Category Archives: Psoriasis

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a genetically programmed inflammatory disease that primarily affects the skin in about 3% of individuals in the United States. Psoriasis is characterized by skin cells that multiply up to 10 times faster than normal. When these cells reach the surface and die, raised, red plaques covered with white scales form. Psoriasis begins as a small scaling papule. When multiple papules coalesce, they form scaling plaques. These plaques tend to occur in the scalp, elbows, and knees.

Although psoriatic plaques can be limited to only a few small areas, the condition can involve widespread areas of skin anywhere on the body. Psoriasis symptoms vary depending on the type of psoriasis you have. Common psoriasis symptoms can include the following:

Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis and it gets its name from the plaques that build up on the skin. There tend to be well-defined patches of red raised skin that can appear on any area of the skin, but the knees, elbows, scalp, trunk, and nails are the most common locations. There is also a flaky, white build up on top of the plaques, called scales. Possible plaque psoriasis symptoms include skin pain, itching, and cracking.

There are plenty of over-the-counter products that are effective in the treatment of plaque psoriasis. 1% hydrocortisone cream is a topical steroid that can suppress mild disease and preparations containing tar are effective in treating plaque psoriasis.

Scalp psoriasis is a common skin disorder that makes raised, reddish, often scaly patches. Scalp psoriasis can affect your whole scalp, or just pop up as one patch. This type of psoriasis can even spread to the forehead, the back of the neck, or behind the ears. Scalp psoriasis symptoms may include only slight, fine scaling. Moderate to severe scalp psoriasis symptoms may include dandruff-like flaking, dry scalp, and hair loss. Scalp psoriasis does not directly cause hair loss, but stress and excess scratching or picking of the scalp may result in hair loss.

Scalp psoriasis can be treated with medicated shampoos, creams, gels, oils, ointments, and soaps. Salicylic acid and coal tar are two medications in over-the-counter products that help treat scalp psoriasis. Steroid injections and phototherapy may help treat mild scalp psoriasis. Biologics are the latest class of medications that can also help treat severe scalp psoriasis.

Guttate psoriasis looks like small, pink dots or drops on the skin. The word guttate is from the Latin word gutta, meaning drop. There tends to be fine scales with guttate psoriasis that is finer than the scales in plaque psoriasis. Guttate psoriasis is typically triggered by streptococcal (strep throat) and the outbreak will usually occur two to three weeks after having strep throat.

Guttate psoriasis tends to go away after a few weeks without treatment. Moisturizers can be used to soften the skin. If there is a history of psoriasis, a doctor may take a throat culture to determine if strep throat is present. If the throat culture shows that streptococcal is present, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics.

Many patients with psoriasis have abnormal nails. Psoriatic nails often have a horizontal white or yellow margin at the tip of the nail called distal onycholysis because the nail is lifted away from the skin. There can often be small pits in the nail plate, and the nail is often yellow and crumbly.

The same treatment for skin psoriasis is beneficial for nail psoriasis. However, since nails grow slow, it may take a while for improvements to be evident. Nail psoriasis can be treated with phototherapy, systemic therapy (medications that spread throughout the body), and steroids (cream or injection). If medications do not improve the condition of nail psoriasis, a doctor may surgically remove the nail.

Psoriasis can be associated with a destructive arthritis called psoriatic arthritis. Damage can be serious enough to permanently damage the affected joints. Prevention of joint damage in such cases is very important.

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by a form of inflammation of the skin and joints. About 15%-25% of patients with psoriasis also develop an inflammation of their joints. Psoriatic arthritis is a systemic rheumatic disease that can not only cause inflammation of the skin, but in the eyes, heart, kidneys, and lungs as well. Currently, the cause of psoriatic arthritis is unknown, but a combination of genetic, immune, and environmental facts is likely involved.

Typically, a patient will have psoriasis months or years before they develop psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis usually involves the knees, ankles, and joints in the feet. There may also be a loss of range of motion of the involved joints as well as joint stiffness. Psoriatic arthritis can also cause inflammation of the spine and the sacrum, which causes pain and stiffness in the low back, buttocks, neck, and upper back.

Treatment for psoriatic arthritis generally involves anti-inflammatory medications and exercise. It is important to stretch or take a hot shower before exercise in order to relax the muscles. Ice application after exercise can help minimize soreness and inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also reduce joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness.

