Psoriasis Page

What is Koebner's Phenomen Psoriasis?

2011-10-06T08:27:00.000-07:00

Koebner's Phenomenon psoriasis describes psoriatic lesions which appear at the site of an existing injury, infection or other skin psoriasis, or may be a new lesion in an existing case. In the Koebner's phenomenon, psoriasis sufferers observe new lesions 10 to 14 days after the skin is cut, scratched, rubbed, or severely sunburned, but it can appear up to several years afterwards. The degree of psoriasis can also vary. Skin injury and irritation, sun exposure, diet, stress and anxiety, medications, and infections have been known to make psoriasis worse.

Some people may experience limited psoriasis symptoms while others may experience more widespread symptoms of Koebner's Phenomenon psoriasis. Without treatment, Koebner's psoriasis is a potentially life-disruptive condition.

What Causes Koebner's Phenomen Psoriasis?

2011-09-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

The cause of the Koebner's phenomenon is unknown, however, it is more likely to occur before age 15. Up to 50% of psoriasis patients will experience new lesions forming at the site of healing wounds. Approximately 10% of psoriasis sufferers experience the Koebner's Phenomenon with every skin injury or condition, and its chances of occurring increase when the psoriasis is in an active stage.

While most often associated with psoriasis patients, a Koebner phenomenon, may occur in people affected with many other types of skin conditions including eczema, systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lichen planus, and warts. Skin conditions that have been found to trigger Koebner's phenomenon include: any type of dermatitis, a Herpes breakout, skin boils, Lichen Planus, and Vitilgo. Koebner's phenomenon can also result from trauma to the skin from such factors as insect bites; irritation resulting from a chemical reaction on the skin; injuries to the skin such as burns, bruises, cuts or scrapes, sunburn, or skin chafing; skin procedures such as tattoos or acupuncture. In some cases shaving or even the adhesive from a band-aid can result in Koebner's phenomenon. In rare instances, it has been known to occur at the site of an old scar.

Types of Ocular Psoriasis

2011-08-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

Ocular psoriasis can cause inflammation of the eye, dryness and discomfort. When psoriasis affects the eyelids, scales may cover lashes. The edges of the eyelids may become red and crusty. If inflamed for long periods, the rims of the lids may turn up or down. If the rim turns down, lashes can rub against the eyeball and cause irritation. The ophthalmic signs of ocular psoriasis can vary widely, including Blepharitis, Conjunctivitis, Uveitis and Iritis. Ocular symptoms may occur in approximately 10% of psoriasis patients.

Blepharitis is the most prevalent ocular occurrence in psoriasis. Erythema, edema, and psoriatic plaques may develop. Blepharitis is a common inflammatory ocular condition that affects the eyelids. It usually causes burning, itching, and irritation of the lids. Other common symptoms include sandy, itchy eyes, red and/or swollen eyelids, crusty, flaky skin on the eyelids, and dandruff.

Ocular psoriatic conjunctivitis usually occurs in association with eyelid margin involvement of a psoriasis episode. Psoriatic plaques can extend from the lid onto the conjunctiva. Conjunctivitis, also known as pinkeye, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, clear tissue that lies over the white part of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelid.

Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye's surface. The uvea includes the iris, the colored area at the front of the eye. When uveitis is localized at the front of the eye, it's called iritis.

Iritis is an inflammation of the iris, a part of the eye. Symptoms include eye pain, sensitivity to light, and/or blurry vision and are often confused with the symptoms of conjunctivitis.

Keratitis is one of the more serious conditions, which may occur in relation to ocular psoriasis. Keratitis is a term used to cover a range of ocular conditions where there is infection or inflammation of the cornea. This condition may result in severe eye pain, blurry vision, and sensitivity to light.

Facial Psoriasis Symptoms

2011-06-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Facial psoriasis affects up to 46% of people diagnosed with psoriasis while 54% is elsewhere on the body. The rash of facial psoriasis appears as silvery scales, itchy rashes and, in some cases, opens lesions. This rash most commonly involves the upper lip, the forehead and eyebrows, and at the hairline. Research indicates approximately 74% of people with facial psoriasis had rashes on the upper forehead, and approximately 46% had rashes near the ear. 10% of psoriasis suffferers have symptoms of ocular psoriasis. The study also found that most patients first experienced facial symptoms between the ages of 30 to 40.

The Rising Cost of Psoriasis Treatment

2011-05-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

If you’re lucky enough to have insurance these days, you think you have it made. Go to the doctor, pay the co-pay, get your prescription and head for the pharmacy. It’s like sticker shock when you buy a new car. The cost of your co-pay keeps going up, from one month to the next you never know what you may be expected to pay. And for those on Medicaid, you switch to a generic to save money only to find the next month that the generic costs as much as the brand name did last month.

This leaves you wondering if there is a psoriasis treatment you can afford. Psoriasis-Ltd offers you a twelve-month supply for one flat rate, no month-to-month increases. The only thing that changes is the condition of your skin.

What is Psoriasis-Ltd?

2011-05-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis-Ltd III is not a cream, a lotion, a spray or even a pill. Psoriasis-Ltd is a blend of soothing, beneficial ingredients. These minerals are specially formulated to address the symptoms of psoriasis and skin related conditions. They enhance the body’s ability to restore the balance to the skin so needed to begin the healing process. Patients have seen an excellent improvement in the appearance of their psoriasis after starting the application of Psoriasis-Ltd III. We are now in our seventh successful year of serving patients throughout the world. Over 98% of those using Psoriasis-Ltd III have been pleased with the appearance of their psoriasis after using Psoriasis-Ltd. Psoriasis-Ltd III does not stain clothes or bedding, does not smell, and dries invisibly on the skin in less than 20 seconds.

Treatment options for psoriasis have come a long way. The treatment of psoriasis is based on the sufferer’s age, the severity of their condition, and the type of psoriasis they have. Psoriasis tends to flare-up when the person is exposed to certain trigger factors. Substances or conditions that can worsen psoriasis include changes in climate, infections, stress, and dry skin. Also, certain medicines may cause an outbreak or worsening of the disease.

Psoriasis treatment research indicates that ocular symptoms may occur in approximately 10% of patients. Ocular involvement is more common in men than in women. It is rare to have symptoms of ocular involvement prior to skin involvement of psoriasis. Ocular psoriasis can cause symptoms including inflammation of the eye, dryness and discomfort. When psoriasis affects the eyelids, scales may cover lashes. The edges of the eyelids may become red and crusty. If inflamed for long periods, the rims of the lids may turn up or down. If the rim turns down, lashes can rub against the eyeball and cause irritation. In a prolonged ocular episode vision impairment may occur. Ocular psoriasis treatment is aimed at preventing irritation and controlling inflammation.

A team of Psoriasis Treatment Researchers with 32 years of combined research experience developed Psoriasis-Ltd. Psoriasis-Ltd was first marketed in 2001, and its parent company, Bass & Boney, Inc. has been in business since 1983. Psoriasis-Ltd has medical patents throughout the world.

The Healing Properties of Sodium Chloride

2011-05-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

The use of salt as a healing ingredient appears in some of the oldest medical scripts. The ancient Egyptians refer to the use of salt for the treatment of an infected chest wound. The belief was that salt would dry out and disinfect the wound. The ancient Egyptians had many salt formulations for making laxatives and anti-infection methods using salt. Salt-based remedies were also used for callous skin, epidemic diseases, to check bleeding, as an eye ointment, and to accelerate childbirth.

Both sea salt and rock salt were well known to the ancient Greeks who noted that eating salty food affected basic body functions such as digestion and excretion (urine and stools). This led to salt being used medically. The healing methods of Hippocrates (460 BC) especially made frequent use of salt. Salt-based remedies were thought to have expectorant powers. Salt-water was used externally against skin diseases and freckles. Hippocrates also mentions inhalation of steam from salt-water. We know today that the anti-inflammatory effects of inhaled salt provide relief from respiratory symptoms. Thus, 2000 years ago, Greek medicine had already discovered topical use of salt for skin lesions, drinking salty or mineralized waters for digestive troubles and inhaling salt for respiratory diseases!

The Greek doctor Galen from Pergamon (129–200 A.D made use of salt (sea salt, rock salt, salt foam) in recipes against many diseases: infectious wounds, skin diseases, callosities, digestive troubles. His list of salt-containing remedies also included emetics and laxatives.

The School of Salerno (11th -13th Century A.D.) mentions the use of Powdered and roasted salt was said to have a pain-killing effect and rock salt was considered to be a good remedy against fever.

The doctor and alchemist Paracelsus (1493–1541 A.D.) believed that Only salted food could be digested properly: "The human being must have salt, he cannot be without salt. Where there is no salt, nothing will remain, but everything will tend to rot." He recommended salt water for the treatment of wounds and for use against intestinal worms. A hip-bath in salt water was a superb remedy for skin diseases and itching: "This brine - he said - is better than all the health spas arising out of nature." He described the diuretic effect of salt consumption and prescribed salt preparations of different strengths that were used for instance against constipation.

