It has long been acknowledged that stress can trigger numerous diseases including chronic skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema. Now researchers have discovered that alleviating stress can have a significant impact on allevaiting the symptoms associated with these skin problems.

Researchers at the Stress Reduction Clinic, University of Massachusetts, USA investigated the benefits of meditation in relation to the treatment of psoriasis.

The researchers reviewed 37 psoriasis sufferers who were about to undergo phototherapy (UVB light therapy ) or photochemotherapy (PUVA -intensive light treatment).

Patients were played a meditation-based audiotaped instruction during their ultraviolet light treatments. The results showed that the patients who received the taped meditation instruction experienced much faster improvements in their skin conditions than those who only received the light treatments.

The report concluded that meditation was effective in reducing stress and has a significant positive effect on the healing rate of psoriasis lesions. Psoriasis sufferers are, therefore, advised to incorporate meditation techniques into their chosen treatment programme.