It is now clear that there is a genetic basis for psoriasis. This hereditary predisposition is necessary before the disease can be triggered by environmental factors. White blood cells called T-cells mediate the development of the psoriatic plaques that are present in the skin. When someone has psoriasis, their body is unable to offer protection from invaders. Instead, inflammation is promoted and skin cells are on overdrive. When cell growth is increased, old skin cells pile up instead of flaking off, causing psoriasis to occur. Currently, most experts conclude that environmental, genetic and immunologic factors interact to cause the disease.

If you have the genetic basis of psoriasis, a trigger can cause psoriasis to flare up. The following are triggers that may set off one's psoriasis:

No, psoriasis is not contagious. People used to believe that psoriasis was the same as leprosy, but that is not the case. You cannot get psoriasis by touching, kissing, or having sex with someone who has psoriasis. People get psoriasis because of their genes, not their hygiene, diet, lifestyle, or any other habits.

Psoriasis is often diagnosed or at least suspected on the basis of its appearance and distribution. However, psoriasis may resemble eczema or other skin diseases and further tests may be required. It may be necessary to remove a small piece of skin (a biopsy) and have it examined by a pathologist to confirm the diagnosis. If there are joint symptoms, X-rays and other laboratory tests may be in order. Psoriasis cannot be cured, but like many other medical conditions, it is controllable with treatment. Your doctor may have you seen by a consultant such as a dermatologist, rheumatologist or immunologist to help diagnose and treat your form of psoriasis.

Since psoriasis mainly affects the skin, topical treatments are very useful because they are relatively safe, fairly effective, and can be applied directly to the affected skin. They take the form of lotions, foams, creams, ointments, gels, and shampoos. They include topical steroids, tar preparations, and calcium- modulating drugs. The precise drug used and the form in which it is delivered depends on the areas involved. In widespread disease in patients with more than 10% of the body surface involved, it may not be practical to use topical medication alone.

For more extensive psoriasis, a useful option is ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. UV light can treat large areas of skin with few side effects, if performed in the physician's office. It should be kept in mind that all UV light causes mutational events, which can lead to skin cancer. At this time, the most popular type of UV light for psoriasis is called narrow-band UVB. Only a small portion of the UV light spectrum is used, which seems to be particularly beneficial for psoriasis and may be less carcinogenic. This UVB is quite different from the UVA, the wavelength available in tanning salons, which is not effective in psoriasis. Phototherapy can be used alone or with medications when treating psoriasis.

Excimer lasers or pulsed dye lasers are used in laser therapy. A pulsed dye laser will create a concentrated beam of yellow light. When this light hits the skin, it converts to heat. The heat then destroys the extra blood vessels in the skin that contribute to psoriasis. Excimer lasers will deliver ultraviolet light to localized areas of the skin that help treat psoriasis. These lasers produce UV light in wavelengths similar to narrow-band UVB. Laser therapy uses intense doses of laser light to help control areas of mild to moderate psoriasis without damaging surrounding healthy skin. These can be quite effective for small plaques of psoriasis, but since only small areas of skin can be treated at once, they are not practical for extensive disease.

There are a variety of drugs administered systemically that are useful in controlling psoriasis. As a generalization, most oral medications act by targeting portions of the immune system. The only exception currently is a drug called acitretin (Soriatane), which is structurally similar to vitamin A. Since the immune system is necessary in order to survive, systemic treatments do have a downside. Drugs like methotrexate and cyclosporine are administered orally and can affect the liver, kidney, and bone marrow. A new oral medication recently approved for treatment of psoriasis is called Otezla (apremilast). Otezla selectively targets molecules inside immune cells and adjusts (reduces) the processes of inflammation within the cell, which in turn helps treat psoriasis. This drug appears to be considerably safer that most of its predecessors but is also quite expensive.

A new class of drugs has recently been developed called biologics; they're called biologics because living cells synthesize them. Since these drugs are proteins, they cannot be administered orally and must be given by injection through the skin or by an intravenous infusion. This treatment is recommended in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. These drugs target the immune response that leads to the rapid skin cell growth of psoriasis. This seems to have increased their safety profile as well as their effectiveness when compared to older drugs. On the other hand, they are quite expensive costing up to $30,000 a year.