The pharmacists of the 19th century recommended external application in cases of rash and swelling and, in ophthalmology, to drive off stains and stain-obscurations of the cornea.

In 1860, in eastern Bavaria, a sodium chloride solution was used as a compress against inflammation. Further west, inflammations of the belly button of children were washed with salt water. Warts were removed by spreading the juice of a snail that had been sprinkled with salt. Hot foot-baths containing salt and ashes were used to alleviate headaches. Burns were treated with brandy, vinegar or salt water.
Our journey through history has revealed that the antiseptic action of salt on the skin and mucous membranes has been known for a very long time. Scientific studies have now confirmed the effectiveness of salt therapy in several indications. The antiseptic and bactericidal qualities of dental salt (sea salt) help remove plaque, which is a cause of gingivitis and cavities. Salt is being increasingly used as support treatment for skin diseases. Chronically inflamed skin is treated with medical bath salt from the Dead Sea or table salt. The salt peels off dandruff, reduces inflammation, itching and pain, and helps regenerate the skin. Salt-baths are frequently used to treat psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, chronic eczema as well as arthritis.

Salt can be used as an additive especially in body care products (ointments, shampoos, gels, washes and body lotions). According to modern scientific research, salt does indeed have weak disinfectant properties when applied topically.

Salt is considered to be particularly useful in chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis.

Medicinal use tended to emphasize the positive aspects of salt, e.g. prevention of putrefaction, reduction of tissue swelling, treatment of diarrhea. Evidence was also available to ancient peoples of its relationship to fertility, particularly in domestic animals. The history of salt thus represents a unique example for studying the impact of a widely used dietary substance on different important aspects of man's life, including medical philosophy.

Sodium chloride has long been well known for its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory actions, by which they reduce redness better than antibiotics, and their vascular constrictor action, which reduces overall redness whereas no other products constricts the dilated skin vessels as these ingredients do so well.

The Psoriasis-Ltd III ingredients consist of: zinc oxide, magnesium stearate, sodium chloride, iron oxide, copper oxide, polyethylene glycol, and sulfur which is a required ingredient of your skeletal system and body fluids. The ingredients are compressed together under pressure to make Psoriasis-Ltd III which is smoother than the human skin surface and is 'glided over the wet skin after washing' where a small portion is dissolved and spread over the affected areas for direct best use of any product instead of being 'a systemic treatment' throughout the body as antibiotics are.

The Appearance of Psoriasis

2011-05-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

The chronic skin disorder, psoriasis affects over 6 million people in the United States. In the clinical picture, psoriasis can trace its cause to a hyper proliferation of the skin, inflammation, and vascular changes, which occur based on combined genetic and environmental factors.

Psoriasis occurs equally in men and women and is rarely life threatening. Psoriasis appears most frequently between the ages of 15 and 35, but it is possible for it to occur very early or very late in life.

A general picture of psoriasis can encompass different stages. Some people may experience mild psoriasis while others may experience more severe psoriasis. Psoriasis is characterized by silvery-white scaly patches of various sizes commonly found on the knees, elbows, and scalp.

Psoriasis occurs when skin cells mature at an accelerated rate. On a normal basis, skin cells grow, mature, and shed about once a month. Skin cells of a person with psoriasis grow nearly seven times faster and build up at the skin's surface resulting in red, raised, scaly patches and lesions. Although some individuals complain of itching, it is not a very common complaint.

Psoriasis Treatment Can Be Confusing

2011-05-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis treatment may be compromised by many conditions. Dermatologists are often in too much of a hurry to spend the time to answer your questions or explain the possible effects both positive and negative of the prescription you’ve just been handed. There are often conflicting reports of the value of one psoriasis medication over another. Then there’s the frustration you often feel at not having your psoriasis symptoms taken seriously. And confusion when a psoriasis treatment that appears to work well for everyone else fails to improve your psoriasis symptoms and may have even have made it worse.

All this may leave you questioning, when did skin care become so complicated? How did my skin ever get so bad? Perhaps like so many things today, the answer is to return to the basics of skin care and treatment:
1)It may be great for someone else, but if it causes you irritation, avoid it.
“New and improved” is not always better, often it makes the skin burn, causing redness, and itching reactions.
2)Water is an essential component of life. Add water to your skin, and to your body.
Clean the skin with a cleanser that does not promise to do anything but cleanse the skin: if it’s moisturizing, it’s not cleansing it’s applying a film; if it’s removing wrinkles, it’s not cleansing it’s exfoliating the skin with an ingredient strong or harsh enough to remove skin; if it’s a deodorant soap, it’s not cleansing, it’s applying a chemical to mask odor.
3)Releasing tension and relaxation are a more potent skin care medication than any prescription psoriasis treatment you can purchase.
4)The foods we eat have a direct impact on our skin. Medications can affect how we react to food; our present skin condition will have an impact on our reactions. Each change in the skin condition causes a change in the triggers that stimulate your symptoms. Add to that, psoriasis treatment you last used, and how much of it you applied and how recently you applied it will affect your skin’s reaction to a food trigger.

The Look And Feel of Psoriasis

2011-05-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis takes on many looks and appearances. The symptoms of psoriasis can vary from person to person. Each type of psoriasis has it’s own distinct symptoms and patterns of redness, itching, and flaking. Symptoms for each type may vary in severity and appear in a wide array of combinations. The main symptoms of psoriasis include: raised, red patches called plaques of skin topped with loose, silvery scales, usually on the knees or elbows. Plaques can occur anywhere, but most commonly occur on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, or lower back. Nearly 90% of people with psoriasis have this plaque-type variety of psoriasis.

Psoriasis can also affect the nails, causing pits or dents to form in fingernails and toenails. Nail disorders are common, especially in severe psoriasis. Nail symptoms include: Tiny pits in the nails not associated with fungal nail infections. Yellowish discoloration of the toenails and sometimes the fingernails. The nails may develop a thickened, pitted or ridged appearance. In some instances the nail itself may separate from the nail bed. You may also notice a buildup of skin debris or crustiness under the nails.

Psoriasis may cause an inflammation in the joints resulting in arthritis symptoms. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis may take on the appearance of raindrop-shaped patches o the skin surface. Known as guttate psoriasis, this form of psoriasis often follows a strep infection and is the second most common type of psoriasis. It affects less than 10% of those with psoriasis.

Koebner's phenomenon is a psoriasis event that may occur when a person with psoriasis has had an injury or trauma to the skin such as a cut, burn, or excess sun exposure to an area of the skin that was not affected by psoriasis. Psoriasis patches then appear on the injured skin or any other part of the skin from several days to about 2 weeks after the injury.

Psoriasis By Any Other Name Would Still Itch

2011-05-12T08:57:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis gets its name from the Greek word psōra meaning "itch," Psoriasis is a re-occurring, non-contagious skin condition which is characterized by areas of inflamed lesions covered with silvery-white scabs of dead skin. As a result, itchy, scaly red patches appear, often on the elbows, hands, feet, and scalp, but they can show up on other parts of your body.

In normal skin conditions, new skin cells take about a month or so to move from the deepest skin layer where they're produced, to the surface where they die and flake off. With psoriasis, the entire skin cell life cycle is accelerated and this process is completed in only a few days. Because the body can't shed old skin as rapidly as new cells are rising to the surface, raised patches of dead skin accumulate on the arms, back, chest, elbows, legs, nails, folds between the buttocks, and scalp.

Treating Psoriasis With Psoriasis-Ltd

2011-01-26T08:16:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis-Ltd is a soothing blend of beneficial minerals specially formulated to address the symptoms of psoriasis and skin related conditions. Patients have seen an excellent improvement in the appearance of their psoriasis after starting the application of Psoriasis-Ltd III. Now in the seventh successful year of serving patients throughout the world, over 98% of those using Psoriasis-Ltd III have been pleased with the appearance of their psoriasis after using Psoriasis-Ltd. Psoriasis-Ltd III does not stain clothes or bedding, does not smell, and dries invisibly on the skin in less than 20 seconds.

What is Psoriasis?

2011-01-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis gets its name from the Greek word psora meaning "itch". Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious condition characterized by inflamed lesions covered with silvery-white scabs of dead skin. As a result, itchy, scaly red patches appear, often on the elbows, hands, feet, and scalp, but they can show up on other parts of your body. Usually, what happens is new skin cells take about a month or so to move from the deepest skin layer where they're produced, to the surface where they die and flake off. With psoriasis, the entire skin cell life cycle takes only days. Because the body can't shed old skin as rapidly as new cells are rising to the surface, raised patches of dead skin develop on the arms, back, chest, elbows, legs, nails, folds between the buttocks, and scalp.

