Medical CANNABIS could help ease the agony of psoriasis and … – The Sun

The drug was found to have anti-inflammatory properties that can beat the itch caused by the conditions

IT is already being tested totreat chronic pain, nausea and anorexia but now cannabis could be used to treat painful skin conditions too.

The drug contains anti-inflammatory properties that could help ease the pain of eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, experts have discovered.

Alamy

And, even more promising for those who suffer with the conditions, it could prove successful at getting rid of the dreaded itch that comes with them.

Researchers fromUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus found the active ingredient in cannabis, calledtetrahydrocannabinol (THC), successful in reducing inflammation and swelling in mice.

Tests also showed thatmice with melanoma saw their tumour growth slowed significantly when injected with THC but researchers warnedit was not yet a potential treatment for the disease.

The possible new treatment comes in the form of a cream that has anti-inflammatory properties from the cannabinoids.

Eight out of 21 patients who applied the cream twice a day for three weeks were completely free of itching afterwards

Robert Dellavalle, lead author and associate professor of dermatology at the university, said: Perhaps the most promising role for cannabinoids is in the treatment of itch.

These are topical cannabinoid drugs with little or no psychotropic effect that can be used for skin disease.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.

These patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on your body.

Most people are only affected with small patches. In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.

It affects around two per cent of the UK population.

Why does it happen?

People with psoriasis have an increased production of skin cells.

Skin cells are normally made and replaced every three to four weeks, but in psoriasis this process only lasts about three to seven days.

The resulting build-up of skin cells is what creates the patches associated with psoriasis.

It is thought to be a problem with the immune system and can run in families.

How is it treated?

Theres no cure for psoriasis, but a range of treatments can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches.

In most cases, the first treatment used will be a topical treatment, such as vitamin D analogues or topical corticosteroids.

Topical treatments are creams and ointments applied to the skin.

If these arent effective, or your condition is more severe, a treatment called phototherapy may be used.

Phototherapy involves exposing your skin to certain types of ultraviolet light.

In severe cases, where the above treatments are ineffective, systemic treatments may be used. These are oral or injected medicines that work throughout the whole body.

Source: NHS

Getty Images

Dr Dellavalle added that, although large-scale clinical trials of the treatment had not yet been done, the creams could provide an option for people who had tried other medications with no success.

He added: These diseases cause a lot of problems for people and have a direct impact on their quality of life.

The treatments are currently being bought over the internet and we need to educate dermatologists and patients about the potential uses of them.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368

Read the original post:
Medical CANNABIS could help ease the agony of psoriasis and ... - The Sun