psoriasis treatment

Tim Gunn’s Fashion Therapy for Psoriasis (psoriasis treatment)

2009-03-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment
Fashion mentor Tim Gunn.

Tim Gunn may be best known as the exacting mentor to the stressed-out designers of “Project Runway,” but he is also a self-described “fashion therapist,” offering counseling and kindness to style-challenged women on his television show, “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style.”

Mr. Gunn says it’s the pleasure of helping people “find their fashion” that sparked his interest in his latest role, spokesman for a new awareness campaign directed at the 7.5 million Americans with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic disease of the immune system that appears on the skin, usually as thick, red, scaly patches. This week I spoke to him about his new role and how fashion can help people with the isolating and embarrassing skin condition.

Why did you decide to become a spokesman for psoriasis treatment?

My sister has psoriasis, but it wasn’t primarily because of her. I became very interested when I learned that one of the biggest impacts that this disease has on people is that it affects their perceptions of what they can wear. So many people who have psoriasis feel like their wardrobe options are very limited and their own fashion voice is seriously compromised. I want to spread the word that there are now many effective treatments out there. It was the fashion cheerleader in me, the quasi-fashion therapist who stepped in and said, “I’d love to be part of this message.’’

Many psoriasis patients are focused on covering up their skin. What difference can fashion make for them?

My role is to help people look at this from a positive point of view and bring some practical suggestions about how they can get their fashion right. It’s still about silhouette, proportion and fit. The closer your clothes follow your natural silhouette, the slimmer and more polished you will look.

I know most people with psoriasis are understandably inclined to cover it up. I would never say to someone, “Just show it off. Don’t worry about it.” If one’s personality is like that, that’s great. But all you need is one bad experience and right away wouldn’t the sleeves come back on? It’s complex. It’s inextricable from someone’s emotional health. But there is no reason why you can’t be the chicest person in the entire city covered up.

But in the case of psoriasis, with the right treatment, one can have the lifestyle one aspires to. My message really has been, “Go to a dermatologist, then go to Saks Fifth Avenue!” But it’s not going to happen overnight. While you’re waiting for your treatment to kick in, what are you going to do during that intermediate period? One of the issues with people with psoriasis is the scaling and flaking of skin. People say, “I can’t wear dark colors.” If your skin is flaking, there are treatments that can stop that. Until then, a person might consider wearing lighter colors.

And it’s not just about the clothing itself, but what’s between your psoriasis and the clothing. Undergarments can be a wonderful partner in helping with all this. Ointments and lotions and topical treatments can be sticky or oily. If you have a proper undergarment, you can wear a silk shirt or whatever you want.

What’s the purpose of the fashion show you’re hosting in September?

The people who will walk the runway are people with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who have an inspiring story to tell, who have not been beaten down by this. We want them to be our role models about how you can live with this disease and have a fabulous life. A high percentage of people say this really erodes their morale, gives them low self-esteem and creates levels of shyness and embarrassment that they wish they didn’t have.

Do you see a larger connection between fashion and health?

It has everything to do with one’s self confidence. When you know you look good and you feel good in your clothes, you navigate the world with an erect posture and great carriage and bearing, and you feel fantastic. Clothes do that for you; they definitely do. That’s how what we want everyone with psoriasis to feel. It’s about self-esteem. The clothes we wear send a message and affect how the world perceives us. What is more profound than that? For anyone who says, “I can’t be who I want to be,” I want to help that person.

Psoriasis Treatment

Scientists find genes linked to psoriasis (psoriasis treatment)

2009-02-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

[Top: A man suffering from psoriasis.]

Psoriasis Treatment

By Amresh Gunasingham

SCIENTISTS here may be a step closer to finding a cure for psoriasis, a disease that causes red scaly patches on the skin and affects 80 million people worldwide.

A study led by researchers at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) has made a vital breakthrough in identifying genes that play a significant role in the development of the disease.

The team found that a certain cluster of genes - called Late Cornified Envelope - create proteins around cells located in the outer layers of the skin, which act as a barrier against psoriasis.

The findings were published in the prestigious journal Natural Genetics yesterday.

'This is an important finding, as it advances our understanding of the genetic basis of psoriasis,' said Associate Professor Liu Jianjun of the GIS, who led the research effort.

The GIS aims to find cures for diseases through genetic research.

The research team, which included researchers from the Anhui Medical University in China, studied more than 2,000 people.

The study was significant as it was the first to be performed on a Chinese population. Previous studies focused only on Western populations.

Prof Liu said the findings will have important implications in early detection and predicting an individual's risk of developing the disease.

The condition is caused by a mix of genetic and environmental factors such as climate, stress and hormone levels.

'With a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors involved, early diagnosis and even prevention of the disease is possible with proper treatment,' he said.

But he added that more research needed to be done before a cure could be developed.

According to the Psoriasis Association of Singapore, at least 13,000 people here suffer from the disease.

Dr Colin Pheng, president of the association, said the disease is a complicated one and linked to more than just a person's genetic makeup.

'The causes of psoriasis are multi-factorial, involving a combination of genetic and environmental factors,' he said.

'(But) research efforts can now be targeted in this area to ultimately find a cure for the disease.'

amreshg@sph.com.sg

This story was first published in The Straits Times on Jan 26, 2009.

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Biologic therapies:Safety of biologics for psoriasis examined through multiple lines of analysis (psoriasis treatment)

2009-01-27T08:55:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

Kohala Coast, HI — In weighing the safety of biological therapies for psoriasis, one of the most fundamental concepts to consider is that psoriasis itself is unsafe, said Kim A. Papp, M.D., Ph.D., at the Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference.

"That has ramifications for helping guide our treatment decisions and our patients who are deciding what treatments they will accept," said Dr. Papp, assistant professor of dermatology, University of Western Ontario, Canada.

In discussing the safety of biological therapies, Dr. Papp first provided a definition of safety, but by inverting the issue. He proposed anything may be considered "unsafe" if it compromises an individual’s well-being.

"We know that psoriasis impacts patients physically and emotionally and as much as such serious diseases as arthritis, cancer, chronic lung disease, among others," said Dr. Papp.

Further putting the safety of psoriasis treatment with biologics in perspective, he cited statistics about the risks of accidental death from various causes, including being an occupant of an automobile.

"Perhaps the biggest risk we are going to impose on our patients is asking them to come into our clinics for regular follow-up," he said.

Data from a recent population-based study has also identified that psoriasis may be an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction. In that analysis, younger patients with severe psoriasis were four to six times more likely to suffer a myocardial infarction than controls without psoriasis, and there was even an elevated risk of myocardial infarction in younger individuals with mild psoriasis.

"Looking at health-adjusted life expectancy after adjustment for other comorbidities, patients with moderate- to-severe psoriasis live on average three to four years less than a population without psoriasis," noted Dr. Papp.

Although there is no data available to characterize the relative risks of mortality and serious diseases associated with biologic treatment of psoriasis, relevant information can be gleaned from studies in the rheumatoid arthritis population.

Citing one study comparing populations of patients treated with nonbiologics (NSAIDs and DMARDs) versus those treated with biologics (TNF-alpha antagonists), Dr. Papp noted that the patients in the biologic group had lower relative risks for cardiovascular events and solid tumors. Treatment with the biologics was not associated with any increase in mortality.

"Although these data are not specifically from patients with psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease like psoriasis and is associated with similar patterns of comorbidity. The bottom line is that biologics as a whole appear to be beneficial to our patients. They reduce hazards and they improve many aspects of our patients’ lives," Dr. Papp concluded.

Psoriasis Treatment

4 Genetic Hotspots Associated With Psoriasis Identified By Researchers (psoriasis treatment)

2009-01-27T08:49:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

A genomewide scan of millions of genetic mutations has revealed four new DNA "hotspots" that affect the risk for psoriasis, a national group of researchers led by the University of Michigan and including several from the University of Utah School of Medicine has shown in a just-published study.

Appearing Jan. 25 in Nature Genetics online, the study also confirmed that two other previously identified DNA sites, discovered by researchers at the University of Utah and Celera Group, have a high association with psoriasis, an automimmune disease that can affect the joints and cause sore, itchy patches of skin in an estimated 7.5 million people in the United States.

The study was led by James T. Elder, M.D., Ph.D., a dermatologist who heads a group at the University of Michigan with long-standing interest in and an international reputation for its work in the genetics of psoriasis, and Goncalo Abecasis, Ph.D., a biostatistician at the University of Michigan. They elected to make the study a collaboration with researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Utah. Gerald G. Krueger, M.D., professor of dermatology and Benning Presidential Endowed Chair holder at the U of U, and his colleague Kristina Callis Duffin, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology, led the Utah portion of the study.

Krueger and Duffin said the study is important for several reasons.