Treatment of Psoriasis

2010-10-11T07:47:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis is defined as a persistent skin condition characterized by red, thickened areas of skin and abundant silvery scaling. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition caused by overactive white blood cells, which concentrate in the skin and cause the skin cells to grow too rapidly. This rapid growth shows on the surface as a red, scaly rash.

Psoriasis is a common skin disorder affecting two out of every 100 Americans (4 to 5 million people). A person of any race or age can develop psoriasis, but most patients develop it between the ages of 15 and 35.

For some, psoriasis may be as slight as a dry patch of skin on their elbows and knees while others can have most of their body surface covered.

Although there is no cure for psoriasis, there are several good treatments - one such effective treatment is Psoriasis-Ltd.
Other treatments include:
For mild cases prescription creams and lotions containing cortisone, calcipotriene, retinoic acid or salicylic acid can be helpful.
There are several systemic psoriasis treatments (shots and pills) which suppress the overactive white blood cells causing the disease.
In addition, ultraviolet light therapy under the direction of a dermatologist can be very effective treatment. Treatments are tailored to meet the needs of individual patients.
In the case of many treatments, one must decide of the side effects are worth the possible results. Psoriasis-Ltd, a blend of all natural minerals, has no negative side effects.

Understanding the Cause of Psoriasis

2010-08-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

Researchers believe the immune system sends faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle in skin cells. Certain people carry genes that make them more likely to develop psoriasis, but not everyone with these genes develops psoriasis. Instead, a "trigger" makes the psoriasis appear in those who have these genes. Also, some triggers may work together to cause an outbreak of psoriasis; this makes it difficult to identify individual factors.Possible psoriasis triggers include: emotional stress; injury to the skin; some types of infection; reaction to certain drugs. Once the disease is triggered, the skin cells pile up on the surface of the body faster than normal. In people without psoriasis, skin cells mature and are shed about every 28 days. In psoriatic skin, the skin cells move rapidly up to the surface of the skin over three to six days. The body can't shed the skin cells fast enough and this process results in patches also called "lesions" forming on the skin's surface.

Rising Cost of Psoriasis Treatment

2010-06-30T11:23:00.000-07:00

According to the Archives of Dermatology, 'findings suggest that expenses for systemic psoriasis therapy appear to be increasing at a faster rate than inflation, and newer biologically derived treatments are more expensive than traditional systemic therapies, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects an estimated 4.5 million to 7.5 million Americans, costing the health care industry approximately more than $3 billion annually, according to background information in the article. The severity of the disease varies, as do the therapies—some patients with mild, localized disease can use creams or other topical agents, whereas those with more extensive disease typically require phototherapy (exposure to ultraviolet light) or systemic therapies (substances that travel through the bloodstream, such as oral medications).'

One cost effective solution may be Psoriasis-Ltd. Psoriasis-Ltd III costs $88.00 which includes taxes and air postage throughout the world. Their guarantee is for four months or 120 days and our product lasts 12 months for the average person. The cost of Psoriasis-Ltd III is very inexpensive in comparison to the annual cost of most other treatment even with insurance.

Psoriasis-Ltd is a blend of soothing, beneficial ingredients specially formulated to improve the appearance of psoriasis and skin related conditions. Patients have seen an excellent improvement in the appearance of their skin condition after stopping their previous psoriasis treatments and starting the application of Psoriasis-Ltd III. We are now in our seventh successful year of serving patients throughout the world. Over 98% of those using Psoriasis-Ltd III receive the satisfaction that they had been dreaming of for many years. Psoriasis-Ltd III does not stain clothes or bedding, does not smell, and dries invisibly on the skin in less than 20 seconds.

What is Psoriatic Arthritis?

2010-06-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

Less than 10% of people with psoriasis have Psoriatic Arthritis. Its treatment often requires consultation with a rheumatologist in addition to treatment of the skin lesions by a dermatologist. It occurs most frequently in psoriasis patients whose disease is active, especially in persons with the pustular type of psoriasis.
Occasionally it appears in a person who has no dermatologic signs or symptoms of psoriasis, in which case it must be diagnosed by its unique laboratory test results.
Psoriasis of the fingernails and toenails is associated with a higher incidence of psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis resemble those of rheumatoid arthritis, although the diseases are otherwise quite different.
Arthritis changes cause deterioration and pain in small joints of the hands and feet, large joints of the legs and spine, and tendons.
Nonspecific foot pain or "tennis elbow" may be an early symptom to appear and may be overlooked if not associated with psoriatic skin or nail lesions.

Controlling Psoriasis Itching

2010-06-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

General measures to relieve itching of psoriasis include:

Keep your skin cool; warmth tends to make itching worse.

Wear light clothing for coolness and to avoid scratchy pressure against your skin. Avoid skin irritants in fabrics such as denim and corduroy, tight clothing, and sometimes even wool and silk. Cotton clothing is recommended as much as possible.
Launder clothing with mild soap or detergent (Dreft, Ivory Snow, certain sans-additive detergents such as Tide Free). Use no additives such as enzymes, fabric softeners. Wash new clothing prior to wearing.

Keep your skin moisturized with a light emollient recommended by your dermatologist, as dry skin tends to be more prone to itching. Moisturizers can be applied to the affected psoriasis areas as frequently as required to relieve itching, scaling and dryness. Moisturizers should also be used on the unaffected skin to reduce dryness. Moisturize therapy helps to restore one of the skin's most important functions, which is to form a barrier to prevent bacteria and viruses getting into the body and therefore help to prevent a rash becoming infected. Moisturizers are safe and rarely cause an allergic reaction.Occasionally, products with lanolin may cause a reaction. Ideally, moisturizers should be applied three to four times a day. Apply in a gentle downward motion in the direction of hair growth to prevent accumulation of cream around the hair follicle (this can cause infection of the follicle).

The Ingredients of Psoriasis-Ltd

2010-06-09T08:45:00.000-07:00

The ingredients of Psoriasis-Ltd III are exactly what the skin and body needs as it contains no irritating fragrances providing the most favorable skin acceptance for those with sensitive psoriasis damaged skin surfaces.

The Psoriasis-Ltd III ingredients consist of: zinc oxide, magnesium stearate, sodium chloride, iron oxide, copper oxide, polyethylene glycol, and sulfur which is a required ingredient of your skeletal system and body fluids. Please read about the basic body minerals needed for human cell regeneration so that you will understand that: Sulfur is not to be confused with the oral antibiotic sulfa pills used to treat body bacterial infections and Psoriasis-Ltd III does not have sulfa as an ingredient. The ingredients are compressed together under pressure to make Psoriasis-Ltd III which is smoother than the human skin surface and is 'glided over the wet skin after washing' where a small portion is dissolved and spread over the affected areas for direct best use of any product instead of being 'systemic' throughout the body as antibiotic are. Simplicity in directly aiming at a target greatly insures accuracy in meeting your objective adverse without side effects.

Scalp Psoriasis

2010-05-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

Seborrheic scalp psoriasis may resemble severe dandruff. Patches of thick, flaky skin may extend to the forehead below the hairline. Scales may build up in the outer ear. The face itself is usually unaffected; this is an important feature in the diagnosis of scalp psoriasis due to the fact that with rosacea you can have episodes of seborrheic dermatitis. Seborrheic dermatitis involves overactive sebaceous glands, which cause inflammation, flaking and a red rash in the central portion of the face. If one looks closely, the flakes usually have a greasy look, smell and feel.

Symptoms of Ear Psoriasis

2010-04-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis may occur in the ears. In this case it can appear as dry scales in the ear canal. Ear Psoriasis also occurs behind the ear so this area has to be checked to look for the plaques if the diagnosis of psoriasis is considered. Psoriasis of the ears occurs in approximately 18 percent of all patients at some time.

Psoriasis in the ears can cause scale buildup that blocks the ear canal. This scaling, when combined with normal earwax, can sometimes produce the physical blockage of the external ear canal leading to a temporary decrease in hearing. Psoriasis generally occurs in the external ear canal, not inside the ear or behind the eardrum. It also occurs behind the ear so this area has to be checked to look for the plaques if the diagnosis of psoriasis is considered. Dryness of the skin in the ear, with some scaling is characteristic of psoriasis. Ear psoriasis generally occurs in the external ear canal, not inside the ear or behind the eardrum.

The eardrum is easily damaged. It is best to avoid picking and scratching the affected areas of the ear. Careful cleansing of the ear area can be done using over-the-counter ear-cleaning kits that involve squirting small amounts of fluid into the ear and letting it drain. Plain warm water, followed by a thin layer of mineral oil applied with a cotton swab, is also effective for some people. Wearing wax ear plugs at night helps to keep the affected ear canal from drying out and thereby reduces the severity of ear psoriasis.