There are many home remedies that can be used in the treatment of psoriasis. It is very important to keep the skin moist to avoid dryness. Petroleum jelly, shortening, or olive oil can be used as a moisturizer. Take fewer showers and baths to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils. Adding salts, oil, or finely ground oatmeal to the bath can soothe the skin. Heliotherapy (medicinal sunbathing) can be effective in controlling psoriasis. There is also evidence that increased body mass is associated with psoriasis and that heavier individuals are more difficult to treat.

At the edge of Israel's Dead Sea, there are a group of resorts that cater to psoriasis patients by offering a combination of graded solar exposure and the application of crude coal tar along with a spa-like experience. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, more than 400 meters below sea level. Once the sun's rays pass through the haze, the harmful ultraviolet rays are filtered out and the remaining rays are highly effective in treating psoriasis. For those with the time and the money, this is a reasonable alternative to standard medical treatment.

Although there is no doubt that psoriasis is a potent inducer of stress, the evidence that stress causes psoriasis is sparse. However, stress can make psoriasis worse, and psoriasis can make one stressed. Dealing with stress with or without psoriasis is a challenge for most people living in the 21st century. The following are tips to reduce stress:

Not only are the physical effects of psoriasis frustrating, but the emotional effects of psoriasis can be much worse. Psoriasis may cause your relationships to change and people may treat you differently. Unfortunately, this may lead to stress, which then leads to worsening psoriasis. A doctor may prescribe antidepressant medications if psoriasis is diminishing your quality of life. Support groups can also help you cope with psoriasis by talking to other people who are suffering from the same disease.

Fall and winter may bring shorter days, colder temperatures, and dry air. These can all lead to worsening psoriasis symptoms. The sun's ultraviolet light hinders the rapid growth of skin cells that is characteristic of psoriasis. Therefore, spending less time in the sun may cause psoriasis symptoms to flare. The dry weather may remove moisture in your skin so it is important to use moisturizer and/or a humidifier at home.

There are many different remedies that may ease psoriasis symptoms. The following is a partial list of alternative medicine to help treat psoriasis:

Consult your doctor before trying new medications.

There is plenty of evidence that extensive psoriasis can have a very significant negative effect on a patient's self-image and emotions. This is especially true in social situations, although all aspects of life can be disturbed. Inverse psoriasis, which affects the genital skin, and scalp psoriasis can be particularly troubling. Psoriasis affecting the hands may make it impossible to interact normally with others. It is important to remember that there are ways to manage and treat psoriasis flares. It may seem as if one's quality of life has diminished, but there are many organizations that offer support to psoriasis patients. The National Psoriasis Foundation is an excellent source of accurate information as well as emotional support for afflicted patients.

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2005-2016 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Psoriasis Types, Images, Treatments - onhealth.com

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Hello, George! The type O diet is the place to start. Modify it as follows for one month: eat no refined sugars, no grains, no fried foods and no nightshade vegetables (tomatoes or peppers of any kind). We want to eliminate anything that might be worsening the psoriasis, so if you notice any food that seems to make things worse, give it the boot. Every day, grind up (in a clean coffee-grinder or with a mortar & pestle) a tablespoon of brown or gold flaxseed. Cover with a little water for 20 minutes, and slurp it down. Follow it with a teaspoon of good, fresh fish oil. Eat as many raw and lightly-steamed beneficial vegetables as you can stuff into yourself. Have your organic meat and one serving of fish every day. Get an (organic) egg or two per day. Drink near three quarts of pure water every day (NOT distilled, but spring or filtered water), and a quart of high-solids mineral water such as Gerolsteiner. Take the PolyFlora-O and ARA6 supps from this site if possible ~ they will speed your healing.

Check EVERY SINGLE INGREDIENT of every product that goes in your mouth. Its a lot safer to make your own salad dressing in a blender, using oil, lemon juice, salt, and anything else you like to add, than to risk any storebought brand which may contain bad oils or corn sweeteners. Same goes for ketchup & mayonnaise although there are some decent ketchup brands such as Muir Glen. I plan to post basic recipes for common condiments here soon. They are simple to make, take about 5 minutes, keep just as long as the commercial stuff, and are much tastier when you make them at home.