"First, it shows the efficacy of using this (genomewide) approach to further understand this disease," Krueger said. "Second, it confirmed findings we reported in 2007 of polymorphisms (mutations) in the IL-12/23 pathways. Third, we now find a third polymorphism in this same cluster, IL-23A. Fourth, a treatment that knocks down IL-12 and IL-23 recently has been shown to be a very effective treatment for psoriasis."

This, plus the clustering of polymorphisms the IL-12/23 pathways, makes it apparent that this pathway is important to the pathogenesis of psoriasis, according to Krueger.

The researchers took advantage of a new technology called genomewide association studies (GWAS). At the heart of this is selecting from the more than10 million polymorphisms (mutations) in the human genome a group of polymorphisms that are predicted to be informative of association with disease, in this case psoriasis. The platform used in this experiment contained 438,670 polymorphisms. To assess for psoriasis-associated polymorphisms each of the 1,359 subjects with psoriasis and a control group of 1,400 people without the disease had their DNA probed for each of the 438,670 polymorphisms. After identifying 18 DNA sites with the highest associations with psoriasis, the researchers expanded the study to include 5,048 people with psoriasis and 5,051 without the disease. From that, the researchers identified seven potential genetic hotspots for psoriasis.

Three of those sites - IL-12B, IL-23R and IL-13 - were first identified in earlier studies by Krueger and other University of Utah and Celera Group researchers. A third gene, HLA-C, has the strongest association with psoriasis and has been found numerous times by many investigators. Most recently, the Elder group showed this association appears to be linked to an allele of HLA-C called *0602, and the latest study confirms this, once again. Three new polymorphisms reported in the Nature Genetics study - IL-23A, TNFAIP3, and TNI1 - had not been linked to the skin and joint disorder, and in addition there has been confirmation of IL-13 and a closely linked partner IL-4.

The researchers concluded that IL-12B and IL-23-R encode proteins that bind to IL-23A and that mutations in any of those genes may predispose people to immune responses that lead to psoriasis. The study also showed that genetic signals from two regulatory elements, TNFAIP3 and TNI1, of TNF-alpha, may be faulty regulating the TNF-alpha induced inflammation of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Polymorphisms of TNFAIP3 and TNI1 are also associated with two other autoimmune diseases, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

The number of DNA sites discovered to have strong associations with psoriasis has increased from one to 10 in the past 18 months. But many more polymorphisms probably are associated with the disease, according to Krueger. He believes the number that ultimately will be associated with psoriasis could be close to 300.

Once all the gene mutations connected to psoriasis have been indentified, researchers may be able to develop a genetic profile to predict the risk of developing the disease, the type of disease, and response to treatment. Krueger expects that quite soon a gene chip containing psoriasis-associated genetic mutations will be available to aid in the study of the disease.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.

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Other University of Utah researchers involved in the study are: David E. Goldgar, Ph.D., research professor of dermatology; and research fellow Bing-Jian Feng, Ph.D.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease of scaling and inflammation that affects up to 2 percent of the U.S. population. It causes red, scaly patches that itch or are sore to occur on the skin. Ten percent to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop a painful inflammation of the joints called psoriatic arthritis. The disease is strongly connected to genetics. If both parents have psoriasis, their offspring have a 50 percent chance of developing the disease. In its most acute form, psoriasis leaves people feeling socially isolated and sometimes unable to hold meaningful employment or develop social relationship.

Source: Phil Sahm
University of Utah Health Sciences

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Psoriasis - In the Beginning (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-12-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

So as it turns out, this is another one of those annoying, self esteem breakers. Yes the skin disease Psoriasis. You read that right it is a disease. A rather embarrassing skin disease that has been known to lead to frustration and in some cases deep depression. If you suffer from it don’t feel alone, you are just one of 80 million people world wide that suffer with the same skin disease. This makes it a rather common skin disease.

As you can imagine since Psoriasis comes from the Greek word “psora” which means “to itch”, the skin disease it is well known in living up to its name. As if itching is not bad enough it is sometimes rather painful too.

Views seem to differ in when Psoriasis may occur, yet the most common thought is that Psoriasis can happen at any age between 12 and 45. It is not prone to effect one sex more than another yet it does seem to be more common in adults than in children. Caucasians seem to be at a slightly higher risk too.

Ok, so what is it, well if you suffer from it, or know someone who does you need no introduction, but for those who are not as familiar with it, the most common form of Psoriasis (plaque Psoriasis) is when you find the skin red and inflamed with a silvery white scale on top. These scales gradually enlarge and increase in number. When the scales are scraped off a few bleeding points are visible.

Basically what happens is the skin regenerates too quickly. Skin rapidly accumulates at the effected site which causes the silvery white scales. But my next question was what causes that to happen? Well the blame seems to lie at the doorstep of the T-Cells making it an immune system disorder.

Ordinarily these T-cells are supposed to help protect the body from infection yet in the case of Psoriasis they cause inflammation and rapid production of skin cells. They seem to be trying to heal an injury, one that is not really there. It is still not known what triggers the T-cells to be released to the dermis yet it is known that a normal skin cell matures in 28-30 days but in the case of Psoriasis it can happen as quickly as 3-6 days.

This is not the only form of Psoriasis; there seem to be many variations. People generally only have one form of Psoriasis at a time yet they can change from one form to another. One form of Psoriasis may clear up and later another form will appear.

The other, some refer to it as the more severe form of Psoriasis, is Pustular Psoriasis. These are blisters that are not infectious yet are filled with pus. This pus consists of white blood cells. The skin around this area is red and tender. The blisters eventually turn brown and form a scaly crust.

Guttate Psoriasis derives from the Latin word meaning “drop” and they are small red individual spots that usually appear on the trunk and the limbs. There name is because they look like little tear drops. This form of Psoriasis is mostly commonly yet not solely linked with Streptococcal infection.

Inverse Psoriasis is found in the arm pits, under the breasts, and other skin folds around the genitals. This appears as shiny red areas with out the scales that are found with Plaque Psoriasis. It tends to be more common in over weight people as with skin folds and sweating the problem becomes much more irritated.

The general consensus seems to be that even though this disease is not contagious it does seem to be to a large degree hereditary. It is not guaranteed that it will develop from these genes that carry it but there does seem to be certain conditions that may bring it out. Skin damage due to the sun, alcohol, strep throat, stress and some medications (including pain killers and anti malarial medication) may be all that is required to trigger Psoriasis and bring it to the fore. Stress and emotional traumas are rather large contributors to Psoriasis.

It may affect anywhere yet it is most commonly found on the scalp, elbows, knees and lower back. The groin, the nails and the palms and soles of the feet are also affected areas. When the nails become affected they become pitted or discolured. The joints may also be affected and in such cases the Psoriasis is called Psoriatic Arthritis.

In the case of Psoriatic Arthritis the condition is characterized by stiff, tender and inflamed joints. There are five different forms of Psoriatic Arthritis. Generally it only affects a few fingers and toes yet in severe cases this can be rather debilitating to the point that the individual suffering cannot work as all his/her time is preoccupied in trying to alleviate the pain.

Because there is no known cure Psoriasis can be absolutely heart breaking to the person suffering with it. There are medications and therapies that are able to clear up the patches of Psoriasis and to help it go into a state of remission. Treatment varies due to the severity of the Psoriasis and what form of Psoriasis the individual is suffering from. Consulting ones doctor is imperative. It will most likely flare up again over ones life time yet you do not have to give up all hope as the positive thing is that it can be controlled. It is just a matter of finding what works for you.

Article By: Michelle Ludick

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Smokers are at High Risk for Psoriasis (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-12-19T17:57:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

Although dry skin has long been associated with smoking, not until recently has it also been linked to psoriasis. Thousands of doctors are now advising patients to use a good shielding lotion as treatment for psoriasis, but will no doubt soon be adding cessation of smoking to their recommendations.

Psoriasis is considered a chronic skin condition and presents as elevated, dry, scaly, itchy patches on the skin. The most common sites are the elbows, knees and other parts of the legs, the scalp, lower back, face, palms, and the soles of the feet. About one third of the diagnosed cases are genetic, although the first outbreak is frequently triggered by stress or physical injury. The condition is driven by the immune system – T cells, the white blood cells that help protect the body from infection and are responsible for creating scabs over wounds, become overactive and trigger other immune responses. These lead to inflammation and rapid turnover of skin cells.

The immature skin cells then rise to the surface and form the scaly patches.

A recent study, published in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, found that those who smoke more than a pack of cigarettes per day were at twice the risk of having more severe psoriasis than those who smoke 10 cigarettes or less, and that patients who smoke are more likely to have psoriasis.

Although no causal relationship was established, lead researcher Dr. Gerald G. Krueger, a professor of dermatology at the University of Utah School of Medicine stated that if one is not genetically predisposed to psoriasis, “one of the things that you can do to make sure that you get psoriasis is smoke."

