HBOT is a newer protocol for psoriasis that has been making waves in the medical community lately. HBOT is said to be an effective protocol against psoriasis, and many people are eager to try it out. But does it work? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at HBOT and its effects on psoriasis. While the scientific evidence supporting HBOT as a psoriasis treatment is still inconclusive, some people with psoriasis have reported significant improvements after undergoing HBOT therapy. If you are considering HBOT as a potential protocol for your psoriasis, be sure to talk to your doctor. We will discuss some of the pros and cons of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to try it out.
What is Psoriasis and what causes it?
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, scaly patches on skin. It occurs when the immune system attacks healthy skin cells, leading to an overproduction of new skin cells and resulting in a buildup of thick patches on the surface of the skin. The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown but there is thought to be a genetic component. It is also believed that certain environmental factors, such as stress and infection, may trigger episodes of psoriasis. Treatment options for psoriasis vary depending on the severity of each case but include topical medications, phototherapy, and systemic medications. Despite its chronic nature, many people with psoriasis can manage flare-ups and maintain clear skin.
Can Oxygen Therapy Help in Removing Psoriasis?
In humans, Psoriasis is one of the significant immune-mediated diseases that cause itchiness and rashes on different body parts. Most often, it affects your lower back, elbows, and knees. Among severe body disturbances, one of the most common is the multiplication of skin cells up to 10 times more than in normal conditions.
Skin experts and dermatologists prescribe different protocols and methods for Psoriasis, including antibiotics, medications, and other drug regimes. However, these drug products can result in severe side effects disturbing your mental health.
Therefore, oxygen therapy has been introduced to reduce psoriasis arthritis. Let’s have a look at how HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy) helps in the remediation of Psoriasis:
1. Increases Oxygen Levels
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy performs the ultimate function of providing enough oxygen to the body and brain cells. This ultimately increases the blood flow in all body tissues. Psoriasis causes inflammation and pain, and by giving total oxygen to the cells, you can quickly get rid of the intense pain resulting from this skin disorder.
Moreover, HBOT helps increase oxygen metabolism so your body and brain cells can quickly respond to epidermal responses. This way, you will feel more energetic and less pain in the affected areas.
2. Reduces Inflammation
Patients who have Psoriasis are at a high risk of inflammation and intense pain throughout the body cells. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy helps these patients by improving the body’s ability and reducing tissue inflammation. Here are some ways through which HBOT reduces inflammation and lowers Psoriatic arthritis:
- It creates an oxygen-rich environment by providing 99.9% pure oxygen.
- In inflamed and swollen tissues, HBOT increases blood flow.
- It activates some genes that function in lowering inflammation.
- It promotes wound healing that aids in remediating inflammatory cells.
3. Repairs Damaged Tissues
As mentioned above, Psoriasis is the multiplication of skin cells up to 10 times more than in normal conditions. Hence, it clearly states that this immune disorder damages your skin cells to a more significant extent. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is considered an effective non-invasive method for repairing these dead and damaged body tissues.
Not only this, but this therapy also assists in a rapid wound-healing process that ultimately repairs the skin cells. By initiating the healing process, it supplies more oxygen to the affected areas and thus reduces the effects of injury and infections.
4. Controls the Immune System
People with Psoriasis symptoms have a weak immune system that causes swelling around joints and skin discoloration. This alternatively triggers the body’s immune responses and might be attacked by harmful pathogens. HBOT solves this problem by controlling the body’s immune responses.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy blocks the entry of harmful bacteria into skin cells and thus restricts the attack of pathogens. In this way, your immune system is strengthened to a higher level, and the cell’s oxygen uptake is also increased.
5. Stimulates Blood Vessels
When you are fighting with Psoriasis, your blood vessels get severe damage, resulting in infections in the blood walls. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy helps form new blood vessels and stimulates blood flow in the arteries. As a result, the tissues damaged by Psoriasis begin to heal quickly.
The plus point is HBOT also significantly contributes to different auto-immune responses. Fighting severe infections helps in high oxygen saturation and reduces systematic inflammation. Thus, the patient feels comfortable and experiences less pain.
How Many HBOT Sessions are Effective for Psoriasis?
As the main symptoms of Psoriasis involve pain and inflammation in the body cells, so you should have a maximum oxygen supply in these cells. Regular HBOT sessions are recommended by experts and specialists to alleviate the Psoriasis disorder effectively.
According to studies, at least 10 to 20 sessions of 60 to 90 minutes each are needed to get rid of this disease. However, two different experiments were performed to measure the amount of HBOT sessions for Psoriasis. Let’s have a look at these experiments below:
- Two patients with a history of Psoriasis were observed. The first patient was treated with six HBOT sessions for 60 minutes each. He showed remarkable improvement without medication.
- The second patient was given 15 sessions of HBOT. Each session lasted 60 to 90 minutes, and 99.9% pure oxygen was supplied in a specialized hyperbaric oxygen chamber. He also showed a positive response after these sessions.
Therefore, these experiments show that no strict amount is adequate to get rid of Psoriasis using oxygen therapy. It depends on your body’s ability, the intensity of the disease, and, of course, your age.
Although more research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of HBOT for psoriasis, some preliminary studies suggest that it may be beneficial. HBOT works by increasing oxygen levels, reducing inflammation, repairing damaged tissues, controlling the immune system, and stimulating blood vessels. Most people experience relief after 10-20 sessions, but some may require more or less. If you’re considering HBOT for psoriasis, talk to your doctor to see if it’s right for you.