Plaque-Type Psoriasis is the Most Common Form of Psoriasis

2009-11-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis can occur in several different forms. All types of psoriasis are caused when the infection-fighting white blood cells, called T-cells, malfunction. Under normal circumstances, T-cells fight against foreign invaders. However, in individuals with psoriasis, the T-cells actually attack the skin. The rash of psoriasis results from a combination of damage to the skin by T-cells, inflammation in the skin, and overproduction of new skin cells. To effectively treat your psoriasis, you must first identify the type of psoriasis you have.

Plaque-type psoriasis is the most common form of the disease. It is characterized by inflamed skin lesions topped with silvery white scales. The scales are actually a buildup of dead skin cells. The technical name for plaque psoriasis is psoriasis vulgaris (vulgaris means common). It is most commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp, sacrum, umbilicus, intergluteal cleft, and genitalia. Sometimes the patches of infected skin are large, extending over much of the body. The patches, known as plaques or lesions, can wax and wane but tend to be chronic. These can be very itchy and if scratched or scraped they may bleed easily.

The actual appearance of the plaques can depend on where they are found on the body. Plaques found on the palms and soles can be scaly, however they may not be very red in color. This is due to the thickness of the skin at these sites. The plaques usually have a well-defined edge and, while they can appear anywhere on the body, the most commonly affected areas are the scalp, knees and elbows. The face is rarely affected. However, if the scalp is involved, you may develop psoriasis on the hairline and forehead. If the plaques are in moist areas, such as in the creases of the armpits or between the buttocks, there is usually little or no scaling. The patches are red and have a well-defined border.

Chronic (or common) plaque psoriasis affects over 90% of sufferers. It appears usually on the scalp, lower back, elbows, arms, legs, knees and shoulders. It is very much an adult condition and is seldom seen in children. Chronic plaque psoriasis is not always itchy, nor is it always an uncomfortable condition, but its appearance, along with the shedding of the skin, can cause many sufferers a great deal of emotional discomfort.

Each psoriatic patch looks like a series of little discs or plaques that have super-imposed themselves on to the body. This plaque-like shape is peculiar to this form of the condition and is what gives it its name. The plaques are often round or oval in shape or they may not have a distinct shape, but they almost always stand out from the surrounding area of the body. The difference between the normal skin and the area affected by psoriasis can be quite marked. Each patch can start as a very small lesion, and then enlarge over a period of days or weeks. Individual psoriatic patches can spread and join with each other to affect a large area of the body. In a typical flare up, the condition can spread quite quickly over a few days or weeks and then stabilize before gradually disappearing. The psoriatic patches become less red and scaly until they reduce in size or disappear completely.

Treating Psoriasis With Psoriasis-Ltd

2009-10-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis-Ltd is a blend of soothing, beneficial minerals specially formulated to work synergistically with your skin to improve the appearance of skin-related conditions. Psoriasis sufferers have seen an excellent improvement in the appearance of their skin condition after stopping their current treatments and applying Psoriasis-Ltd III. We have found that most of our customers have become frustrated by spending many years and dollars in their search for the best treatment. We are now in our seventh successful year of serving psoriasis sufferers throughout the world. Over 98% of Psoriasis-Ltd III users report great satisfaction with the condition of their skin even where adverse symptoms of skin problems were present for years. Psoriasis-Ltd III does not stain clothes or bedding, does not smell, and dries invisibly on the skin in less than one minute.

It is important in the treatment of psoriasis to treat the cause of the disease and the aggravating factors in as many ways as possible. Those who modify their lifestyles, mind their eating habits, and reduce their level of stress often experience a much greater degree of psoriasis clearing. While you try to treat the symptoms that are most visible and distressing with topical treatments, you should try to treat the cause! If we find and treat the cause, then maybe all the symptoms of psoriasis need not occur! Good health for your skin as well as your entire body may require a permanent lifestyle change that will reward you with a longer life and more beautiful skin to wear during those extra years. Changing your habits is the best natural treatment for psoriasis.

The successful treatment of psoriasis must address many aspects of skin care and total heallth care. Anything that creates changes in the body or in the skin can have an impact psoriasis and its treatment. Psoriasis is a complex interaction involving several factors and/or conditions. Balancing those factors which in the past have influenced your psoriasis will help to control or manage your psoriasis. In searching for a customized psoriasis treatment plan, some may consider the concept an alternative psoriasis medicine or a natural psoriasis treatment. An essential method to improve psoriasis can be found in basic lifestyle changes. A psoriasis sufferer can still enjoy the same lifestyles while reducing their level of stress, reducing weight while improving muscle tone, and still experience a much greater degree of psoriasis clearing

Psoriasis Often Left Untreated

2007-02-13T11:34:00.000-08:00

Many Americans with chronic moderate or severe psoriasis receive no treatment or inadequate treatment, a new survey from the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) shows.
The poll also revealed a link between severe psoriasis and low income.
Psoriasis is a non-contagious disease in which the immune system causes skin to grow at an accelerated rate.
The surveys, conducted from 2003 to 2005, found that nearly 40 percent of people with chronic moderate or severe psoriasis were receiving no treatment, and that 57 percent of people with severe psoriasis, and 73 percent of those with moderate psoriasis, were receiving topical treatment only. Over half of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis were not receiving treatment that meets American Academy of Dermatology guidelines.
Those guidelines say that people with chronic moderate to severe psoriasis are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy, including biologic agents. However, many of those patients were receiving topical treatment alone, according to the survey data.
"Psoriasis is not a cosmetic disease but rather a chronic inflammation condition that can have a profound negative impact on a person's ability to function," Dr. Mark Lebwohl, chairman of the NPF's medical board, said in a prepared statement. "It's important for patients to openly discuss with their dermatologist how the condition may be impacting them, so that together they can determine the most appropriate treatments."
The survey data also revealed a possible association between psoriasis and low income -- 21 percent of people with severe psoriasis had a low household income (less than $30,000 per year), compared to 13 percent for people with mild psoriasis.
"These are the first data to show a relationship between psoriasis severity and household income," Liz Horn, NPF director of research, said in a prepared statement. "Psoriasis is a serious disease that can significantly affect a person's life by interfering with everyday activities, including work."
The survey findings were to be presented Friday at a meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in Washington, D.C.
As many as 7.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis, according to the National Institutes of Health.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases has more about psoriasis.

Psoriasis Facts

2007-01-04T11:57:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affecting approximately 4.5 million people in the United States.

New skin cells grow too rapidly, resulting in inflamed, swollen, scaly patches of skin in areas where the old skin has not shed quickly enough.

Psoriasis can be limited to a few spots or can involve more extensive areas of the body, appearing most commonly on the scalp, knees, elbows and trunk.

Psoriasis is not a contagious disease. The cause of psoriasis is unknown, and there currently is no cure.
Psoriasis can strike people at any age, but the average age of onset is approximately 28 years. Likewise, it affects both men and women, with a slightly higher prevalence in women than in men.
Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis are estimated to have moderate-to-severe forms of the disease.

Psoriasis can be a physically and emotionally painful condition. It often results in physical limitations, disfiguration and a significant burden in managing the daily care of the disease.

Psoriasis sufferers may feel embarrassed, angry, frustrated, fearful, depressed and, in some cases, even suicidal

Guttate Psoriasis

2006-12-11T11:40:00.000-08:00

Guttate psoriasis is characterized by small red dots (or drops) of psoriasis. Guttate is derived from the Latin word gutta meaning "drop." It often appears on the trunk, arms and legs. The lesions may have some scale. Guttate psoriasis frequently appears suddenly following a streptococcal infection or viral upper respiratory infections. There are also other events that can precipitate an attack of guttate psoriasis: tonsillitis, a cold, chicken pox, immunizations, physical trauma, psychological stress, illness, and the administration of anti-malarial drugs. Guttate psoriasis is many small patches of psoriasis, all over the body, and often happens after a throat infection. Guttate Psoriasis most often affects children and young adults. It appears as small, red bumps-the size of drops of water-on the skin. It usually appears suddenly, often several weeks after an infection such as strep throat

Common Types Of Psoriasis

2006-11-16T12:12:00.000-08:00

The more common types of psoriasis include:
Plaque-type psoriasis or psoriasis vulgaris - this psoriasis will cause inflamed skin lesions topped with silvery white scales.
Guttate psoriasis - this type of psoriasis will cause small dot-like lesions.
Pustular psoriasis - this psoriasis will cause blister-like lesions of non-infectious fluid, and intense scaling.
Inverse psoriasis - this psoriasis is characterized by smooth inflamed lesions in the body folds -- armpits, under the breast, skin folds of the groin, buttocks, and genitals.
Scalp psoriasis - may cause lesions that extend from the hairline onto the forehead and the nape of the neck.
Koebner's Phenomenon psoriasis - will cause lesions which appear at the site of injury, infection or other skin psoriasis.