So, if you’re a smoker and have psoriasis, you could consider quitting - psoriasis is uncomfortable enough without doing something to exacerbate it. You might also want to investigate theshielding lotions now being recommended for psoriasis treatment.

Author, Gloria MacTaggart, is a freelance writer who contributes articles on skin care for Gloves In A Bottle, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.glovesinabottle.com.

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Psoriasis SCalp Treatment (Psoriasis Treatment )

2008-12-15T06:50:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis TreatmentScalp psoriasis sufferers have probably visited specialists after specialist, doctors after doctors and come to accept what they were told... it's not curable.

But we know that something is wrong inside our bodies!

The most common scalp psoriasis treatment given to patients can be scalp psoriasis shampoos, sprays like Dermovate Scalp and others.

Scalp psoriasis shampoos work for some people to a certain degree making one's life a bit more bearable. This leads us to search for natural scalp psoriasis treatment.

Treatment for scalp dermatitis or scalp psoriasis treatment like mixtures of honey and cream milk can help with scaling removal.However, the scalp and hair remain dry and the hair look "lifeless".

The best natural treatment for scalp psoriasis would be a combination of internal and external treatments. External treatment includes herbal treatment to put dermatitis scalp under control. We want natural herbs that are not harsh to our bodies.

When it comes to Internal treatment, it is a matter of getting our bodies back in balance to allow our bodies to start the process of rejuvenation and self healing.

What herbs are good for scalp psoriasis?

Jojoba oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the crushed bean of the jojoba shrub (Simmondsia chinenis). The jojoba shrub is native to the Sonoran Desert of northwestern Mexico and neighboring regions in Arizona and southern California.

Due to its non-oxidizing properties, Jojoba is quickly absorbed into the skin through the pores.

Jojobar oil is quickly absorbed so that the pore remain open the proper functional ability is mainained. Hence a properly formulated balanced preparation of Jojobar oil with other active herbs is the ideal scalp psoriasis treatment.

Another thing is not to put mental stress to the body.

Click here for more information on natural scalp psoriasis treatment.

Psoriasis Treatment

Uncovering the Cause of Psoriasis and Discovering the Best Treatment (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-12-12T07:57:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment
Psoriasis is a serious, frequently-recurring, and relapsing skin disease. It is characterized by silvery incrustation in the affected skin areas. The skin of the scalp, back, elbows, and knees are the areas that are usually affected. The lesions appear as circumscribed red patches covered with overlapping, shiny, white scales which are continually cast off.

Statistics indicate that in the United States alone, approximately five million people suffer from psoriasis. Of this estimate, about one-half million are burdened by severe cases. If you are one of those people who are endlessly troubled by psoriasis and are dying to be cured of your malady permanently, you have to first understand the cause of this disease. The cause of psoriasis is not precise. Health records point to heredity as one of probable factors. An excess in the production of cells in the skin's outer nonsensitive layer results to modification in the skin. Under normal conditions, the cells are cast off in about 28 days. In psoriasis, however, cell life is much shorter, being shed in only about 4 days.

Most of the modern treatments developed to fight psoriasis make use of very active chemical agents. The bad news is that these substances restrain new cells from being produced. On the other hand, over-the-counter medications have been proven to be ineffective.

How severe psoriasis can get differs from one person to another. In the young stage of the disease, it may not be possible to determine the degree of severity it can get into. There are instances, for example, in which arthritis may combine with psoriasis, consequently affecting the joints of the spine, fingers, and toes.

A sudden onset of psoriasis may last only for a few moments, although attacks may occur repeatedly at intervals. Regular psoriasis treatment are likewise known to induce only momentary relief. In harsher, pertinacious cases, some skin-care specialists often recommend the application of any of the various adrenal-cortex steroids (specifically, a corticosteroid). But these cogent medications can actually cause serious side effects.

Recent researches have identified a person's lifestyle as a definite factor in the cause of psoriasis. This is the reason why health experts advise on giving serious attention to the promotion of good health and its sustenance. A person suffering from psoriasis must get sufficient rest and have a nutritionally-balanced diet. More importantly, know that the best psoriasis treatment involves only a few simple steps which you can take to stop your psoriasis at its root cause and eliminate it altogether for good.

Do you want to have a life-long freedom from psoriasis and stop it at its root cause fast, once and for all? Discover simple steps to eliminate your psoriasis and regain your health.

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Is That Dry Itchy Skin Psoriasis? (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-12-10T06:56:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

Usually dry itchy skin clears up on it's own when spring and summer comes though, because there is more humidity in the air, so your skin is naturally exposed to more moisture. The confusion comes though, for people who have mild forms of a skin condition known as psoriasis.

Mild psoriasis often flares up worse in the winter time, and heals seemingly on it's own during the summer time. The winter flare ups are caused by the same problems standard dry skin is caused by: Lack of moisture. The summertime relief however, is caused by more than just moisture in the air. In the spring and summer, most people get more sunlight. And the UV rays from the sun can clear up mild cases of psoriasis.

Now, psoriasis is actually a chronic, non contagious skin condition that's caused by a problem with the body's immune system. It can flare up at any time throughout a person's life, and it can be triggered by certain events such as major stress, trauma, injury or sickness.

When a human body is healthy, it will produce new skin cells about every thirty days or so. These new cells start deep below the surface of the skin though, and rise slowly over the period of about a month. While those new cells are rising, the existing surface skin cells are busy dying off. Within about a month, the dead surface skin cells will flake off and be replaced by the newly risen skin cells.

When a body has psoriasis however, the new skin cells rise to the surface very rapidly. In fact, they reach the surface in just three or four days instead of thirty, so the existing surface cells are not yet ready to start shedding. This causes a pile up of extra skin cells on the surface, and these can become thick, flaky, scaley skin patches on various parts of the body. These are known as psoriasis plaques or patches.

Dry skin can usually be treated easily by drinking more water, and using quality oils or lotions to moisturize the skin. Psoriasis however, cannot usually be treated with standard moisturizers. Some herbal bath soaks, creams and salves can help reduce the symptoms of psoriasis - in other words they can help reduce the amount of extra skin piled up on the surface, and they can help relieve itching and redness sometimes too. These same dry skin treatments however, do not usually cure the psoriasixs

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Which Psoriasis Treatments Work? (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-12-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment
When you suffer from psoriasis, you're constantly looking for psoriasis treatment that will actually work. And unfortunately this can be a long process of trial and error. You see, different people suffer from different degrees of psoriasis. There are even different types of psoriasis, and many people don't know this. Everyone responds differently to each treatment too, so sometimes a psoriasis treatment will work well for one person, yet not seem to make any difference for another.

Both children and adults can get psoriasis, but it seems to affect adults more often than not. Approximately 4.5 million people in the United States suffer from the disease.

With psoriasis, when the body's immune system over reacts to something, it starts producing new skin cells at drastically accelerated rates. Instead of those new skin cells taking a month to reach the surface of your body, they rise in just three to five days. Since this is not enough time for the existing skin cells to die off and start shedding, the skin piles up in the form of thick, scaley, flaky skin patches which are often red and itchy.

The thick flaky skin patches are seen in about 80% of psoriasis cases, but there are other forms of the condition too. Sometimes red blister like bumps will develop instead, and sometimes psoriasis looks like a skin rash. Because of these differences, and because psoriasis looks very similar to other skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis is sometimes not easy to diagnose.

Most people try to treat psoriasis using standard dry skin creams, lotions and ointments. Once they know they have psoriasis though, they have other treatment options open. There are prescription psoriasis treatment which can be applied topically, and these often help reduce the thickness of the psoriasis plaques as well as reduce redness and itching.

Not everyone responds well to the topical psoriasis treatment though, and in those cases the doctor may use UV light therapy in addition to those topical treatments. UV light helps kill the surface skin cells more quickly. As the plaques are thinned, creams and ointments are able to penetrate the skin better.

When UV light therapy doesn't work, or the case of psoriasis is quite severe, another treatment is to use immune suppressing drugs which are administered via IV or injection at the hospital or doctor's office. These psoriasis treatment are for the worst cases only, because they can have dangerous side effects of their own.
Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis Treatment: Understanding Your Options (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-12-06T00:51:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

Author: Evelyn Lim

It is vital that you seek an appropriate psoriasis treatment if you have this condition. In severe cases, your joints can become inflamed, which can then result in arthritis. Psoriasis can also cause you to feel depressed. It is a type of skin inflammation that can disable you and affect your quality of life. Symptoms of psoriasis on the skin include widespread redness, severe itching and pain. To know if you suffer from psoriasis or not, you will need to seek a skin specialist for a proper diagnosis.

Unfortunately there is no known cure for psoriasis. Most often the short-term psoriasis treatments available for this disease centre on the use of drugs. These treatments tend to only clear up your psoriasis for a short period of time. You may also find that you respond differently as compared to other patients in any given treatment.