If you are now taking any drugs, or have been on courses of antibiotics and/or corticosteroids, I cannot tell you to stop taking them ~ but these drugs do slow the course of your healing. They impair your immune functions, which reside primarily in the health and activity of beneficial flora and fauna in your digestive system. Psoriasis is a symptom of autoimmune dysfunction. These drugs are given because conventional medicine doesnt know how to treat the causes of your condition theyre doing the best they can to limit your symptoms, but such treatments are counterproductive in the case of most health troubles, including yours. As your condition improves, consult with your doctor about very gradually lowering the dosages of the psoriasis medications, if any, that youre on.

The last thing youre enthusiastic about right now is exercise, right? 😉 I want to strongly encourage you to begin an exercise plan. Its benefits are far above and beyond the effort it takes to get started and stick with it. Every aspect of your life will thank you for pursuing a solid type O exercise regime ~ including, most swiftly and notably, your largest organ: your skin. And consider a deep stress-relief practice such as Transcendental Meditation or Medical Meditation ~ the book Meditation as Medicine is available at most general bookstores and from online sellers like amazon.com and is a treasure in a package. Lower your stored stresses, and allow your bodys natural healing to take over from the fight-or-flight mode which lies at the root of autoimmune disorders.

Folks, if you have psoriasis, just follow these instructions based on your own ABO diet and activity plan. And please, give me your feedback on your experiences with psoriasis. This is a disabling disease that strikes children, adults of childbearing age, the elderly... let's work together to make it as rare as hens' teeth! My ears are wide open over here! 🙂

This entry was posted on May 13th, 2000 at 07:51:00 am and is filed under On The Diet.

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PSORIASIS - D'Adamo

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder where rapid skin cell reproduction results in raised, red and scaly patches of skin. It is not contagious. It most commonly affects the skin on the elbows, knees, and scalp, though it can appear anywhere on the body.

Anyone can have psoriasis. About 7.5 million people in the U.S. are affected, and it occurs equally in men and women. Psoriasis can occur at any age but is most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 25. It is more frequent in Caucasians.

Psoriasis is a non-curable, chronic skin condition and there will be periods where the condition will improve, and other times it will worsen. The symptoms can range from mild, small, faint dry skin patches where a person may not suspect they have a skin condition to severe psoriasis where a person's entire body may be nearly covered with thick, red, scaly skin plaques.

The cause of psoriasis is unknown but a number of risk factors are suspected. There seems to be a genetic predisposition to inheriting the illness, as psoriasis is often found in family members. Environmental factors may play a part in conjunction with the immune system. The triggers for psoriasis what causes certain people to develop it remain unknown.

Psoriasis usually appears as red or pink plaques of raised, thick, scaly skin. However it can also appear as small flat bumps, or large thick plaques, ,. It most commonly affects the skin on the elbows, knees, and scalp, though it can appear anywhere on the body. The following slides will review some of the different types of psoriasis.

The most common form of psoriasis that affects about 80% of all sufferers is psoriasis vulgaris ("vulgaris" means common). It is also referred to as plaque psoriasis because of the well-defined areas of raised red skin that characterize this form. These raised red plaques have a flaky, silver-white buildup on top called scale, made up of dead skin cells. The scale loosens and sheds frequently.

Psoriasis that has small, salmon-pink colored drops on the skin is guttate psoriasis, affecting about 10% of people with psoriasis. There is usually a fine silver-white buildup (scale) on the drop-like lesion that is finer than the scale in plaque psoriasis. This type of psoriasis if commonly triggered by a streptococcal (bacterial) infection. About two to three weeks following a bout of strep throat, a person's lesions may erupt. This outbreak can go away and may never recur.

Inverse psoriasis (also called intertriginous psoriasis) appears as very red lesions in body skin folds, most commonly under the breasts, in the armpits, near the genitals, under the buttocks, or in abdominal folds. Sweat and skin rubbing together irritate these inflamed areas.

Pustular psoriasis consists of well-defined, white pustules on the skin. These are filled with pus that is non-infectious. The skin around the bumps is reddish and large portions of the skin may redden as well. It can follow a cycle of redness of the skin, followed by pustules and scaling.

Erythrodermic psoriasis is a rare type of psoriasis that is extremely inflammatory and can affect most of the body's surface causing the skin to become bright red. It appears as a red, peeling rash that often itches or burns.