Common Nail Problems

2006-11-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

Nail problems occur frequently, and most commonly in women, although Richard B. Odom, M.D., professor of clinical dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, says part of that can be attributed to the fact that women seem more likely to report nail disorders and want to correct nail issues than men.
"I don't have any problems with nail parlors, but there have been some problems with artificial nails, acrylic nails and allergies to some of the products used in the glues and cements — but those aren't all that common. Most women can wear artificial nails without problems.
Nail problem nexus
"Just the fact that women wear their nails longer and, particularly as they get a little older, nails tend to become dryer; they dehydrate more easily," Dr. Odom says.
The water content in the nail plate changes. In general, women tend to do a lot more wet work; they are exposed to more detergents and things that are used in household cleaning products that cause the nails to become more brittle. Dr. Odom says other contributing factors include nail cosmetics, such as enamels, and solvents including acetone and alcohol used to remove the enamels. All of those lead to drying, although some improvements have been made in polish removers. Many treatments involve care of the nails rather than medication.
The ailing nail
He described the symptoms and treatments for some of the more typical ailments — with the common term "brittle nails" referring to a number of conditions, such as:
Onychoschizia — a splitting of the distal nail plate into layers at the free edge and also longitudinal nail splits and disadhesion secondary to dehydration.
Dr. Odom recommends discontinuing nail polish, avoiding emery boards in favor of the gentler ruby stone to avoid separating the nail layers, buffing the nails and applying emollients. He says 2.5 mg of biotin, a member of the B-complex family, taken daily may also benefit the nails.
Onychorrhexis — Detergents, water, nail polish remover, hypothyroidism and oral retinoid therapy contribute to a general breakage of the nails. Age also contributes to the breakage, along with ridges that develop longitudinally on the nails.
Dr. Odom says avoiding exogenous agents such as detergent and nail polish remover in conjunction with biotin therapy can help.
"I know it's not easy to do, but if people who have to work with these agents are able to wear gloves, obviously they won't be exposed to all these chemicals.
"To increase the hydration, lubricate around the cuticles, the lateral nail folds and directly over the nail plate a couple times a day with an oil-based product. The greasier products will help reduce the evaporation.
"Ridges can be addressed by buffing, rather than using nail polish. That leaves the nails looking nice, although lacking color. Beyond that, artificial nails may be the only solution."
Other common complaints
Other conditions for which patients are turning to their dermatologist for advice include:
Onycholysis is the spontaneous separation of the nail plate from the nail bed — often a trauma-induced separation. Other causes include a rapid onset of a Candida infection or pseudomonas or Candida colonization, inflammatory skin disease, metabolic conditions, chemotherapy and light-induced reactions.
Dr. Odom says the patient should avoid trauma, keep the nail bed dry and clip nails, and doctors should treat the infections.
Nail plate staining often stems from nicotine, dyes and chemical compounds. To remove the stains, Dr. Odom recommends scraping the nail plate with a glass slide or scalpel.

Paronychia is also a relatively common — but more serious — condition, usually caused by trauma, contact dermatitis or hangnails that require more aggressive treatment. In acute cases, exudative inflammation may be a result of staphylococci and streptococci infection, but it is generally caused by the same exogenous factors as other nail conditions.
If the condition is not bacteria-related, it can become chronic.
The best approach is to keep nail folds dry and to use protective gloves. More serious cases may require potent topical corticosteroids, with or without a topical azole antifungal; occasionally, oral antifungals or intralesional steroids are needed.

Onychocryptosis, commonly referred to as ingrown nails, usually occurs in toenails, although fingernails can also be involved. The condition is typified by excessive lateral nail growth into the nail fold, resulting in pain, inflammation and exuberant granulation tissue. Tight shoes and improper nail trimming are common causes of the problem in the feet, while use of oral retinoids can be a contributing factor in both extremities.
Treatment generally consists of elevating the nail plate with cotton so the nail can grow over the skin, and using potent topical or intralesional steroids. Proper nail manicuring is imperative. Severe cases can require surgery.

Myxoid cysts occur frequently on the dorsal or lateral terminal digits of the hands, usually in the proximal nail fold or distal interphalangeal joint, and also may involve the toes and the feet.
The cyst frequently causes a nail dystrophy — usually a nail groove — and occurs more commonly in women, with osteoarthritis considered a contributing factor.
Dr. Odom says the cysts generally must be drained and frequently recur. Drainage should be followed up with intralesional steroids. Surgical excision may be necessary.

Treating Psoriasis

2006-10-31T10:35:00.000-08:00

Treatment of psoriasis is determined by the location, severity and history of psoriasis in each individual. There is no one method of treatment, for each person with psoriasis may respond differently. One main objective of treatment is to slow down the more rapid than usual growth rate of the skin cells. The rapid growth rate of skin cells causes the red, scaly psoriasis patches. The underlying cause of this increased skin growth is not yet known.
For patients with minimal psoriasis, therapy is limited to topical medications that are drugs applied to the skin.
For patients with moderate to widespread psoriasis, topical treatments are often combined with ultraviolet light therapy. Either sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light therapy can be used. If topical and ultraviolet light therapy are not effective, or are not practical, systemic or oral medications can be used. These may be combined with ultraviolet light therapy, the so-called photo-chemotherapy or PUVA therapy.
In severe cases and unresponsive cases of psoriasis, there are oral medications that slow down the growth rate of skin which are helpful. These drugs can have significant side effects and have to be used with the proper safeguard and caution. Even these strong drugs do not cure psoriasis but only help to control the disease.

Psoriasis Symptoms May Be the Tip of the Iceberg

2006-10-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

International Psoriasis Council Issues a 'call to action' Following a Collaborative Consensus Meeting to Review Implications for Clinical Practice
World Psoriasis Day will have a more poignant focus this year as the International Psoriasis Council (IPC) issues a 'call to action' to medical experts to elevate psoriasis on the public health agenda by undertaking a more thorough therapeutic approach. Recommendations include the need to review current guidelines to ensure a more holistic approach to the management of psoriasis, taking into account the many potential co-morbidities, to prevent this significant health burden escalating. It is essential that physicians are vigilant about monitoring patients for signs of co-morbid conditions and are educated on all the therapeutic options available.
These recommendations come following a collaborative Consensus Meeting convened by the IPC held at the 15th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress earlier this month. Multi-disciplinary medical professionals from around the globe reviewed the inflammatory nature of psoriasis and how it might be linked to co-morbid conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease (including hypertension, and myocardial infarction), type II diabetes and liver disease.
Dr Bruce Strober, assistant professor in the department of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine, commented, "Mounting data suggest that psoriasis is a component of an inflammatory state that nurtures significant co-morbidities. It is likely that in some patients both psoriasis and obesity are co-dependent manifestations of an underlying dysfunctional pathophysiologic state. It is important that the overall management of psoriasis is significantly improved to ensure that patients are diagnosed early, appropriately treated and regularly monitored for signs of co-morbidity."
Among the data presented at the meeting was a statistical study of over 10,000 patients in clinical trials conducted over the past 5 years, showing that psoriasis patients are more likely to have body mass index (BMI) measurements in the overweight and obese ranges than members of the general population. Building on this point, Dr Gerald Krueger of the University of Utah presented a study which indicated that psoriasis and obesity are endpoints of a shared etiology in which one may promote the other.
Important data indicating an increased risk of cardiovascular disease was presented for the first time at the meeting. A large study by Dr Joel Gelfand of the University of Pennsylvania, recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, highlighted that psoriasis may be an independent risk factor for heart attack, particularly in young individuals with severe disease. Patients in their 40s with severe psoriasis were more than twice as likely to suffer a heart attack than people without the skin disease. Dr Gelfand's findings also shed light on potential health risks for overweight psoriasis patients. These data are supported by a case-control study presented at the meeting showing that twice the number of psoriasis patients (60%) had coronary artery calcification than non-psoriasis patients (30%).
Other studies presented at the meeting indicated that patients suffer from their skin disease much more than previously understood. One trial showed that almost half of 1,000 psoriasis patients tested were likely to be clinically depressed, and another demonstrated an increased tendency to use alcohol and tobacco among psoriasis patients.
The consensus group agreed there is overwhelmingly sufficient data supporting the linkage of psoriasis to increased co-morbid risk and to mandate future investigations funded by both government and industry. Professor Wolfram Sterry, a board member of IPC who chaired the consensus meeting concluded, "Psoriasis is a serious condition in its own right that is exacerbated by its association with co-morbidities. It is essential that physicians understand the severity of the disease and all its manifestations and integrate therapy in a way that provides a treatment that is as broad as possible to cover all the ongoing pathogenetic events."
Asked about the outlook for the future, Dr Menter, President of IPC is optimistic: "The hope is that now that we understand better the systemic inflammatory nature of psoriasis, we can work closely with our colleagues in medicine and research to improve the general health of our psoriasis patients by using the full spectrum of medications, including the new biologic agents."
Drs. Sterry, Menter, and Strober are currently working on a paper that will summarise the consensus of the IPC meeting, investigate the relationship between psoriasis and co-morbidities, discuss important areas for research on these issues, and issue recommendations for clinical management of psoriasis patients at risk of developing co-morbid conditions. For now it is important that everyone touched by psoriasis recognises the severity of the condition and the profound lifelong impact it has on health.
About IPC
The International Psoriasis Council (IPC) is a global non-profit organization dedicated to advancing psoriasis research and treatment by providing a forum for education, collaboration, and innovation among physicians, researchers, and other professionals interested in psoriasis.