Other than the use of drugs, a natural psoriasis treatment can also be used. However, as there are all kinds of different treatments, you may wonder which one actually works. Of course, all of these treatments have pros and cons, so it is best to ask your doctor for some help and guidance in getting a suitable psoriasis treatment.

The 3 main types of treatment for psoriasis include:

1. Topical treatments can be applied to your skin if you have a mild to moderate case of psoriasis.

2. Photo treatments are used if you have a moderate to severe cases of psoriasis. This includes light, usually ultraviolet light, being applied to your skin.

3. Systemic treatments are available if you have a moderate to disabling form of psoriasis. This treatment is taken either orally, by injection or by infusion. One such product is Theraflax. While this may help you, the effects are still random.

4. A new alternative psoriasis treatment is with the use of a fish known as Doctor fish or Garra rufa. This is a type of fish that live and breed in outdoor pools of some Turkish spas. Interestingly, they are also found in Japan, Taiwan and Singapore. The fish is known to feed upon your skin wherever psoriasis is present. It eats only the dead skin, while allowing your healthy skin to continue to grow. You should know that some patients have reported success with this alternative psoriasis treatment method.

Until the past 10 years, psoriasis was largely an under-researched condition. With little statistical studies done, there is not enough knowledge about it. You can imagine that this limited knowledge will have an impact on finding a real cure or treatment to psoriasis. What is known is that research experts have discovered that psoriasis is somewhat genetic, and usually affecting those who are between 15 and 35 years old. For some reason, Caucasians are also found to be more susceptible to it.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/psoriasis-treatment-understanding-your-options-158950.html

About the Author:Evelyn Lim writes about her journey from ailing to recovery skin. For her tips on how to treat itchy skin.

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Psoriasis: Common Questions You Ask Common Answers You Are Told! (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-12-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

The Real Answers are in RED just below!

Q: What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that affects over 6.4 million people in the United States. Plaque psoriasis, the most common form, is characterized by inflamed lesions topped with silvery white scales. Psoriasis can be limited to a few plaques or can involve moderate to extensive areas of skin. For some people, psoriasis tends to be mild to moderate but still quite distrubing.

TRUE

Q: What causes psoriasis?
No one knows exactly what causes psoriasis, although a recent study has established that it is an immune-mediated disorder. We do know that psoriasis is the growth of too many skin cells. A normal skin cell matures in 28 to 30 days but a psoriatic skin cell takes only 3 to 6 days.

3/4s CRAP! You are told "No One Knows" in order to keep the Money Stream Flowing, selling you High Priced Drugs that you must buy over and over. Plus, doctor visits to get these "Band Aid Drugs"! for the rest of your life.

Q: Who gets psoriasis?
Both males and females get psoriasis in equal numbers. It can strike at any age, but most often between 15 and 35. However, a first-time diagnoses of psoriasis has been seen in very old people, and in new-born babies and small children. About 150,000 to 250,000 new cases of psoriasis are diagnosed each year.

TRUE

Q: How is psoriasis diagnosed?
A physician makes the diagnosis after observing the skin, and studying the psoriatic plaque cells under a microscope. Pitting of the nails can be a sign of psoriasis. There is no medical test for psoriasis.

Most all doctor's just look at your skin problem and diagnosis PSORIASIS that way. Microscope studies are really not worth the effort as they know the drug companies, and themselves, make money off of you. The doctor's also know you will be back again and again, hence, office visit fee's!

Q: Is all psoriasis alike?
No. There are various forms of psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is the most common. Other forms are guttate, characterized by small dot-like lesions; pustular, characterized by weeping lesions and intense scaling; inverse, characterized by intense inflammation and little scaling; and erythrodermic, characterized by intense sloughing and inflammation of the skin. Psoriasis can range from mild to moderate to very severe and disabling.

TRUE

Q: Is psoriasis contagious?
No. Psoriasis is not contagious. It is not something you can "catch" or "pass on".

TRUE, but PSORIATICS that have childern may see PSORIASIS develope with their childern at some time after birth.

Q: What parts of the body are affected?
Psoriasis most commonly appears on the scalp, knees, elbows, hands and feet. However, no area of the skin is exempt, including the genital area.

TRUE

Q: Do people know they are going to get psoriasis?
It is not possible to predict who will get psoriasis. Heredity plays a role but the mode of inheritance is not clear. Environmental factors such as physical trauma to the skin, infections, stress, and OTHER THINGS may trigger the onset of psoriasis, even in people without an apparent family history of psoriasis.

50% TRUE. Ask yourself; What is: "OTHER THINGS"?

Q: Is there a cure for psoriasis?
There is no cure, but there are many different treatments, both topical and systemic, that can clear psoriasis for periods of time. Experimentation is often required to find a treatment that works for a particular person, as illustrated by many case histories. Some people who have psoriasis experience spontaneous remissions, but no one knows why this happens and they are unpredictable.

WOW - WHAT A BS STORY HERE! STEROIDS: Harmfull to you, thining of your skin! PUVA LIGHT: Skin Cancer possibilities! METHOTREXATE: Chemo in a pill, kills cells in your body, any cell! CYCLOSPORINES: Immune System supressor - Hey great, now you can leave your body unprotected against other diseases. On and On!

Q: Do people die from psoriasis?
Yes. About 400 people die from complications caused by psoriasis each year. Primarily, such complications occur in relation to a severe, extensive form of psoriasis, such as generalized pustular psoriasis or erythrodermic psoriasis, where large areas of skin are shed. The skin plays an important role in regulating body temperature and serving as a barrier to infection. When a person's skin is compromised to such a great extent, secondary infections are possible. Fluid loss is a complicating factor in these serious forms of psoriasis, and a great strain is also placed on the circulatory system.

VERY TRUE! This statement failed to mention the terriable mental stress a person must deal with. I have personally heard from and helped about a dozen people who told me of there intent to take there own life if they could not get real help as the medical community could not provide serious help, cure or even remission!

Also, approximately 400 people receive social security disability due to psoriasis each year.

TRUE, even more daily! Your tax money is paying these people as the medical community "And Other's" prefer greed over your health!

Q: Is psoriasis associated with other diseases?
Approximately 10 percent of people who have psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is generally mild in nature and generally affects the hands and feet, but other parts of the body can be affected as well. In some cases, psoriatic arthritis can be disabling.

TRUE, but PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS can also be resolved and has been!

Q: Can people with psoriasis function normally?
For the most part people with psoriasis can function normally. Sometimes people experience low self-esteem because psoriasis is unsightly. Psoriasis is often misunderstood by the public, which can make social interactions awkward. This may lead to emotional problems such as anxiety, anger, embarrassment, and depression. Psoriasis can affect the type of work people do if it is visible.

TRUE, but PSORIASIS can and does effect all aspects of a persons WORK and SOCIAL LIFE!

Q: What is the economic impact of psoriasis?
The cost of medications and visits to the doctor are ongoing because psoriasis is chronic. Severe cases may require periods of hospitalization. It is estimated that 56 million hours of work are lost each year by people who suffer from psoriasis and over one billion dollars are spent annually on treatments.

TRUE! Who is getting the "BILLION'S OF DOLLARS" spent, and continues to do so? Why on earth would any of the drug companie's develope a cure with that level of money being paid out? Drug Company Executives, Doctor's, Drug Store's and "OTHER'S" are getting rich from you and this disease, "WHY BOTHER FIX-IT and STOP A GREAT CASH FLOW"?

Psoriasis Treatment

Have psoriasis? Ask yourself (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-12-02T06:40:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

If you have psoriasis, you know it’s about more than itching and flaking. Psoriasis can test your emotions, impact your social life, and complicate everyday decisions.

1. - Did you take harsh chemical medicines which worked only till you took them?

If you have suffered with Psoriasis, you may have taken several chemical based medicines which are conventionally prescribed by the doctors. Initially, you thought that they worked, but you soon realized that Psoriasis came back on stopping the usage of such medicines.

Question in your mind is, ‘How long can I keep taking such chemicals into my system?'

Answers may be found here:

Homeopathy offers an alternative to the conventional medicines for Psoriasis. Homeopathy is absolutely safe and very effective in most cases to bring about a long remission.

2. - Did you already realize that Psoriasis cannot be ‘cured' by lotions and ointments?

Most patients who have just developed Psoriasis tend to think that by using some local ointment or lotions, Psoriasis will go away! They soon realize after using such ointments for three or four instances, that, Psoriasis cannot be cure externally.

Psoriasis is a deep seated, immunological disease, which needs to be treated at the immune level.

Homeopathy treats Psoriasis at the immune level.

3. - Did you take steroids which temporarily helped but caused serious side-effects?

When your doctor feels desperate about your Psoriasis, he would prescribe steroids or cortisone. Some may prescribe it routinely. However, it may be noted that the use of steroid is indicated only as a life saving measure in the most severe cases of Psoriasis.

