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BALNEO-PHOTO-THERAPY OF PSORIASIS IN
RED SEA
Dr Ghada
can arrange a therapeutic trip to
psoriatic patients to have a cure at
Safaga-Red Sea
Psoriasis is a chronic recurrent
skin disease characterized by the
appearance of red papules and
plaques of varying size covered with
laminated silvery scales. It affects
1 – 2% of Populations.
Unfortunately, there is no
satisfactory topical or systemic
treatment for psoriasis. Moreover,
drugs lack their effectiveness by
the duration of treatment and by
side effects.
So, treatment must always be
appropriate to psoriasis severity
and importance to that patient. It
should never be more unpleasant,
intolerable or dangerous than the
disease itself.
Balneophototherapy is just bathing
in the Red Sea then gradual exposure
to the natural selective ultraviolet
A of the sun. |
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The treatment of
psoriasi at the Read Sea
does not involve the use
of drastic measures or
potentially dangerous
drugs, but the major
Factors are:
the sea, the sun and the
atmosphere. |
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- In Egypt the sun
spectrum was found to
contain huge amounts of
long wave ultraviolet
rays (mainly 300 to 400
nm), as compared to
other countries like
Britain and South
Africa.
- Measurements of
ultraviolet intensity at
Safaga-Red Sea, showing
a shift toward the
longer wavelengths in
relative intensity of
UVA with attenuation of
the erythemogenic
shorter UVB wavelengths
(300 - 310 nm),
resulting in a modified
ultraviolet favorable to
the treatment of
psoriasis.
- Unique qualities of
the atmosphere in Safaga
is well know, the low
relative humidity allows
for comfortable
prolonged sunbathing
despite high
temperatures. Also,
there is no air
pollution, as we
examined air samples
representing morning,
afternoon and night
periods and they show:
- Nitrogen
Oxide gasses
were not
detected.
- Sulfur
dioxide gas
value
considered a
normal
concentration
in
non-industrial
area.
- Smoke: 1.6
Ug/m3
compared to
Cairo (67.5
Ug/m3) and
Alexandria
(18.8 Ug/m3)
and the
average of
MAC in
Environmental
Egyptian law
is (2.7%).
- Suspended
particles:
(102.569
Ug/m3) as a
mean value,
while in
Cairo
(545.5-1482.8
Ug/m3).
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- The main
oceanographically
feature of the Red Sea
is its high salinity, up
to 43 parts per thousand
at the north end,
compared to 35 parts per
thousand in the open
oceans.
- The Red Sea in
Safaga area has a
special nature for the
following reasons:
- No pouring
of fresh
water from
rivers or
other
streams in
the sea.
- Dissolved
salts in
Safaga
represent a
salinity of
(49.4g/L),
which is
higher than
salinity of
Red Sea
(43g/L) and
Mediterranean
Sea (39g/L).
- Lead (Pb),
Cadmium
(Cd), and
Copper (Cu),
were not
detected.
- Mercury
has been
found in
higher
amount than
in open
seas.
- Chromium
(Cr) and
Zinc (Zn),
were found
in higher
concentrations.
- Iron (Fe2
& Fe3) was
in trace
amount.
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The high
salinity of
the Red Sea
water in
Safaga may
play a role
as enzymatic
cofactors or
regulators
of epidermal
proliferation
in
psoriasis,
also it may
decrease the
minimal
erythema
dose. The
most
important
factor that
could
explain the
therapeutic
benefit from
bathing
psoriasis
patients
prior to UV
irradiation
seems to be
the
desquamation
effect on
the
psoriatic
lesion,
which causes
a subsequent
decrease in
the barrier
function for
UV
radiation.
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- The
psychological
influences
during
the Red
Sea spa
treatment
are more
complex
than
simple
removal
from the
stress
of home
and work
and
different
from
those
present
during a
stay in
hospital.
The
patient
is
accommodated
as hotel
guests
along
side
ordinary
visitors
and
tourists.
During
their
month -
long
stay,
there is
much
socializing
and
mutual
encouragement.
The
welcomed
opportunity
of
patients
to
communicate
freely
with
other
patients
about
psychological
aspects
of
psoriasis
contributes
to a
better
understanding
of their
disease.
By day,
they
sunbathe
with
swimming
suits or
casual
clothes
and in
the
evenings
join in
social
functions.
For the
first
time in
years,
they
unashamedly
wear
fashionable
clothes,
even if
these
reveal
psoriatic
lesions.
By the
time
they
leave,
many
developed
a more
open,
less
stressful
attitude
toward
their
disease,
which
influences
personal
attitudes
and
social
relationships
on their
return
home.
They
become
more
hopeful
and
optimistic
when
they
feel
their
condition
can be
cleared,
or
greatly
improved,
without
recourse
to
powerful
systemic
or local
drugs,
which
they
know may
have
deleterious
effects.
They
also,
learn
from
patients
who are
having
repeated
treatments
that a
recurrence,
when it
occurs,
is
likely
to be
less
rather
than
more
severe,
and will
still
respond
to the
Red Sea
therapy.
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After the
environmental
assessment
of Safaga,
we can
describe the
mode of
action of
the
Balneophototherapyat
the Red Sea,
as a Natural
selective
ultraviolet
A
phototherapy,
because
patients
were just
gradually
exposed to
the natural
selective
ultraviolet
A of the sun
then took
bath in the
Red Sea .
Balneophototherapy
provides a
conservative,
successful
therapy for
psoriasis
that is
pleasant and
probably
cost
effective.
Successful
treatment is
up of 72%
reduction of
psoriatic
lesions. |
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