You have heard the term "psoriasis," but do you know what it is? It is a skin disorder relating to the immune system. Specifically, the immune system becomes overactive and triggers responses that cause skin inflammation and rapid turnover of skin cells. Psoriasis flare-ups may follow infections, stress, and changes in climate that dry the skin.

When a person has Psoriasis, his or her skin grows at a rate that is ten times faster than an individual who does not have this ailment. As a result, often sufferers develop large spots around their joints, sometimes on their hands, their feet and often in their scalp. The disease manifests as raised patches of skin, there is often redness around the patches and there is often flaking. When it is in the scalp it mimics dandruff and the two are often confused.

According to Mike Paranzino, a media relations coordinator for the National Psoriasis Foundation, people with Psoriasis are frequently the subject of poor treatment from members of the community. For example, some Psoriasis sufferers are barred from using local swimming pools.

The good news is that when the offenders learn that Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease which is 100% not contagious, and when they understand that there is no risk at all to others from exposure to Psoriasis sufferers, that they often act appropriately and fairly. Trying telling a small child why his neighbors won't allow him to use the local pool. Discrimination is always wrong, always painful.

Nobody should treat a person poorly because he or she is unfortunate enough to suffer from a particular disease. Over four and a half million people in this country have been diagnosed with Psoriasis. Not one is contagious. The disease is never contagious.

In previous columns, I have written about a problem relating to coal tar contamination. Coal tar is waste that results from a process in which coal is burned to produce natural gas. That process was used by manufactured gas plants throughout the United States from the turn of the last century through the 1950s or so. Coal tar has been found in many communities that housed these manufactured gas production facilities. It is a known carcinogen and the natural gas industry has spent many millions of dollars cleaning up this substance.

Knowing that this problem exists relating to coal tar, I was surprised to learn that coal tar indeed has a very beneficial use. There are shampoos that are on the market and available over the counter that contain coal tar and are effective in treating Psoriasis.

These products have been clinically proven to relieve some of the symptoms that are associated with this disease. They are used on the scalp and elsewhere.

According to Mike, coal tar shampoos contain between .5% and 5% coal tar. According to the FDA, coal tar shampoos have been considered to be safe and not health threatening when used as per package directions. The products have a pleasant fragrance and are easy to use.

I am advised that the use of coal tar shampoo increases the chance of sunburn, so individuals who use this product need to pay extra attention when they are in the sun. As with any product, follow the directions on the label.

Also, sunlight is known to benefit Psoriasis sufferers. Sunlight affords relief to many sufferers and for those who cannot gain access to natural sunlight exposure, artificial indoor lighting products are also available and have proven to be effective.

I am told that the foundation has a book called It Works for Me. In this book are many other remedies for Psoriasis symptoms and the book is available through the National Psoriasis Foundation. To become a member of this important organization, you simply need to register and make a financial contribution.

If you would like additional information concerning the National Psoriasis Foundation, I suggest that you visit www.psoriasis.org. The toll free phone number for the Foundation is 1-800-723-9166.

Published: September 18, 2003

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq. writes about environmental issues. He was a New Jersey Deputy Attorney General assigned to the State Department of Environmental Protection from 1986 to 1990. Currently he is a shareholder in the environmental law firm of Lieberman & Blecher, P.C., located in Princeton, New Jersey. Stuart can be reached at slieberman@liebermanblecher.com.