Now, those who have used steroids in any form, either local application or oral, may have figured out that Psoriasis does come back after initial improvement. Not only that, the relapsed form of psoriasis is more difficult to treat with milder medicines, as the body calls for stronger medicine, as the immunity is suppressed with the use of steroids. In other words, your Psoriasis has now become ‘resistant' to milder medicines!

Solution to such a problem is offered by homeopathic treatment, which helps patients to keep away from the use of steroids.

4. - Did your doctor consider genetic factor while deciding your treatment?

You probably have someone in the family (father, mother, grand parents, uncle, aunts, etc) suffering from Psoriasis or Rheumatoid arthritis or Thyroiditis or alopecia or Cancer or Ankylosing Spondylitis or the like; suggestive of genetic predisposition in the development of Psoriasis.

While determining the line of medicine, did your medicine consider the genetic factor in the back ground?

Homeopathy, probably the only system of medicine, which incorporates the genetic factor, while deciding the medicine for you; hence treating it at a root level.

5. - Why didn't you think of homeopathy so far, which is internal medicine, working at the immune level, safe and based on genetic consideration?

You suffered with Psoriasis for five or more years and did not opt for homeopathy. This is because you had never known of homeopathy as an important remedy for Psoriasis. This is because your doctor was ignorant about the efficacy of homeopathy.

Now is the time for you to consider homeopathy for your Psoriasis, which is effective, safe, individualizing, treating the disease at the roots by considering the genetic patter.

Psoriasis Treatment

Causes of psoriasis (psoriasis treatment)

2008-12-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

It is very well understood about what happens to skin in psoriasis but it is very difficult to say why these changes develop. Although cold climate and some form of injury can aggravate the problem they cannot be labeled as the cause of disease. The precise cause of psoriasis continues to elude the medical fraternity. However, ongoing research in this field has improved our understanding of this disease to some extent. The recent discoveries point to an abnormality in the functioning of key white cells in the blood stream triggering inflammation in the skin. Because of the inflammation, the skin sheds too rapidly, every three to four days.

In realism psoriasis stem from internal disharmony of the body (in terms of disturbed immunity and genetic predisposition) topped with some environmental triggers.

Internal factors:

1. Defective immune system: Recent research indicates that psoriasis is likely to be a disorder of the immune system. This system includes a type of white blood cell, called a T cell, that normally helps protect the body against infection and disease. Scientists now think that, in psoriasis, an abnormal immune system causes activity by T cells in the skin. These T cells trigger the inflammation and excessive skin cell reproduction seen in people with psoriasis.

2. Genetics and heredity: In about one-third of the cases, psoriasis is inherited. Often, the person with psoriasis has a parent or grandparent who also has the condition. In terms of probability it has been estimated that a person with one affected parent has about a 10% chance of also being affected. Having two parents with psoriasis increases the chances to about 30%.

Researchers are studying large families affected by psoriasis to identify a gene or genes that cause the disease. (Genes govern every bodily function and determine the inherited traits passed from parent to child.)

External factors:

People with psoriasis may notice that there are times when their skin worsens, then improves. Conditions that may cause flare-ups include:

1. Climate: Studies indicate that cold weather may be a predisposing effect or trigger for psoriasis, in contradistinction to hot and sunny climate that appears to be beneficial.

2. Infections: Both dermatological and systemic infections have been known to trigger the onset of psoriasis or a worsening of psoriasis. Systemic infections that have been associated with triggering include viral upper respiratory disease, streptococcal pharyngitis ("strep throat"), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Staphylococcal skin infections (boils) have been a trigger.

3. Stress: Psychological stress is the cause as well as out come of disease like psoriasis. It is a well-known fact that there is inseparable bond between mind and body and psyche plays vital role in maintaining health or causing diseases. It is a common experience in practice of patient reporting the onset of psoriasis following major stress like divorce, death of close relatives, change of job, unhealthy family relationships etc and this perception of patients that psychological stress can worsen psoriasis has been supported in clinical studies.

4. Certain medicines: Certain medicines, most notably beta-blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure, and lithium or drugs used to treat depression, may trigger an outbreak or worsen the disease. The drugs may be listed as: lithium, antimalarials, mepacrine, NSAIDs, beta-blockers,alcohol.

5. Physical trauma: People often notice new spots 10 to 14 days after the skin is cut, scratched, rubbed, or severely sunburned. Analysis of patient records has indicated that up to 50 percent of persons with psoriasis have had a "Koebner’s phenomenon" experience—that is, have had a psoriatic lesion develop at the site of an injury or skin condition.

A broad range of skin injuries and skin conditions have been linked with Koebner’s phenomenon:

Skin Trauma:

• Acupuncture

• Bites, Cuts and scrapes

• Bruises, Burns

• Chemical irritation

• Pressure against the skin

• Shaving

• Sunburn and peeling

• Adhesive taping

• Tattoos

• Vaccinations

Skin Conditions:

• Boils

• Dermatitis

• Herpes blisters

• Lichen planus

• Skin parasites (scabies

• Vitiligo

Psoriasis Treatment

Symptoms of psoriasis (psoriasis treatment,)

2008-11-29T09:11:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

Although psoriasis may be almost unnoticeable in its early stages, patients often report an itching and/or burning sensation as the disease progresses.

This photo on the left shows itching (skin after itching) and bleeding spots thereafter, on psoriasis lesions. In this photo, the patient has scratched it profoundly to an extent that there are bleeding spots. (Click photo to enlarge.)

There are many variants and types of psoriasis. But usually the course follows like this: It starts with red small bumps on the skin that progress to bigger scaly patches. The condition is associated with lot of itching. As the scales accumulate, pink to deep red plaques with a white crust of silvery scales appear on the skin surface.

Although psoriasis may affect any area of the body, it is most commonly found on the scalp, elbows, knees, hands, feet, and genitals.

Types of psoriasis:

Psoriasis has many variants. The common ones are as follows:

• Plaque Psoriasis: Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of the disease and is characterized by raised, thickened patches of red skin covered with silvery-white scales. Its scientific name is psoriasis vulgaris.

• Pustular psoriasis is characterized by pus-like blisters. Attacks of pustular psoriasis may be triggered by medications, infections, emotional stress, or exposure to certain chemicals. Pustular psoriasis may affect either small or large areas of the body.

• Erythrodermic psoriasis characterized by intense redness and swelling of a large part of the skin surface, is often accompanied by itching or pain. Erythrodermic psoriasis may be precipitated by severe sunburn, use of oral steroids (such as cortisone), or a drug-related rash.

• Guttate psoriasis is characterized by small, drop-like lesions on the trunk, limbs, and scalp. Guttate psoriasis is most often triggered by bacterial infections (for example, Streptococcus).

• Inverse psoriasis is characterized by smooth red lesions in the folds of the skin like in the folds of the skin near the genitals, under the breasts, or in the armpits. Inverse psoriasis is related to increased sensitivity to friction and sweating and may be painful or itchy.

The Psoriatic Nail
About 50 percent of persons with active psoriasis have psoriatic changes in fingernails and/or toenails. In some instances psoriasis may occur only in the nails and nowhere else on the body. Nail changes in psoriasis fall into general categories that may occur singly or all together:

• The nail plate is deeply pitted or depressed
• The nail has a yellow to yellow-pink discoloration
• White areas appear under the nail plate. There may be reddened skin around the nail.
• The nail plate crumbles in yellowish patches (onychodystrophy)
• The nail may be entirely lost

Nail psoriasis is frequently associated with psoriatic arthritis
For the most part people with psoriasis can function normally. Sometimes people experience low self-esteem because psoriasis appears unsightly. Psoriasis is often misunderstood by the public, and this can make social interactions awkward. This may lead to emotional problems such as anxiety, anger, embarrassment, and depression.

By Dr Rajesh Shah

Psoriasis Treatment

There’s no cure for psoriasis, but there are treatments (psoriasis treatment)

2008-11-28T08:57:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis is a recurring, noncontagious skin disease that is characterized by raised, thickened patches of red skin covered with silvery-white scales.

It is estimated that 4.5 million adults in the U.S. have psoriasis.

Psoriasis derived its name from the Greek word meaning, “itch.” It results from an overproduction of skin cells leading to thickening of the skin and scaling. Any part of the body may be affected, but certain areas such as elbows, knees, fingernails, heels, face or scalp are common sites for psoriasis. More severe forms of the disease may affect large areas of the body such as the chest, back and legs.

Research suggests that psoriasis may be hereditary or that it may be the result of a gene mutation. The immune system is mistakenly “triggered,” causing new skin cells to form at a very fast rate. Skin cells move up to the skin surface every three to four days instead of the usual 28 to 30 days. The result is that skin cells build up, causing raised, red patches, which are cosmetically annoying and often very itchy. People often experience their first attack or subsequent flare-up if their skin is injured, such as being cut, scratched or severely sun-burned.

