About two million people in the Federal Republic suffer from psoriasis. This is a reaction disorder of the skin, which manifests itself as inflammation and scaling in very different forms, but is not contagious or infectious. According to bathing regulations, people with psoriasis were prohibited from entering public swimming pools until 2005. However, today they can visit public bathing establishments, just like others.
Bathing association rewrites model bathing regulations.
In 2005, after negotiations with the German Psoriasis Association (DPB), the German Bathing Association amended the model bathing regulations for public swimming pools. The passage “Persons who ( …) suffer from skin changes in which, for example, scales or scabs detach and pass into the water” was deleted from the model bathing regulations. Instead, § 2 c was changed to:
“Access is not permitted to: persons suffering from a notifiable, communicable disease (in case of doubt, the presentation of a medical certificate may be required) or open wounds.” Nevertheless, stigmatizing or exclusionary formulations towards people with psoriasis can still be found in some bathing regulations. For example, people who suffer from “unaesthetic” skin changes or rashes are sometimes denied access. According to the assessment of the German Psoriasis Association, this is a violation of the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG). Anyone who discovers such formulations in bathing regulations can contact the DPB, which will try to take action against them. Recognize psoriasis: these pictures help!
Psoriasis is not unhygienic
In everyone, skin flakes off during bathing. Even a person suffering from psoriasis is not expected to loosen a lot of dandruff that could pollute the bath water. The normal hygiene measure that applies to all bathers, namely thorough showering before bathing, is sufficient to rinse off loose dandruff. “We recommend that our patients shower off nicely beforehand and brush off carefully with a soft brush, then no more dandruff gets into the water than with others as well,” explains dermatologist Prof. Dr. Joachim Barth: “What remains is the sight of a skin disease that may be perceived as unpleasant by other bathers.” Here, bathing staff could help mediate and educate bathers who should take offense about the disease.
Swimming despite skin disease
One can only hope that many psoriasis patients will make use of their right: Because it takes courage to visit a public swimming pool with a visible skin disease and expose yourself to the gaze of others. People with psoriasis suffer above all from being stared at and ostracized because of their skin. They tend to hide themselves and their diseased skin, as they often feel excluded and rejected. The change in bathing regulations was therefore seen primarily as a moral victory against social stigmatization and exclusion. Now no psoriasis patient needs to fear being thrown out of the baths because of their skin disease. A piece of normality for about 2 million affected people in the Federal Republic.
Bathing is an important part of psoriasis therapy
Yet psoriatics (people with psoriasis) in particular can benefit greatly from bathing. “Bathing is an important component of therapy,” clarifies Prof. Barth. According to a study by the German Dermatological Society (DDG), the effectiveness of therapeutic baths with brine has been proven in 1,200 patients. Bathing softens the upper skin layer, which can therefore be better penetrated by UV rays. The optical density of the skin is improved, thus the radiation of sunlight can penetrate deeper into the skin. UV-B radiation causes inflammatory cells, which play an important role in the disease process, to be killed.
Nibble fish: treatment by small fish?
Incidentally, another form of bathing treatment – not in a swimming pool, but in an aquarium or (even better) in a thermal spa in Turkey – is bathing with nibble fish, also known as kangal fish therapy. Certain fish, the garra rufa (reddish sucker mullet) and the carp-like surgeonfish (Leucsicus chephalus), are known to simply nibble away the scaly patches of skin, much like a peel.Sufferers of psoriasis can have peace from their disease for a while after such treatment. Many report positive experiences. But beware: the benefits of this form of therapy have not yet been scientifically confirmed. In addition, there are indications that treatment in Turkey could have the greatest effect, as the mixture of healing water, climate, sun and vacation relaxation also has an influence on success.
Conclusion: bathing recommended for psoriasis
Bathing, preferably in brine water, and then sunbathing help to reduce psoriasis. Especially during the outdoor swimming season, it is a great benefit for psoriasis patients to be able to enjoy the healing power of water and sun. Sauna bathing is also particularly beneficial for psoriasis sufferers. The sweating and frequent water treatments cause the top layer of the skin to swell. The stubborn cornifications of the skin areas affected by psoriasis can thus be softened and detached.