Psoriasis commonly occurs on the scalp, which may cause fine, scaly skin or heavily crusted plaque areas. This plaque may flake or peel off in clumps. Scalp psoriasis may resemble seborrheic dermatitis, but in that condition the scales are greasy.

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis (inflammation of the joints) accompanied by inflammation of the skin (psoriasis). Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the body's defenses attack the joints of the body causing inflammation and pain. Psoriatic arthritis usually develops about 5 to 12 years after psoriasis begins and about 5-10% of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis.

In some cases, psoriasis may involve only the fingernails and toenails, though more commonly nail symptoms will accompany psoriasis and arthritis symptoms. The appearance of the nails may be altered and affected nails may have small pinpoint pits or large yellow-colored separations on the nail plate called "oil spots." Nail psoriasis can be hard to treat but may respond to medications taken for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Treatments include topical steroids applied to the cuticle, steroid injections at the cuticle, or oral medications.

Right now there is no cure for psoriasis. The disease can go into remission where there are no symptoms or signs present. Current research is underway for better treatments and a possible cure.

Psoriasis is not contagious even with skin-to-skin contact. You cannot catch it from touching someone who has it, nor can you pass it on to anyone else if you have it.

Psoriasis can be passed on from parents to children, as there is a genetic component to the disease. Psoriasis tends to run in families and often this family history is helpful in making a diagnosis.

There are several types of doctors who may treat psoriasis. Dermatologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis. Rheumatologists specialize in the treatment of joint disorders, including psoriatic arthritis. Family physicians, internal medicine physicians, rheumatologists, dermatologists, and other medical doctors may all be involved in the care and treatment of patients with psoriasis.

There are some home remedies that may help minimize outbreaks or reduce symptoms of psoriasis:

The first line of treatment for psoriasis includes topical medications applied to the skin. The main topical treatments are corticosteroids (cortisone creams, gels, liquids, sprays, or ointments), vitamin D-3 derivatives, coal tar, anthralin, or retinoids. These drugs may lose potency over time so often they are rotated or combined. Ask you doctor before combining medications, as some drugs should not be combined.

Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun slows the production of skin cells and reduces inflammation and can help reduce psoriasis symptoms in some people and artificial light therapy may be used for other people. Sunlamps and tanning booths are not proper substitutes for medical light sources. There are two main forms of light therapy:

If topical treatment and phototherapy have been tried and have failed, medical treatment for psoriasis includes systemic drugs taken either orally or by injection. Drugs including methotrexate, adalimumab (Humira), ustekinumab (Stelara), secukinumab (Cosentyx), ixekizumab (Taltz), and infliximab (Remicade) block inflammation to help slow skin cell growth. Systemic drugs may be recommended for people with psoriasis that is disabling in any physical, psychological, social, or economic way.

The prognosis for patients with psoriasis is good. Though the condition is chronic and is not curable, it can be controlled effectively in many cases. Studies for future treatments look promising and research to find ways to battle psoriasis is ongoing.

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Types of Psoriasis: Medical Pictures and Treatments

How is psoriasis treated?

There are a number of treatments for psoriasis. Your doctor will help you decide which one is best for you. Keeping your skin moisturized with an over-the-counter product is a good first step. Body lotion can help keep skin from getting too dry and cracking. It can also help remove some of the scales. Bathing daily in Epsom salts, Dead Sea salts, bath oil or oatmeal can calm redness and remove scales.

Prescription creams, ointments, lotions and gels (also called topical medicines) that you put on the affected areas are often used to treat psoriasis. To help the medicine stay on the skin, you might apply it and then cover the areas with plastic wrap (such as Saran Wrap). Options include corticosteroids, a type of vitamin D and pine tar. Special shampoos are used for psoriasis on the scalp.

For more severe cases of psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or other medicines in pill form. Some of these medicines can cause side effects, so your doctor may prescribe these for only a short period of time before returning to another type of treatment.

Sunlight also can help psoriasis, but be careful not to stay in the sun too long. A sunburn can actually make your psoriasis worse. Talk to your doctor about how to safely try sunlight exposure as a psoriasis treatment. Light therapy may be another option for treatment of psoriasis. With this treatment, the affected skin is exposed to controlled forms of artificial sunlight, usually after using Psoralen, a light-sensitizing medicine. This is called PUVA treatment. Talk to your doctor about this option.