Psoriasis can worsen with stress, some medications, winter weather and infections.

Psoriasis therapy is customized to meet individual patient needs. Your age, how long you have had psoriasis, the extent of the disease and your response to past treatment will influence the course of therapy I recommend at any given time. Various treatments and combinations of treatments may be necessary before the psoriasis is under control. Prescription medications containing cortisone, salicylic acid, tar, anthralin or retinoids may be recommended alone or in combination with special ultraviolet light. These medications require careful adjustment according to patient response and lab-test results, often needed to monitor the safety of some treatments.

Photochemotherapy involves taking a medication known as “psoralen” by mouth followed by exposure to a special kind of ultraviolet light known as “UVA” or “long-wave” ultraviolet light in a series of treatments. The term, PUVA, is an acronym for Psoralen drug combined with Ultra-Violet A light therapy.

Among the newest agents for psoriasis that has not responded to other treatments are the “biologics,” medicines that act against naturally occurring cells or chemical messengers thought to promote psoriasis. They have substantial advantages over previously used systemic therapies in that they do not cause kidney or liver damage and have fewer risks and side effects than traditional therapies. Examples include alefacept (Amevive), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) and efalizumab (Rap-tiva).

Biologic treatments tend to be expensive and require injections, but they appear to have a high degree of safety.

For most patients, psoriasis is a long-term condition. Although there is no cure, there are many effective treatments. Now, thanks to a surge in new treatment options developed over the last few years, patients have more hope than ever in finding a treatment that works for them.

Dr. John J. Jones Jr. is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in diseases of the skin, allergies and skin-cancer surgery, with offices in Thibodaux and Raceland. He also serves as associate professor of dermatologic surgery at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans.

By Dr. John Jones, Health columnist

Psoriasis Treatment

Indigo extract effective treatment for psoriasis (psoriasis treatment )

2008-11-27T07:43:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

Taiwanese investigators report that an ointment made from an extract of Indigo naturalis is effective in treatment-resistant plaque psoriasis -- and the treatment appears to be safe.

Indigo naturalis is a plant that is the source of a dark blue dye. The extract has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for the psoriasis treatment, the researchers explain in the Archives of Dermatology.

Forty-two patients with recalcitrant plaque psoriasis applied indigo naturalis ointment or vehicle (sham ointment) topically to two symmetrical psoriatic plaque lesions on each side of the body for 12 weeks.

Dr. Yin-Ku Lin of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taoyuan, Taiwan, and colleagues report "significant reductions" in scores of scaling, rash, and induration with indigo naturalis ointment.

The mean sum of these scores was 6.3 with indigo naturalis ointment and 12.8 with the vehicle, and the percentage of the plaque area remaining was 38.5 percent after indigo naturalis treatment compared with 90 percent with the vehicle ointment. Thirty-one of 42 patients (74 percent) experienced clearance or near-clearance of psoriasis lesions with indigo naturalis ointment.

Lin's group reports that "severity was not a significant factor in predicting psoriasis treatment success."

They also point out that "the color and smell of indigo naturalis may affect compliance of the patients and the longer-term durability of the benefit simultaneously. The indigo naturalis ointment slightly stains the skin and clothing, which can be cleaned thoroughly by common detergents. Repeated application has no significant effect on skin color and will not change the skin appearance."

On the plus side, "Indigo naturalis ointment treatment has neither adverse effects, such as those found with corticosteroid treatment, nor other toxic effects based on our past 5 years of clinical observation. Furthermore, it costs much less in comparison with other topical agents," Lin and colleagues write. "We anticipate that indigo naturalis ointment can be an alternative or complementary therapy for psoriasis and believe it will be a great benefit to this large patient population."

SOURCE: Archives of Dermatology, November 2008.

Psoriasis Treatment

New Biologic Ustekinumab Receives Positive Opinion From European Regulatory Authority for the Treatment Psoriasis (Treatment Psoriasis)

2008-11-24T06:42:00.000-08:00

Treatment Psoriasis

BEERSE, Belgium, November 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Janssen-Cilag announced today that ustekinumab, the first in a new class of biologics, has received a positive opinion for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis from the European Committee for Medical Products for Human Use (CHMP). This positive opinion takes patients living with the physical and mental burdens of psoriasis a step closer towards a convenient new therapeutic option. The CHMP's positive opinion is now referred for final action to the European Commission.The CHMP recommended approval of ustekinumab is for adults who have failed to respond to, have a contraindication to, or are intolerant to other systemic therapies including ciclosporin, methotrexate and PUVA (a light sensitising medication, combined with exposure to ultraviolet light A).

This positive opinion is based on data from two large pivotal Phase 3 (PHOENIX 1 & 2), multi-centre, randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trials involving nearly 2,000 patients in whom the efficacy and tolerability of ustekinumab in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis was evaluated.(1,2) More than two-thirds of patients achieved the primary endpoint of each pivotal study, at least 75% reduction in psoriasis using the Psoriasis and Severity Index (PASI 75) at week 12, after just two doses at weeks 0 and 4. Significant maintenance of PASI 75 response through at least one year in patients receiving maintenance therapy every 12 weeks was also demonstrated using a randomised withdrawal design in the first pivotal study (PHOENIX 1). Rates of serious adverse events, including serious infections, malignancies and cardiovascular events, were low and consistent with the expected background rates. The most common adverse events in Phase 3 clinical trials were arthralgia, cough, headache, injection site erythema, nasopharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infection.

About Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease, which results from the over-production of skin cells resulting in their accumulation on the surface of the skin, which causes red, scaly plaques that may itch and bleed. It is estimated that three percent of the world's population has psoriasis.(3) Twenty to thirty percent of people with psoriasis have cases that are considered severe.(4)

About Ustekinumab

Ustekinumab is a new, human monoclonal antibody with a novel mechanism of action that targets the p40 sub-unit of cytokines interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-23 (IL-23), naturally occurring proteins that are important in regulating immune responses and that are thought to be associated with some immune-mediated inflammatory disorders, including plaque psoriasis. Ustekinumab is under regulatory review in the United States.

Centocor, Inc. developed ustekinumab and has exclusive marketing rights to the product in the United States. Janssen-Cilag companies have exclusive marketing rights in all countries outside of the United States.

References

(1) Leonardi CL, Kimball AB, Papp KA, et al. Efficacy and safety of ustekinumab, a human interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody, in patients with psoriasis: 76-week results from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (PHOENIX 1). The Lancet. 2008;371:1665-74

(2) Papp K, Langley RG, Lebwohl M, et al. Efficacy and safety of ustekinumab, a human interleukin-12/23 monoclonal antibody, in patients with psoriasis: 52-week results from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (PHOENIX 2). The Lancet. 2008;371:1675-84.

(3) International Federation of Psoriasis Associations. Profile of Psoriasis. Available at: http://www.ifpa-pso.org/t2.aspx?p=107478 Accessed on 10 November 2008

(4) Smith CH, Anstey AV, Barker JN, et al. British Association of Dermatologists guidelines for use of biological interventions in psoriasis 2005. Br J Dermatol. 2005;153(3

Treatment Psoriasis

Raptiva Gets Stronger Warning for Psoriasis Treatment (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-11-23T01:14:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced labeling changes that affect the popular psoriasis drug, efalizumab, marketed under the brand name, Raptiva. The updated label warning is the result of the increased risk of developing life-threatening infections when using this medication.

Only patients 18 and older who have moderate to severe plaque are approved to receive the drug, administered as a once-a-week injection that provides systemic, or whole body, psoriasispsoriasis treatment to control the painful and disfiguring skin disorder. In addition to a stronger warning labels, Genentech, Inc., San Francisco, makers of Raptiva, must submit a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to the FDA. The REMS must include a patient-directed Medication Guide and projected timetable for REMS assessment.

The FDA Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology received numerous reports describing serious infection in patients taking Raptiva, some of whom were hospitalized as a result of infection. In some cases, patients died.

The new label will carry research findings of studies involving juvenile mice, scientifically the age equivalent of a human between one and 14 years of age. These findings suggest the risk of permanent immune system

suppression when Raptiva is given repeatedly to this age group, evidence that further strengthens the FDA’s approval of this drug only for individuals 18 years of age or older.

As Raptiva suppresses the immune system to suppress psoriasis outbreaks, it also suppresses the entire body’s immune system. By weakening a patient’s natural defense mechanisms in systemic fashion, the risk of developing serious infection and malignancy is increased.

It is by jeopardizing the entire immune system that Raptiva leaves a patient more susceptible to bacterial sepsis, invasive fungal disease, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), viral meningitis, and similar opportunistic infections.

No patient should begin Raptiva therapy before getting all age-appropriate vaccinations and no further vaccinations should be administered during Raptiva therapy. Because the drug suppresses the immune system, the full strength of a vaccination may not be achieved.

