Category Archives: Transhuman News

Dr. Alan Menter - Psoriasis Types Symptoms
The more you know about living with psoriasis, the better equipped you #39;ll be to manage your psoriasis. Watch a series of videos for expert insights from derm...

By: Menter Dermatology Research Institute

Read the original here:
Dr. Alan Menter - Psoriasis Types & Symptoms - Video

Psoriasis station 5

By: Dr Sadek MRCP On Line Courses

See the article here:
Psoriasis station 5 - Video

BlueControl can be strapped on to any part of the body

Sufferers of psoriasis, an incurable skin disease that breaks out in scaly red plaques and also causes the skin to peel, will shortly get a new ally in the management of the condition. Lighting giant Philips is about to launch BlueControl, an LED light unit that can help patients of mild and moderate cases with no side effects.

The device was developed based on findings from research showing that blue LED light treatment slows down the root cause of psoriasis, which is the rapid division of cells. It can also reduce skin inflammation. Philips designed an unobtrusive battery-powered strap-on unit that can be placed on the parts of the body that are affected by the irritating skin disease.

The system does not use regular LED lights, which are not always suitable for medical-grade applications such as BlueControl. Philips carried out research with academic and clinical partners in order to develop pulsed LED lights with higher intensities. Altogether, the system features 40 of those UV-free blue lights.

To test BlueControl, Philips teamed up with the University Hospital of Aachen in Germany. During the second of two clinical trials that spanned four months ending in June, patients showed an average reduction of 50 percent of symptoms based on a measurement system called Local Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). The index measures the severity of psoriasis plaques in terms of thickness, redness and scaling. The trials also revealed that the blue LED lights produced no side effects.

Philips will present BlueControl at the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology Congress, which takes place in Amsterdam between 8-12 October, before it goes on sale in The Netherlands, Germany and the UK.

Source: Philips

See original here:
Philips turns the light on psoriasis

DEAR DOCTOR K: My doctor thinks my arthritis and heart disease are connected to my psoriasis. Is this possible? I thought psoriasis was a skin condition.

DEAR READER: Psoriasis (pronounced so-RYE-uh-sis) is named for an ancient Greek word meaning an itchy or scaly condition. It is classified as a skin disease, but psoriasis is the result of an immune system abnormality that can cause problems throughout the body.

With psoriasis, white blood cells of the immune system become overactive. They produce excess amounts of chemicals that trigger inflammation. The inflammation leads to abnormally rapid growth of cells in the skins outer layer. This causes plaques: raised, red patches covered with silvery scales on the elbows and knees the classic sign of psoriasis. (Ive put a photo of psoriasis plaques on my website, AskDoctorK.com.)

But the effects of psoriasis are not always confined to the skin. The disease also can cause inflammation throughout the body. This probably is the reason that people with psoriasis have higher rates of various diseases that also are associated with a constant state of inflammation. These include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and several types of cancer.

Nearly one-third of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes stiff, painful joints and other symptoms.

Several eye problems are more common with psoriasis, including conjunctivitis, blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) and damage to the cornea.

When psoriasis involves only the skin, it often can be treated just by medicines applied to the skin. Very mild cases of psoriasis may improve with moisturizers and some sunlight. But most people need other treatments:

OINTMENTS, GELS OR LOTIONS. The most common are corticosteroids, which come in varying strengths. They quickly reduce inflammation and control itching. Long-term use of strong steroids can thin and damage skin.

PHOTOTHERAPY. This treatment uses carefully controlled exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, which helps slow the growth of skin cells. UV light combined with medicines called psoralens often are more potent than just UV light (a treatment called PUVA).

SYSTEMIC THERAPY. If your psoriasis has caused more than skin problems, this can have implications for the kind of treatment your doctor may recommend. Treatments that fight inflammation in multiple parts of the body may be required. Medicines that do this include methotrexate, retinoids and cyclosporine.

See original here:
Effects of psoriasis are not confined to the skin