While psoriasis will typically improve with treatment, it may not ever completely go away. The scales of psoriasis should improve after you begin treatment. It may take 2 to 6 weeks for the affected areas of your skin to return to a more normal thickness, and the redness may take several months to improve. Sometimes, certain scaly spots will get better at the same time that other spots get worse.

After youve been using a certain type of medicine for a while, your psoriasis may get used to the treatment. If this happens, your medicine may not be as effective as it once was. Your doctor may change your medicine. Sometimes you may need a stronger dose of medicine. Talk to your doctor if your psoriasis doesnt seem to be getting better with treatment.

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Psoriasis - familydoctor.org

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. You usually get the patches on your elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms and feet, but they can show up on other parts of your body. Some people who have psoriasis also get a form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis.

A problem with your immune system causes psoriasis. In a process called cell turnover, skin cells that grow deep in your skin rise to the surface. Normally, this takes a month. In psoriasis, it happens in just days because your cells rise too fast.

Psoriasis can be hard to diagnose because it can look like other skin diseases. Your doctor might need to look at a small skin sample under a microscope.

Psoriasis can last a long time, even a lifetime. Symptoms come and go. Things that make them worse include

Psoriasis usually occurs in adults. It sometimes runs in families. Treatments include creams, medicines, and light therapy.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

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Psoriasis | Psoriatic Arthritis | MedlinePlus

Psoriasis is a common skin disorder, which is manifested by reddish flaky inflamed lesions affecting any part of the body, most commonly knees, scalp, elbows & lower back. Most patents complain of having small zones of damaged skin. Their itching and soreness can be felt in some cases. About 2% of the British suffer from this disease. The most vulnerable category is under 35-year-olds, though psoriasis may affect people of different ages irrespective of their sex. This skin disorder can have different degrees of severity from causing slight irritation to affecting entirely the life quality. There are different types of it, for example: scalp psoriasis, nail psoriasis, plaque psoriasis and others. But the treatment doesnt depend on the certain type, it depends on the complexity of the disease. Being a chronic disease, ithas a cyclical nature with the exacerbation phase, characterized by tangible manifestations of symptoms, alternating the remission phase, when the symptoms get milder or are not felt at all.

The disease is characterized by skin cells overproduction. In psoriasis, cellular renewal process, which typically lasts 3-4 weeks, significantly decreases to 3-7 days. It leads to skin cells build-up appearing on the body forming psoriasis-associated patches. Medical professionals havent succeeded in substantiating the disease cause yet. However, they tend to relate it to the immune system disorder. In normal health conditions, the immune system serves as human body protector against infections & diseases, but in psoriasis, it starts attacking skin cells. Therefore, this disease is classified as anautoimmune one. Sometimes, psoriasis affects several generations of one family, though positive family history hasnt been proved yet. Medical experts are unanimous in emphasizing the trigger of the disease, which can be a skin injury, a throat infection, or a negative effect of taking certain drugs. Fortunately, healthy people dont have to be afraid of being infected by psoriasis-affected family members or acquaintances as the disease is not contagious.

After examining a patients skin a general practitioner can diagnose psoriasis. In some instances, laboratory test biopsy will be needed to confirm the condition. In addition, a microscope-based examination will help to identify the type of disease and exclude skin disorders with similar symptoms (lichen simplex, lichen planus, pityriasis rosea, and seborrhoeic dermatitis). If your health condition is severe, or if your general practitioner is not certain about the diagnosis, he may refer you to a specialized doctor a dermatologist. In case your general practitioner suspects that you have a complication in the form of psoriatic arthritis, he will draw up a referral to a rheumatologist. To rule out rheumatoid arthritis or other similar conditions patients are asked to have their blood tested, ad their joints X-rayed.

There isnt any specific remedy for psoriasis because of its autoimmune nature. However, certain treatments can significantly reduce its symptoms and improve the overall health state. The most common treatment applied for psoriasis includes topical medications, namely analogues of vitamin D and topical corticosteroids in ointment and cream forms. In some cases a treatment plan can be supplemented with phototherapy involving applying ultraviolet light to the affected skin areas. Applying injected or oral systemic medications influencing the entire body can be prescribed to patients with complicated forms of psoriasis or if other remedies appeared to be ineffective.