Raptiva warning labels also describe the risk of certain potential adverse side effects and directions to both patient and physician should adverse reactions develop.

Source: FDA

Psoriasis Treatment

'Doctor fish' clear skin disease (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-11-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

A woman with the skin condition psoriasis has travelled to Turkey to sit in water and be nibbled by flesh-eating fish in a bid to find a cure.

Samantha Grayston, 38, from Kent, said she returned from her three-week trip to find the "doctor fish" treatment had worked and boosted her confidence.

She spent six hours a day at the spa near Kangal in eastern Turkey.

Psoriasis occurs when cells replace themselves too quickly, often causing emotional as well as physical distress.

Ms Grayston said: "People do tend to stare at you. It's because they just don't know what it is. It makes you rather insecure - it upsets me."

But then she travelled abroad for her treatment, which she said felt like "fingers tapping on your body".

The fish work by chewing away the excess cells caused by psoriasis, allowing the mineral water to reach the skin.

The spa water is rich in selenium - a mineral with skin-healing properties.

Afterwards, Ms Grayston said: "My skin is looking absolutely brilliant for the first time ever all over my body.

Ms Grayston said she no longer worries about how people will react

"My skin is smooth. You can still see that I have psoriasis - but it's pink rather than red."

She added that she could now go out without worrying about what people would see and how they would react.

"I don't need to worry because I know they can't see it," she said.

Her fiance Graham Smith said: "When she walks out with her shopping, her shoulders are back and her head is up.

"She's not conscious of anyone looking at her or checking out the redness of the skin.

"She's actually got a suntan for the first time and she smiles all the time now."

Ms Grayston, who paid £2,500 for the treatment, said she expected its skin-clearing effects to last 18 months.

Psoriasis Treatment

What Are The Arthritis Psoriasis Treatment Options? (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-11-20T08:20:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriatic arthritis, also called arthritis psoriasis, is an illness of the skin and joints that results in inflammation. Symptoms of psoriasis are patches of skin that are raised, scaly, and red. About ten percent of people with psoriasis also develop inflammatory arthritis. When these two diseases are present it is called arthritis psoriasis.

The psoriasis and arthritis usually don’t appear at the same time. In around 80% of the cases of psoriatic arthritis, the psoriasis occurs first. Arthritis happens first in around 15%. The time between the two conditions varies for each individual, but they can appear years apart.

Arthritis psoriasis can occur in both men and women and onset typically happens when the person is in his or her forties or fifties. The cause of psoriatic arthritis is unknown, though it is, in part, a hereditary disease. While treatments are available, there is no cure.

Psoriasis can happen anywhere on the body, but the elbows, knees, and scalp are some of the most commonly affected areas. The arthritis causes joints inflammation. The joints become red, swollen, hot, and painful. The most common joints to be affected by arthritis psoriasis are the knees, ankles, wrists, and hip.

Discuss with your doctor the best medications to control your condition. Common drugs for arthritis psoriasis include corticosteroids, immunosuppressant medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying ant-irheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or TNF-alpha inhibitors. Immunosuppressant medications are prescribed for severe cases, as are TNF-alpha inhibitors. Due to the side effects these can cause, they are only prescribed if the arthritis psoriasis is too severe to respond to other medications.

Corticosteroids are useful for mild cases of arthritis psoriasis. These can be taken orally or injected into the joint. They can have serious side effects and are not prescribed long term. NSAIDs are another drug that should be used on a short term basis. These can be over-the-counter, like aspirin, or be prescribed by your doctor. DMARDs can take months to work, but they can limit joint damage. They may be prescribed with a pain reliever.

Arthritis psoriasis is a painful condition that can affect your quality of life. Although there are a variety of treatments, many of them contain side effects. Because of this, discuss all of your options with your doctor. New and more effective treatments are always being developed.

by Andy Austim

About the Author:

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Psoriasis Treatment

An Effective New Psoriasis Treatment Method You Can Try Now (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-11-19T06:26:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment
Often times when you are searching for a New Psoriasis Treatment you will come across news articles speaking of the latest clinical trials for a drug to treat psoriasis. You hear how in case studies they are having a significant effect on 75% of people with moderate to severe cases of psoriasis and that all that's left is for the New Psoriasis Treatment to get FDA approval. The thing these articles don't mention is there are PLENTY of treatment methods available today which work and work well! Sure, not every psoriasis treatment is going to be 100% effective for everyone, different products work for different people, however there are still many highly successful products to choose from online.

The point I'm trying to get across here is instead of waiting for a New Psoriasis Treatment to be revealed, get to work in testing out various psoriasis treatment methods and find the one that works best for you NOW.

Now I'm sure while researching New Psoriasis Treatment methods you've heard of the Dead Sea. It is a closed off sea 1,200 feet below sea level and is the lowest point on Earth. The water here has an extremely high salt content, 33%, which is pretty high considering the oceans are a mere 3%. This high salt and mineral content in combination with the hot and humid atmosphere is said to provide many natural healing benefits. In fact, people with psoriasis come from all over the world just to bathe in these waters 30 minutes at a time twice a day!

One interesting thing to note is that according to studies, about 80-90% of those who visited the Dead Sea to receive psoriasis treatments at the Dead Sea have seen their psoriasis symptoms improve significantly or even clear up. According to a study of 75 people who bathed in the Dead Sea for a period of 4 weeks, 68% were still in remission after 4 months, 43% after 6 months and 10% after 8 months.

If you don't have the cash to afford regular trips to the Dead Sea all hope is not lost. There is a New Psoriasis Treatment out which is based on the healing properties of the salts, minerals and mud from the Dead Sea itself, it's the next best thing to traveling to Israel.

Cleopatra's Choice has a great Dead Sea Psoriasis Serious Relief Package available which is highly effective. It comes with:

-A hefty 10 pounds of Dead Sea bath salts, which will last you a good number of baths.

-Dead Sea Black Mud Soap, great to use on a daily basis for washing your hands and body.

-A Face and Body Treatment Cream to use specifically for strong outbreaks.

-A Dead Sea Salt Scrub for exfoliating which removes dead skin cells and opens your pores up.

-A Mineral Body Lotion to use after you've showered to keep you moisturized for the day

If you haven't yet found a product that works for you, I highly recommend you try this New Psoriasis Treatment before anything else. It is a great daily regimen to be on to manage and reduce your psoriasis symptoms.

by Allen Iser

Psoriasis Treatment

Treatment Psoriasis In Traditional Chinese Medicine (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-11-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment
According to a study published in the November issue of Archives of Dermatology, an effective treatment for plaque-type psoriasis can be found in traditional Chinese medicine. Yin-Ku Lin, M.D. (Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan) and colleagues found that an ointment based on the dark-blue, plant-based powder indigo naturalis can be used treat the skin condition.

No cure exists for the chronic skin disease known as psoriasis, but there are therapies that lead to remission of the condition. Lin and colleagues write that, "Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the most frequently chosen alternative therapies in China and Taiwan, and psoriasis has been treated for centuries with topical and oral herbal preparations." They add that, "Indigo naturalis is one of the Chinese herbal remedies that has been reported to exhibit potential antipsoriatic efficacy. However, long-term systemic use has been occasionally associated with irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and adverse hepatic [liver] effects."

Further studying the safety and efficacy of indigo naturalis, the researchers conducted a randomized trial with 42 patients suffering from treatment-resistant psoriasis. Between May 2004 and April 2005, participants enrolled in the study that required two ointment applications on their bodies: one was an indigo naturalis ointment applied to a psoriatic plaque on an arm, elbow, leg, or knee of one side of the body, and a second was a non-medicated ointment applied to a parallel plaque on the other side of their body. At the beginning of the study and after two, four, six, eight, ten, and twelve weeks, researchers assess the patients and photographed the skin plaques.

Lin and colleagues report that 12 weeks of treatment resulted in significant improvements in scaling, redness (erythema), and hardening (induration) for the plaques treated with the indigo naturalis ointment compared to the plaques treated with non-medicated ointment. "Weighting the sum of scaling, erythema and induration scores by the lesion area and comparing between the start and end of the study, the indigo naturalis ointment - treated lesions showed an 81 percent improvement, whereas the vehicle [non-medicated] ointment - treated lesions showed a 26 percent improvement," explain the researchers.

Thirty-four patients completed the study, and none experienced worsening psoriasis conditions in the areas that received the indigo naturalis ointment. In fact, 75% of these patients had complete or near complete clearings of the psoriasis in the treated areas. Although no patients experienced serious adverse effects, four patients reported some itching in the area of the indigo naturalis ointment that last for a few days at the beginning of treatment.

The authors conclude: "We present a randomized controlled trial showing the use of topical indigo naturalis ointment for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis to be both safe and effective. Future research for a more potent extraction from this crude herb that can provide better absorption and convenience would help improve patient compliance with the treatment regimen. However, much more research will be necessary to clarify the pharmacology of indigo naturalis."