Psoriasis Increases the Risk for Myocardial Infarction

2006-10-11T06:52:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis appears to be an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction, especially for younger patients with severe disease, researchers reported.
Action Points
Encourage psoriasis patients to aggressively control their modifiable cardiovascular risk factors.
Younger patients, 30 to 40 years old, with severe psoriasis had almost twice the risk of an MI compared with similar patients without psoriasis. By contrast, 60-year-old patients with severe disease had only a 36% increased MI risk, reported Joel Gelfand, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania here, and colleagues in the Oct. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
These findings came from a prospective, population-based cohort study in the United Kingdom comparing 556,995 controls and 127,139 patients with mild psoriasis and 3,837 with severe disease, in which the researchers controlled for major cardiovascular risk factors. The data have been used widely in epidemiological studies.
Psoriasis has been associated with cardiovascular diseases in the past, but has been studied only in hospital-based studies that did not control for major cardiovascular risk factors. Thus it has not been clear whether psoriasis itself or comorbidities and behavior associated with the disease explain the association, said Dr. Gelfand and colleagues.
The data were collected from 1988 to 2002 by more than 500 British general practitioners as part of the patient's medical record and stored in a general practice database. Each patient was matched with up to five controls who were randomly selected during similar time periods from the same practices. Patients were 20 to 90 years old, and the mean follow-up was 5.4 years.
Patients with psoriasis were more likely to be men and to be older. They were classified as severe if they ever received systemic therapy (usually methotrexate). Adjustments were made for hypertension, diabetes, history of myocardial infarction, hyperlipidemia, age, sex, smoking, and body mass index, all more common in psoriasis patients.
Patients with severe psoriasis had a higher rate of MI compared with controls The MI rate was 2% in the control population, 1.8% among the mild psoriasis patients and 2.9% among those with severe psoriasis.
The incidence per 1,000 person-years for severe psoriasis was 5.13 (CI, 4.22-6.17), and for mild psoriasis, it was 4.04 (CI, 3.88-4.21). By contrast, for controls, the heart attack incidence was 3.58 (CI 3.52-3.65).
Patients with psoriasis had an increased adjusted relative risk for MI that varied by age. For example, the researchers said, for a 30-year-old patient with mild or severe psoriasis, the adjusted relative risk of having an MI was 1.29 (CI 1.14-1.46), and 3.10 (CI, 1.98-4.86) respectively. However, for a 60-year-old with mild or severe psoriasis, the adjusted relative risk of an MI was only 1.08 (CI, 1.03-1.13) and 1.36 (CI, 1.13-1.64), respectively.
A series of sensitivity analyses found no evidence of confounding by traditional cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, results were similar when analysis excluded MIs occurring in the first six months of follow-up to ensure capture of incident, not prevalent, MI. Other analyses found the relative MI risk for psoriasis patients persisted in a model that included a composite endpoint of MI or death due to any cause, the researchers reported.
The reason for the higher risk of MI among younger patients may relate to the fact that psoriasis is a heterogeneous disease. For example, the researchers wrote, it has been hypothesized that persons with disease onset before age 40 have more severe disease and a stronger association with human leukocyte antigen than patients with later-onset disease. Higher immune activity in psoriasis may be related to a higher risk of MI.
It is also possible, the researchers said, that there may be a survivorship effect, in that after decades of psoriasis, patients predisposed to MI would be less likely to available since they may have died.
In discussing the study's limitations, the researchers mentioned the fact that there may have been unknown or unmeasured confounding variables, such as obesity, stress, and smoking. However, in this study, they said, they did not find any association with body mass index for those patients (61%) for whom the information was recorded.
Additionally, because the researchers defined severe psoriasis on the basis of a history of systemic therapies, it was not possible to differentiate between the impact of psoriasis severity and systemic therapy on the risk of MI. However, they said, the findings in the severe group were robust to sensitivity analysis that excluded patients treated with drugs such as methotrexate and cyclosporine.
The results, the researchers said, add to growing evidence linking T-helper cell type 1 diseases to atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. In fact, they said, psoriasis is the most prevalent TH1 autoimmune disease.
Other TH1 diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, have also been shown to be an independent risk factor for acute MI and multi-vessel coronary artery disease. The exact mechanism by which these diseases predispose a patient to cardiovascular disease is unclear, but may be due to common immunological pathways that function abnormally, the researchers said.
Furthermore, they noted, the link between MI and psoriasis may be mediated by other factors beyond inflammation, such as psychological stress, sedentary lifestyle, or possibly poor compliance with management of cardiovascular risk factors.
"Our findings are novel," Dr. Gelfand's team wrote, and therefore it is important that additional studies be performed to confirm these results and determine their therapeutic implications. The authors stressed studying the impact of clinical markers, such as body surface area for psoriasis, as well as biomarkers of systemic inflammation, such as C-reactive protein.
"In the meantime," Dr. Gelfand said, "as part of good medical care, patients with psoriasis should be encouraged to aggressively address their modifiable cardiovascular risk factors."
Dr Gelfand reported receiving grant support (unrestricted grants to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania) from Biogen Idec, Amgen, Astellis, and Centocor. He reports consulting agreements with Genentech, Novartis, Warner-Chilcott, AMGEN, Wyeth, Biogen Idec, and Centocor.
Coauthor David Margolis, M.D., Ph.D., has received grant support (unrestricted grant to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania) from Biogen Idec; he is also on the data and safety monitoring boards for Abbott, Biogen Idec (which is now Astellis), and Centocor, companies with studies investigating potential treatments for psoriasis.

Psoriasis Can Occur In Several Forms

2006-09-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

Plaque-type psoriasis is the most common form of the disease and is commonly referred to as psoriasis vulgaris (Camisa 56). It is characterized by inflamed skin lesions topped with silvery white scales. It can assume many different appearances based on where it is located, the activity of the disease, and the treatment being administered. It is most commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp, sacrum, umbilicus, intergluteal cleft, and genitalia (Camisa 56).

Guttate psoriasis is characterized by small dot-like lesions. It is most common in children and young adults who have a prior history of upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, or tonsillitis (Camisa 64). The lesions are not as scaly as plaque-type psoriasis and are likely to be found on the trunk and involve the face (Camisa 64).

Pustular psoriasis is characterized by pustules, which are blister-like lesions of non-infectious fluid, and intense scaling. Individuals with pustular psoriasis are often among the most seriously ill and may have to be hospitalized (Camisa 67).

Erythrodermic psoriasis is the most uncommon form of psoriasis and is characterized by intense redness and swelling, exfoliation of dead skin, and pain. Erythrodermic psoriasis usually develops during the course of chronic psoriasis, however in some cases it may be the initial type of psoriasis even in children (Camisa 74). Individuals with this type of psoriasis may experience chills, low grade fever, and may be rather uncomfortable (Camisa 75).

Inverse psoriasis is characterized by smooth inflamed lesions in the body folds -- armpits, under the breast, skin folds of the groin, buttocks, and genitals.

Koebner's Phenomenon psoriasis are psoriatic lesions which appear at the site of injury, infection or other skin psoriasis, or may be a new lesion in an existing case.

The degree of psoriasis can also vary from individual to individual. It ranges in severity from mild (affects less than 2% of body) to moderate (affects 2-10% of body) to severe (affects greater than 10% of the body). Skin injury and irritation, sun exposure, diet, stress and anxiety, medications, and infections have been known to make psoriasis worse.