The effect of the disease on peoples life quality depends on its severity. Psoriatic arthritis can cause certain discomfort because of painful swelling joints or connective tissue. As the disease affects patients appearance, their self-esteem may decrease. Therefore, learning to live with psoriasis is crucially important for patients who have to control the disease jointly with their doctors.

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Psoriasis | Methods of treatment

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Compare 231 Psoriasis Medications | Drugs.com

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about ENBREL?

ENBREL is a medicine that affects your immune system. ENBREL can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Serious infections have happened in patients taking ENBREL. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some patients have died from these infections. Your healthcare provider should test you for TB before you take ENBREL and monitor you closely for TB before, during, and after ENBREL treatment, even if you have tested negative for TB.

There have been some cases of unusual cancers reported in children and teenage patients who started using tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers before 18 years of age. Also, for children, teenagers, and adults taking TNF blockers, including ENBREL, the chances of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. Patients with RA may be more likely to get lymphoma.

Before starting ENBREL, tell your healthcare provider if you:

What are the possible side effects of ENBREL?

ENBREL can cause serious side effects including: New infections or worsening of infections you already have; hepatitis B can become active if you already have had it; nervous system problems, such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, or inflammation of the nerves of the eyes; blood problems (some fatal); new or worsening heart failure; new or worsening psoriasis; allergic reactions; autoimmune reactions, including a lupus-like syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis.

Common side effects include: Injection site reactions and upper respiratory infections (sinus infections).

In general, side effects in children were similar in frequency and type as those seen in adult patients. The types of infections reported were generally mild and similar to those usually seen in children.

These are not all the side effects with ENBREL. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

If you have any questions about this information, be sure to discuss them with your healthcare provider. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

INDICATIONS

Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, keeping joint damage from getting worse, and improving physical function in patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. ENBREL can be taken with methotrexate or used alone.

Moderately to Severely Active Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)

ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children ages 2 years and older.

Psoriatic Arthritis

ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, keeping joint damage from getting worse, and improving physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis. ENBREL can be used with or without methotrexate.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)

ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.

Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

ENBREL is indicated for chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO) in children 4 years and older and adults who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (ultraviolet light).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: What is the most important information I should know about Enbrel (etanercept)?

ENBREL is a medicine that affects your immune system. ENBREL can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Serious infections have happened in patients taking ENBREL. These infections include tuberculosis(TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some patients have died from these infections. Your healthcare provider should test you for TB before you take ENBREL and monitor you closely for TB before, during, and after ENBREL treatment, even if you have tested negative for TB.

There have been some cases of unusual cancers reported in children and teenage patients who started using tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers before 18 years of age. Also, for children, teenagers, and adults taking TNF blockers, including ENBREL, the chances of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. Patients with RA may be more likely to get lymphoma.

Before starting ENBREL, tell your healthcare provider if you:

What are the possible side effects of ENBREL?

ENBREL can cause serious side effects including: New infections or worsening of infections you already have; hepatitis B can become active if you already have had it; nervous system problems, such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, or inflammation of the nerves of the eyes; blood problems (some fatal); new or worsening heart failure; new or worsening psoriasis; allergic reactions; autoimmune reactions, including a lupus-like syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis.

Common side effects include: Injection site reactions, upper respiratory infections (sinus infections), and headache.

In general, side effects in children were similar in frequency and type as those seen in adult patients. The types of infections reported were generally mild and similar to those usually seen in children.

These are not all the side effects with ENBREL. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

If you have any questions about this information, be sure to discuss them with your healthcare provider. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.

INDICATIONS

Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, keeping joint damage from getting worse, and improving physical function in patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. ENBREL can be taken with methotrexate or used alone.

Moderately to Severely Active Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)

ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children ages 2 years and older.

Psoriatic Arthritis

ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms, keeping joint damage from getting worse, and improving physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis. ENBREL can be used with or without methotrexate.

Ankylosing Spondylitis(AS)

ENBREL is indicated for reducing signs and symptoms in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.

Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

ENBREL is indicated for the treatment of adult patients (18 years or older) with chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

At Enbrel.com, you can learn about Enbrel (etanercept), a self-injected biologic medicine used to treat inflammatory diseases with long-term effects. You can find information about moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis(RA), moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, moderately to severely active polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis(JIA), and ankylosing spondylitis(AS). You can learn about symptoms, treatment, how Enbrel (etanercept) works for each condition, results for each condition, results for each condition, and safety information.

Enbrel.com supports you and your loved ones from diagnosis to treatment. You can find resources like injection demonstrations, patient testimonial videos, questions to ask your doctor, and even help with finding a rheumatologist or dermatologist near you.

Enbrel.com also provices ongoing assistance with ENBREL SupportTM, a patient support program to help with out-of-pocket costs and connect you with registered nurses and ENBREL Nurse Partners. The resources available will help you get started. Resources include the ENBREL Starter Kit, injection and medicine refill reminders, free needle disposal containers, travel packs, and ongoing education.

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Enbrel (etanercept)

Psoriasis is a skin condition that is often misunderstood; people who have psoriasis can face prejudice and discrimination. The biggest misconception about psoriasis is that it is contagious or that it's "just a skin disease."

Psoriasis is actually an autoimmune disease, which means that a broken immune system sees your skin as an enemy and attacks it relentlessly. As a result, skin cells that would normally take weeks to grow and reach the outer surface of your skin now only take days. This leaves an excess of skin cells on your body, causing the hallmark raised red, white, or silvery patches on your skin.

No one knows exactly why the immune system goes awry. Some cases may be genetic but many are probably a combination of genetic and environmental causes such as stress, infection, medication side effects or even something as seemingly simple as a bug bite. Having a family history of psoriasis, being obese and being a smoker all increase the risk of developing the disease.

Psoriasis is chronic, meaning it stays with you throughout your life. More than 7 million Americans, both men and women, have psoriasis and most develop it between the ages of 15 and 35.

There are five types of psoriasis, the most common being plaque psoriasis. Other forms are guttate, inverse, pustular and erythrodermic, all of which have slightly different symptoms and may appear on the skin of different parts of the body. You can have more than one type of psoriasis at a time.

Psoriasis can affect much more than the skin. About 40% of psoriasis sufferers go on to develop psoriatic arthritis in their joints. Others may develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other autoimmune diseases. And like other chronic diseases, psoriasis can lead to depression and damaged self esteem.

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Psoriasis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment - Health.com ...

STELARA (ustekinumab) is a prescription medicine that affects your immune system. STELARA can increase your chance of having serious side effects including:

STELARA may lower your ability to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections. While taking STELARA, some people have serious infections, which may require hospitalization, including tuberculosis (TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses.

You should not start taking STELARA if you have any kind of infection unless your doctor says it is okay.

After starting STELARA, call your doctor right away if you have any symptoms of an infection (see above).

STELARA can make you more likely to get infections or make an infection that you have worse. People who have a genetic problem where the body does not make any of the proteins interleukin 12 (IL12) and interleukin 23 (IL23) are at a higher risk for certain serious infections that can spread throughout the body and cause death. People who take STELARA may also be more likely to get these infections.

STELARA may decrease the activity of your immune system and increase your risk for certain types of cancer. Tell your doctor if you have ever had any type of cancer. Some people who had risk factors for skin cancer developed certain types of skin cancers while receiving STELARA. Tell your doctor if you have any new skin growths.

RPLS is a rare condition that affects the brain and can cause death. The cause of RPLS is not known. If RPLS is found early and treated, most people recover. Tell your doctor right away if you have any new or worsening medical problems including: headache, seizures, confusion, and vision problems.

Serious allergic reactions can occur. Stop usingSTELARA and get medical help right away if you have any symptoms such as: feeling faint, swelling of your face, eyelids, tongue, or throat,chest tightness, or skin rash.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and overthecounter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

When prescribed STELARA:

Common side effects of STELARA include: upper respiratory infections, headache, tiredness, joint pain, nausea, itching, vomiting, vaginal yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and redness at the injection site. These are not all of the possible side effects with STELARA. Tell your doctor about any side effect that you experience. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Please read the full Prescribing InformationandMedication Guidefor STELARAand discuss any questions you have with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1800FDA1088.

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What is Plaque Psoriasis | STELARA (ustekinumab)