Clinical Assessment of Patients With Recalcitrant Psoriasis in a Randomized, Observer-Blind, Vehicle-Controlled Trial Using Indigo Naturalis
Yin-Ku Lin; Chee-Jen Chang; Ya-Ching Chang; Wen-Rou Wong; Shu-Chen Chang; Jong-Hwei Su Pang
Archives of Dermatology (2008). 144[11]: pp. 1457 - 1464.
Click Here to View Abstract

Written by: Peter M Crosta
Copyright: Medical News Today
Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis treatment discoveries of today and tomorrow (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-11-15T21:12:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

Although our understanding of the immunological basis of psoriasis had expanded greatly by the turn of the Millennium, many details still remain unknown. Understanding of the role of immunology in psoriasis, together with the knowledge of protein engineering techniques, has given us the capability to manufacture specific proteins that can selectively alter the immunological processes in psoriasis. These therapies continue to improve the treatment psoriasis and shed further light into its pathogenesis.

Beginning in January of 2003, a number of biologic agents were approved by the FDA for the treatment psoriasis including alefacept, efalizumab, etanercept and infliximab. Alefacept binds to CD2 to prevent the activation of T lymphocytes in psoriasis , while efalizumab, binds to CD11 to inhibit T cell activation and migration into the skin . Both of these therapies strengthened the understanding of the role of T lymphocytes in psoriasis. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors also demonstrated efficacy in the treatment psoriasis. The efficacy and mechanism of etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab suggest that psoriasis pathophysiology also involves immunologic mediators in addition to T cells. Discovery of these biologic therapies opens the door of our understanding of psoriasis. The quest for developing additional biologics for the treatment psoriasis and other immune-mediated diseases continues, and it will be the role of clinicians to measure the potential advantages of each therapy for individual patients.

Our understanding of psoriasis and ability to treat this disease has evolved tremendously in the past few decades. We not only recognize psoriasis as distinct from leprosy and other inflammatory disorders, but are beginning to more fully understand its pathophysiology. More importantly, our ability to treat patients and improve their quality of life has progressed. Although we initially stumbled upon treatments by chance, we are now developing targeted therapies. These innovative therapeutics not only improve patient symptoms, but also help elucidate the pathophysiology of psoriasis and other immune-mediated diseases. The rich history of our understanding of psoriasis and its treatment serves as inspiration for continued discovery about psoriasis and its therapy.

Psoriasis Treatment

History of treatment of psoriasis (Psoriasis Treatment)

2008-11-15T19:22:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis Treatment

The history of the treatment psoriasis is relatively short, and initially treatment discoveries were serendipitous. Early psoriasis therapies included arsenic and ammoniated mercury use in the 19th Century. In the first half of the 20th Century, anthralin and tar were discovered as effective psoriasis treatments. Corticosteroids were developed in the 1950s. These therapies were followed in the 1970s by use of methotrexate and PUVA on psoriasis. In the 1980s, psoriasis treatment discoveries included narrowband UVB, retinoids, and vitamin D therapies. From the 1990s to the present time, manipulating the immune system to treat psoriasis has been explored first with cyclosporine and more recently with targeted molecules.

19th Century – Arsenic and ammoniated mercury
Throughout history, arsenic has been utilized as both a poison and therapeutic. In 1806, Girdlestone reported on the efficacy of Fowler’s Solution with 1% arsenic in treating many dermatologic conditions including psoriasis. With similar toxic potential, ammoniated mercury was used as a medication before the 20th Century. In 1876, Duhring recommended mercurial ointments to treat psoriasis.

1900–1950s – Anthralin and tar
In 1876, Squire inadvertently discovered anthralin as a treatment psoriasis. Squire prescribed Goa powder, which was until then known only to be effective in ringworm, and the patient’s psoriasis improved. The active ingredient of Goa powder is chrysarobin, also known as 2-methyl dithranol. During World War I, this treatment was further refined, as a synthetic form of chrysarobin called antralin, or dithranol, was formed. In 1916, Unna reported the effectiveness of dithranol as an antipsoriatic treatment.
The next advancement in psoriasis treatment was coal tar. Hippocrates andother ancient physicians treated dermatologic conditions with pine tar and other types of tar. Coal tar became available when coal gas production developedin the late 19th Century, and Goeckerman found that coal tar was particularly useful in psoriasis therapy. Many observed that psoriasis improved with summer sun. In 1925, Goeckerman reported an additive benefit of coal tar and UVB radiation in psoriasis treatment. Goeckerman’s method remained the mainstay of psoriasis treatment for decades. In 1953, Ingram reported the successful treatment of psoriasis with a combination of Unna and Goeckerman’s modalities. He established the first day care center for psoriasis in which patients were treated with a tar bath, then UVB therapy, and lastly with 0.42% dithranol in Lassar’s paste. This treatment improved the morbidity of psoriasis for many patients, but was time intensive.

1950s – Corticosteroids
In the 1950s, the corticosteroid era began and revolutionized the treatment of many diseases. In 1950 Hench, Kendall, and Reichstein received the Nobel Prize for the development of cortisone. A mere 2 years later, Sulzberg and Witten reported that compound F, or hydrocortisone, was the first moderately successful topical corticosteroid in inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis. From that time forward, additional topical corticosteroid preparations were developed to treat inflammatory dermatoses such as psoriasis.

1970s – Methotrexate and PUVA
Although methotrexate was first developed in the 1950s, it was not used to treat psoriasis until the 1970s. In 1946, Farber developed aminopterin to treat leukemia [40]. Five years later, Gubner reported that aminopterin used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis also cleared psoriasis. In 1958, Edmundsun and Guy introduced methotrexate, a more stable derivative of aminopterin with lower toxicity [41]. Investigators initially believed that folic acid antagonists prevented keratinocyte hyperproliferation, but later the effect on lymphocytes in psoriatic lesions was elucidated. In 1972, the FDA finally approved the use of methotrexate for psoriasis.
Also in the 1970s, PUVA therapy was reported to be effective in psoriasis. PUVA, based on the interaction between UV radiation and a photo-sensitizing chemical, has its own rich history. The concept originated in about 1'500 BC when Egyptian healers treated vitiligo with a combination of sunlight and ingestion of plants known as psoralens, including fig and limes. An article published in 1974 reported the efficacy of oral PUVA therapy in a group of patients with psoriasis. Three years later, a multi-center study confirmed that most patients with psoriasis experienced clearing of their skin using oralPUVA. Shortly after the development of oral PUVA, alternative bathwater delivery systems of psoralens were also created to minimize adverse effects associated with oral PUVA.

1980s – Narrowband UVB, retinoids, vitamin D
Although often therapeutically successful, PUVA therapy carries an increased risk of skin cancer. Therefore, further study of UVB therapy was undertaken. In 1981, Parrish and Jaenicke demonstrated that UVB wavelengths between 300 and 313 nm caused the greatest remission of skin lesions. Subsequent trials reported that the 311 nm spectrum showed improved clearance of lesions with less erythema.
In the 1980s, researchers also established the use of retinoids in psoriasis treatment. Prior to its use in psoriasis, in the 1960s physicians prescribed retinoids for hyperkeratosis and acne. At this time, first-generation and synthetic topical retinoids did not have significant antipsoriatic activity. In the early 1980s, reports demonstrated the efficacy of the second-generation retinoids etretinate and its derivative acitretin, in the treatment psoriasis. Although etretinate is no longer available in the US due to its lipophilia and protracted adverse effects, acitretin has a shorter half life and remains an important therapy in psoriasis. Third-generation acetylenic retinoids developed in the 1980s allowed for the production of a topical retinoid, tazarotene, with demonstrated anti-psoriatic efficacy.
The next class of drugs developed for psoriasis, vitamin D and its analogs, was also developed by chance observations in the 1980s. In 1985, a patient who received oral vitamin D3 for osteoporosis experienced dramatic improvement of his psoriasis. The active form of vitamin D3 plays a part in the control of intestinal calcium absorption, bone mineralization, keratinocyte differentiation, keratinocyte proliferation, and immune modulation. Despite extensive research, the exact mechanism of action of vitamin D analogs remains unknown. In 1988, a topical form of vitamin D proved useful in the treatment psoriasis.

1990s – Cyclic immunosuppressive medications
In 1997, cyclosporine was FDA approved for psoriasis treatment. Cyclosporine was isolated in 1969 from a fungus and was screened for antibiotic properties. In 1976, Borel reported immunosuppressive properties of cyclosporine in animal models. Three years later, Cyclosporine A was used experimentally in transplant patients to prevent graft rejection, and psoriatic patients in these trials experienced relief of their lesions. FDA approval was delayed until the 1990s due to concerns about toxicity. Cyclosporine is prescribed for severe psoriasis that is not responsive to other therapies.

Psoriasis Treatmen