Senate Calls For Improvements In Psoriasis Treatment

2006-09-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 420 (S. Res. 420), a bipartisan resolution calling for improvements in treatment and access to care for individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., lead sponsor of the resolution, is a dedicated champion for the psoriasis community and worked to ensure passage of the measure.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., joined Smith in leading the effort; they were supported by Sens. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Rick Santorum, R-Pa., John Warner, R-Va., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
The resolution recognizes that psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can be painful, debilitating diseases that can significantly and adversely impact quality of life. Millions of people hold misconceptions about psoriasis, and it remains an often misunderstood disease. The resolution draws much-needed attention to the seriousness of psoriasis, the importance of early diagnosis and proper treatment, and the need for public awareness about psoriasis.
Through passage of the resolution, the U. S. Senate is encouraging the federal government to expand its psoriasis research efforts, including the psychological and physical effects of the disease. The Senate resolution also supports efforts to increase access to treatments for individuals living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The National Psoriasis Foundation will work with members of Congress and federal research agencies to ensure that the intent of the resolution is carried out.
"The National Psoriasis Foundation applauds today's Senate passage of an important resolution seeking to improve psoriasis research and access to care," said Gail M. Zimmerman, president and CEO of the National Psoriasis Foundation. "As many as 7.5 million Americans live with psoriasis, which is a serious disease. Thanks to the leadership of Senators Smith and Lautenberg, the need to boost psoriasis research and access to care has been elevated at the highest level of government."
Passage of S. Res. 420 is part of a comprehensive federal legislative agenda being pursued in Washington, D.C., by the Psoriasis Foundation. The Psoriasis Foundation is also advocating passage of a resolution in the House of Representatives that is similar to the Senate resolution. The House resolution (H. Con. Res. 340) urges expansion of genetic, clinical and basic research focused on increasing understanding of the causes of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. It also calls for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to convene a special panel to study the availability of treatments for individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Immune System Involvement In Psoriasis

2006-09-07T11:33:00.000-07:00

In 1979, researchers coincidentally found that a drug–cyclosporine–that suppresses the immune system in bone marrow transplant patients also cleared psoriasis. Since then, psoriasis has been widely accepted as a disease that is involved with the immune system. The study of the immune system is called immunology.
How does the immune system affect psoriasis?A normal immune system protects the body against "invaders" by destroying bacteria, viruses and other foreign proteins. In the person who has psoriasis, the immune system "misfires" and inappropriately causes inflammation and an accelerated growth of skin cells.
The skin cells reproduce too quickly and the skin (and the joints in some people) becomes inflamed. Many steps in this misfired immune response are targeted by old and new treatments. One goal of treatment is to block or modify the response by focusing on very specific immune cells, thus avoiding widespread effects on the rest of the body.
For example, methotrexate (a prescription systemic medication used to treat psoriasis) binds to an enzyme involved in the rapid growth of cells that is triggered by the immune system response in psoriasis. But methotrexate affects other systems in the body, too. New drugs, called biologics, have been designed to target very specific parts of the immune system response. For more information about this class of treatments, see the biologics section.
Many of today's psoriasis treatments, including cyclosporine and methotrexate, are believed to work because they affect the immune system. However, newer drugs may be "smarter" in that they target specific immune responses, not the entire immune system. Because they are new, long-term effects of these drugs are essentially unknown.
What is the role of T cells?Psoriasis is frequently referred to as a "T-cell mediated disease." T cells are a type of immune system cell (white blood cell) that have been shown to be very important in the internal process of psoriasis. T cells naturally circulate throughout the body looking for antigens, or foreign substances. The presence of the antigen, usually an outside invader like a bacterium or virus, activates the T cell, which then initiates an immune response to neutralize the antigen.
In psoriasis, activated T cells end up in the skin. It is not clear why this happens, but it may be directly related to the genetic susceptibility in people who develop psoriasis.
T cells become activated by two necessary interactions.
Interaction One
An antigen-presenting cell (APC) processes and displays an antigen on its surface. A T cell recognizes and targets that antigen. The specific antigen or antigens responsible for psoriasis are not known, but some infections (for example, strep throat) create an antigen believed to trigger some cases of guttate psoriasis.
Interaction Two
When the APC "shows" the antigen to the T cell, other receptors on the APC and T cell must also interact like a lock and key for the T cell to become activated. This lock and key mechanism is called the co-stimulatory pathway.
If T cells are not activated, the immune response and the cycle of psoriasis never get started. If the T cell becomes activated, an immune response is initiated that leads to the development of skin lesions. One part of this response includes the release of cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that the immune system uses to communicate messages. In psoriasis, cytokines tell skin cells to reproduce and mature at an accelerated rate. They also set off other reactions, including inflammation, the activation of additional T cells, the recruiting of T cells into the skin and the release of more cytokines.
The end result is a cycle of skin cells growing too fast, moving to the surface of the skin and piling up as dead cells (the white scale). The top, or epidermal, layer of the skin thickens, and redness develops as blood vessels expand and multiply, and blood flow to the skin increases.
How is the immune system modulated?The lock and key sets, or co-stimulatory pathways, are a good target for new psoriasis drugs to short-circuit psoriasis. Beyond that, other immune system cells involved in psoriasis are also a focus of drug development.
For example, some cytokines carry inflammatory messages and help fuel the overall immune response in the skin. Some of these cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), are targeted to be blocked by several of the biologic treatments now on the market.
On the other hand, some cytokines that normally suppress inflammation are lacking or present only in low levels in psoriatic skin. Scientists have experimented with boosting the levels of these proteins to rebalance the biochemical make-up of the skin.
What lies ahead?Psoriasis research is benefiting from the fact that psoriasis is driven by the immune system and responds to drugs that suppress the body's immune response (immunosuppressive therapy). Many other diseases and medical problems, such as diabetes, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, are also driven by the immune system. Genes that are associated with psoriasis are also involved with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Because psoriasis is easily visible on the skin, the disease provides an excellent model for studying the effectiveness of various medications that might be useful in other diseases that also involve the immune system.

Symptoms Of Psoriasis

2006-08-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

Individuals with psoriasis experience skin conditions such as itching, cracking, stinging, burning, or bleeding (ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.). These symptoms are usually worse in the winter months due to the lack of sunlight and low indoor humidity (Hall 132). The skin is most likely to crack at the joints where the body bends or in areas where the individual fails to refrain from scratching. Scratching can also lead to bleeding and infection which is why it should be avoided at all costs. This skin condition has also been known to affect fingernails and toenails by causing pits or dents in them. There is also the possibility that the soft tissue inside the mouth and genitalia can be affected. In some cases, individuals experience joint inflammation, which can lead to the development of arthritis symptoms. This condition is known as psoriatic arthritis.

The Facts On Psoriasis

2006-07-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affecting approximately 4.5 million people in the United States.
New skin cells grow too rapidly, resulting in inflamed, swollen, scaly patches of skin in areas where the old skin has not shed quickly enough.
Psoriasis can be limited to a few spots or can involve more extensive areas of the body, appearing most commonly on the scalp, knees, elbows and trunk.
Psoriasis is not a contagious disease. The cause of psoriasis is unknown, and there currently is no cure.
Psoriasis can strike people at any age, but the average age of onset is approximately 28 years. Likewise, it affects both men and women, with a slightly higher prevalence in women than in men.
Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis are estimated to have moderate-to-severe forms of the disease.
Psoriasis can be a physically and emotionally painful condition. It often results in physical limitations, disfiguration and a significant burden in managing the daily care of the disease.
Psoriasis sufferers may feel embarrassed, angry, frustrated, fearful, depressed and, in some cases, even suicidal.

Psoriatic Arthritis

2006-07-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

Psoriatic arthritis occurs in less than 10% of people with psoriasis. Its treatment often requires consultation with a rheumatologist in addition to treatment of the skin lesions by a dermatologist. It occurs most frequently in psoriasis patients whose disease is active, especially in persons with the pustular type of psoriasis. Occasionally it appears in a person who has no dermatologic signs or symptoms of psoriasis, in which case it must be diagnosed by its unique laboratory test results. Psoriasis of the fingernails and toenails is associated with a higher incidence of psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis resemble those of rheumatoid arthritis, although the diseases are otherwise quite different. Arthritis changes cause deterioration and pain in small joints of the hands and feet, large joints of the legs and spine, and tendons. Nonspecific foot pain or "tennis elbow" may be an early symptom to appear and may be overlooked if not associated with psoriatic skin or nail lesions.

Scalp Psoriasis

2006-06-27T08:17:00.000-07:00

Scalp psoriasis occurs in at least half of all people with psoriasis. It can range from very mild with fine scaling to very severe with thick, crusted plaques. Scalp psoriasis may appear as lesions that extend from the hairline onto the forehead and the nape of the neck. It is common for the psoriasis to appear behind the ears. Scalp psoriasis usually accompanies plaques in other areas of the body. Scalp psoriasis scales appear powdery with a silvery sheen. Possible causes of scalp psoriasis include: scalp treatments and severe psoriasis can both cause temporary hair loss; itching, picking and scratching lesions can worsen the psoriasis by causing a Koebner phenomenon (psoriasis appearing on the site of skin injuries).

