Efficacy of balneotherapy and climatotherapy for psoriasis: A Narrative literature review paper

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is an immune-related inflammatory disease with an unknown cause. The disease is not contagious and usually appears as dry, red, scaly patches. It often runs in families, can affect the whole body, and has a high chance of relapse. It involves T-lymphocytes and macrophages and disrupts normal skin cell growth. Treatments like mineral water baths (balneotherapy) and climate/sun exposure (climatotherapy) can help the skin by reducing inflammation and supporting healthy skin cell development. Research shows that mineral water can lower tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release and cell activity, depending on the minerals present. Many studies worldwide have shown that balneotherapy, climatotherapy, and hydrotherapy effectively treat psoriasis. Materials and Methods: ​To evaluate the effectiveness of balneotherapy and climatotherapy for managing psoriasis, a structured narrative review was conducted using the process of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, ensuring a transparent and systematic approach. For this review, we searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate using targeted terms such as "psoriasis," "balneotherapy," "climatotherapy," and "PASI score." Results: Across 42 studies, balneotherapy and climatotherapy showed major improvements for psoriasis, with up to 90% of patients reaching a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score reduction in 3–4 weeks. Patients experienced significantly less scaling, redness, and itching, alongside major improvements in quality-of-life scores.  Conclusion: Combining balneotherapy and climatotherapy serves as effective, low-risk complementary treatments for psoriasis that provide rapid clinical relief and improve overall quality of life.