Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Long-term effects of psoriasis treatment with
mineral water and peloids of la Toja
Arribas M (1) , Mejide R (2) , Mourelle ML (3)
(1) Isla de La Toja Spa, Pontevedra, Spain
(2) Departament of Medicine, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
(3) Department of Applied Physics. Faculty of Science. University of Vigo Spain
am.arribas@nh-hotels.com
Introduction and Objectives
Psoriasis is an epidermal, proliferative, chronic, relapsing, genetically determined
illness. It is clinically characterised by the appearance of erythematous dry
scaly plaques that evolve in the form of outbursts. Flare-ups may be related to
systemic and environmental factors.
The medicinal-mineral water from La Toja (SPAIN) is hyperthermal, it has a
strong mineralization (30 gr/L), it is radioactive and rich in calcium, iron, potassium
and magnesium and it contains sodium chloride, bromine, strontium, borax and
fluor. It is used for the treatment of skin conditions, specially psoriasis and atopic
dermatitis, because of its therapeutic benefits. At the La Toja Spa, besides medicinal-mineral
water, a thermal peloid made with mineral sediments from the spring is
also used.
We have established the aim of this study to assess long-term effect the thermal
peloid and the La Toja medicinal-mineral water have in the clinical course of patients
with psoriasis.
Materials and Methods
Sample of 25 patients diagnosed with psoriasis vulgaris, aged between 12 and 50
(30 being the average age).
The treatment lasted an average of three weeks in which baths with medicinalmineral
water were taken and peloid was applied.
We estimated the different parameters after treatment (12 or 18 months): duration
of effect of treatment with mineral water and peloids, relapse disease, ovolution
in outbreaks, relapse disease related to stress, relapse disease intensity (more, less),
affected areas, subjective assessment (significant improvement, improvement,
slight improvement, nothing or worse) and need for medications.
Results
Time after treatment, we observed improvement in all parameters measured in
this test, having decreased relapse disease, intensity , affected areas and the subjective
assessment.
Our findings are consistent with those of other studies:
Balnea 289
ISBN: 978-84-669-3482-4
2012, núm. 6, 289-290