. There is definitely a connection between dairy sensitivity and wheat sensitivity in these conditions, and its interesting that things which tend to increase intestinal permeability (alcohol) increase symptoms in almost all of these conditions. We can begin to see that the situation in the gut is an intrinsic factor in alot of these cases, with antibodies for some common food proteins in many. Anybody dealing with Chron's, IBS, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, arthritis, etc. should most definitely try a casein/gluten free diet. There is nothing to lose and a lot to potentially gain. Making the connection to hair loss is quite easy too. We're obviously finding a lot of food-borne proteins entering circulation (this includes the lectins). If this is sensitizing the immune system we are increasing systemic inflammation, and also reducing gut barrier function. This is letting all kinds of nasty things into circulation, not the least of which is LPS, which has been implicated in hair loss and numerous other afflictions.