Use of mineral waters in the treatment of psoriasis: Perspectives of Persian and conventional medicine.

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease, which is accompanied by social and emotional complications leading to considerable disability. There is no definitive cure and treatment options carry complications. Balneotherapy has been used for years in psoriasis. Antibiotic, keratolytic, and anti-inflammatory effects of these waters have been proved. Persian medicine (PM) is a source of natural remedies for skin disease. The aim of study is to explain scientific evidences of Persian mineral waters as a treatment option for psoriasis. This is a narrative review, which investigates medical manuscripts of medieval Persia from 10th to 19th centuries AD noted as credible textbooks about mineral waters. Furthermore, balneotherapy evidences searched in databases including Pubmed, Scopus, and Cochrane until December 2017 to obtain clinical evidences related to psoriasis. In PM, mineral waters have keratolytic activity and can regulate superficial skin layers hyperproliferation, which is recommended for psoriasis treatment. In various studies, antiproliferative, keratolytic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects of these waters have been proved completely. There are scientific evidences, which demonstrate that mineral waters in Persia, can reduce clinical symptoms of psoriasis and improve quality of life in patients. Therefore, this method might be considered as treatment options for psoriasis.