A new UK trial has found that a natural skin care range containing a plant extract called Oregon Grape Root (OGR), is highly effective in reducing the symptoms associated with the skin condition psoriasis.

The two-month trail, carried out by a UK doctor on 50 people, found that the new range of treatments improved psoriasis for 86% of the patients, with 75% of these experiencing a marked improvement after just four weeks.

OGR also appeared to be more helpful than standard treatments for almost half the sufferers. Overall, 50% of participants had previously been treated with steroids or Dovonex and, of those, 95% said that after eight weeks the OGR treatment range had improved all psoriasis symptoms (including itching, scaling, plaque thickness and redness) beyond the level of improvement already experienced on their existing steroid-based treatments.

Psoriasis is a recurrent skin condition that affects around 2% of the UK population. It is caused by an acceleration of skin cell production. Normally a skin cell matures in 21-28 days. Psoriatic cells, however, turn over in 2-3 days and in such profusion that the live cells reach the surface and accumulate with the dead cells still in visible layers (hence the plaques).

The condition manifests itself as raised red patches of skin covered with silvery scales. It can occur on any part of the body although elbows, knees and the scalp are usual sites.

OGR is a native plant of North America and has been extensively examined as a treatment for psoriasis in several published studies. These studies have found that compounds isolated from extracts of OGR possess inhibitory activity against Lipoxygenase (an enzyme involved in psoriatic skin cell production).

At the cellular level, OGR has been shown to guard against accelerated activity during the process of keratinocytes (skin cell production).

Dr Vincent Forte, the doctor who carried out the UK trial, comments “I found that OGR is an effective, well-tolerated and very acceptable treatment for psoriasis, with a very low incidence of side-effects. OGR compares favourably with topical steroids and Dovonex and the trial results indicate this is a well-liked treatment that psoriasis sufferers would use again.”

Oregon Total Care Range includes a daily maintenance cream, an intensive rescue serum, a non-greasy scalp spray, a body & hand wash and a shampoo and conditioner and costs £29.99 (or each item can be bought individually). Visit www.skinshop.co.uk