Gene Causing Psoriasis Identified

2006-06-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

A new gene associated with a variant of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis has been identified by a research group led by Dr. Ohad Birk at the Morris Kahn Laboratory of Human Genetics at Ben Gurion University and Soroka Medical Center. The gene discovered by the Israeli researchers is of much interest as it allows the first major molecular insight into why the specific skin cells proliferate excessively, causing these two common skin diseases. Psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis affect 2-3% of the population worldwide and 85% of AIDS patients. Both skin diseases are caused by excessive proliferation of specific cells (keratinocytes) in the skin. To date, there is only very limited understanding as to the molecular mechanisms causing these two common disorders. The two-and-a-half-year study examined an Israeli Moroccan Jewish family with 44 members over five generations who showed signs characteristic of psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. By using advanced techniques to analyze DNA samples of the affected members of the family and comparing them to normal, unmutated DNA, Ramon Birnbaum, a doctoral student at Birk's laboratory, has succeeded in pinning the beginning of the molecular pathway on a mutation in a gene that is normally expressed, or "turned on" in the keratinocytes. The gene is believed to suppress or regulate cell proliferation and is thought to be a transcription factor, meaning that it switches on other genes, which may also play a role in the disease. When mutated, this regulation malfunctions, enabling excessive proliferation of skin cells and calling in cells of the immune system. The findings, to be reported in this month's issue of Nature Genetics, allow new insights into the mechanism of disease in psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. In turn, these insights are likely to assist pharmaceutical companies in developing "smart drugs" for these two common skin diseases.

What Is Guttate Psoriasis?

2006-06-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

Treat Psoriasis Naturally

2006-05-31T11:53:00.000-07:00

According to an article in the American Journal of Therapeutics (March/April 2006, Volume 13, No. 2, p. 121-126), a natural preparation from a plant holds promise for psoriasis sufferers.
Steve Bernstein and other researchers from the Dermatology and Cosmetic Center in Rochester, New York conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study using a proprietary topical cream prepared with Mahonia aquifolium.
This plant, also known as the barberry, Oregon grape, or berberis, grows wild in North and South American and Europe. It was initially used in American folk medicine as an oral medication for inflammatory skin diesases including psoriasis and syphilis.
Of the 200 psoriasis patients enrolled in the trial, 97 completed the 12-week course and 74 completed the same regimen using a placebo cream.
Bernstein and his colleagues traced a statistically significant improvement of the signs and symptoms of moderate plaque psoriasis compared with patients receiving placebo. The medication was well tolerated when applied to the affected area twice a day for twelve weeks. No significant side effects were reported by either the active or control group.
The researchers concluded that the cream containing Mahonia aquifolium extract is a safe and effective treatment for mild to moderate psoriasis.

Psoriasis Information

2006-05-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis is a persistent skin condition characterized by red, thickened areas of skin and abundant silvery scaling.
It is an inflammatory skin disease caused by overactive white blood cells, which concentrate in the skin and cause the skin cells to grow too rapidly. This rapid growth shows on the surface as a red, scaly rash.

Plaque-type psoriasis is usually on elbows, knees and the lower back. The scalp is frequently involved, but psoriasis can occur on any surface of the skin including nails. Some patients develop blisters on their skin in the affected areas, and this can be very painful.
The rash of psoriasis can itch, but often it does not have symptoms. Most patients with psoriasis are embarrassed by its appearance, and they dress to hide it from others. There is a significant psychological impact of the disease as it sometimes prevents people from being hired for jobs, and it can limit social activities because other people think psoriasis patients are contagious.

Psoriasis is a common skin disorder affecting two out of every 100 Americans (4 to 5 million people). A person of any race or age can develop psoriasis, but most patients develop it between the ages of 15 and 35.
It does run in families and tends to be more severe in patients with a family history of psoriasis. Severity of disease can vary widely.
Some people get slightly dry skin on their elbows and knees while others can have most of their body surface covered. Psoriasis is not just a skin disease, though.
About 10 to 30 percent of patients with psoriasis on their skin will also have psoriatic arthritis (usually hands, feet, wrists, ankles or lower back).
Psoriatic arthritis can lead to destruction and deformity of joints if left untreated. Some patients develop the arthritis before they have any skin involvement, but most have the skin rash first.

Although there is no cure for psoriasis, there are several good treatments.
For mild cases prescription creams and lotions containing cortisone, calcipotriene, retinoic acid or salicylic acid can be helpful.
There are several systemic psoriasis treatments (shots and pills) which suppress the overactive white blood cells causing the disease.
In addition, ultraviolet light therapy under the direction of a dermatologist can be very effective treatment. Treatments are tailored to meet the needs of individual patients.

Can You Rely On The Results Of Psoriasis Clinical Trials?

2006-05-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

In a revealing look at the impact of funding on medical research, a new study found that clinical trials funded by drug companies and other for-profit entities were more likely to report positive findings than similar trials funded by nonprofit groups.
Trials that were jointly funded by for-profit and non-profit organizations had positive findings that fell about midway between the rates observed for either extreme.
"I'm not surprised that that is the case," said Adil Shamoo, a professor of biochemistry and bioethics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and co-founder of Citizens for Responsible Care and Research, which lobbies for the rights of patients and clinical trial participants.
Shamoo was not involved in the study, which was led by researchers at Harvard Medical School and appears in the May 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association'.
A study published earlier this year found that industry is paying for more and more medical research, with a full half of studies now funded solely by the private sector.
And according to background information in this article, surveys of randomized trials conducted in the 1990s found that for-profit trials were more likely to report positive findings. Those surveys raised questions about the design and conduct of industry-funded clinical trials. They resulted in recommendations for ways to improve academic oversight of industry-sponsored research and to make sure that all clinical trials are registered and published.
It has not been clear, however, if this emerging recognition has led to any improvements.
To see if anything had changed, the study authors reviewed 324 trials involving cardiovascular medicines published between January 1, 2000, and July 30, 2005, in three top medical journals: JAMA, The Lancet and the New England Journal of Medicine' .
Twenty-one of the studies cited no funding source at all.
Of the 104 funded solely by nonprofits, 49 percent reported evidence favoring the newer treatment while 51 percent favored the existing standard of care or showed no difference between the two.
Of the 137 trials funded solely by for-profit entities, more than two-thirds (67.2 percent) favored the newer treatment.
There were 62 jointly funded trials, of which 56.5 percent favored the newer treatment.
Among 205 randomized trials evaluating new drugs, 39.5 percent of nonprofits, 54.4 percent of jointly funded trials, and 65.5 percent of for-profit trials leaned towards newer treatments, the researchers found.
Of 39 randomized trials looking at cardiovascular devices, 50 percent of nonprofit trials, 69.2 percent of jointly funded trials, and 82.4 percent of for-profit trials favored newer devices.
Regardless of the funding source, trials which used surrogate endpoints tended to report more positive findings (67 percent) than those using clinical endpoints (54.1 percent). A surrogate endpoint measures an outcome that is predictive of a clinical endpoint. So, for example, a clinical endpoint could be a heart attack, while a surrogate endpoint might be a certain blood marker that reflects a high risk for heart attack.
In response to the study, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) issued a statement Tuesday saying, "The JAMA paper ... is informative and supports the fact that America's pharmaceutical research companies conduct top-quality, cutting-edge research on life-saving medicines so that patients can lead longer, healthier lives."
PhRMA Senior Vice President Caroline Loew added in the statement, "To help ensure quality, informative and reliable conclusions of a particular clinical trial, PhRMA member companies conduct carefully structured clinical trials at multiple locations -- to reduce the likelihood of possible single investigator bias -- and routinely have a large numbers of patients involved with such trials."
Some experts believe that study design is a main reason for such biases. "The outcome can be tremendously influenced literally by the A-to-Z of a clinical trial, by the type of question, the design of experiment, the type and characteristics of the human subjects selected, how you massage the data and analyze it, and where and what portion you publish," Shamoo said. "There are literally about 15 or 20 steps that can influence any experiment, not just a clinical trial."
The authors speculated that other factors might explain their findings. For example, negative findings are unlikely to be followed up with additional studies. Positive trials, on the other hand, are much more likely to get industry funding for continued study.
The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration also requires that any positive finding be replicated in subsequent trials, which may also help explain the findings.
Regardless of the cause, Shamoo said there's no one simple answer to the problem. Possible solutions include having multiple sources conducting similar trials, acknowledging apparent bias.
"The solution is multifaceted," he said. "As usual, there is no simple, black-and-white answer."

Psoriasis - How To Tell If You Have It

2006-05-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis is a chronic scaling skin. It may range from just a few spots anywhere on the body to large areas of involvement. It is not contagious or spread able from one part of the body to another or from one person to another. There is no blood test to diagnose psoriasis. The diagnosis is made by observation and examination of the skin. Sometimes microscopic examination of the skin (biopsy) is helpful where the changes are not typical or characteristic. The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, but hereditary and genetic factors are important. Psoriasis runs in families. This does not mean, however, that every child of a parent with psoriasis will develop psoriasis, but it is common that somewhere down the line psoriasis will appear in families. Psoriasis is not caused by allergies, infections, dietary deficiencies or excesses, or nervous tension.

Isotechnika Signs Topical Psoriasis Deal

2006-05-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

Isotechnika has signed an option agreement with Cellgate giving Isotechnika the option to obtain an exclusive license to develop Cellgate's technology for the topical delivery of ISA247 in patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cellgate will perform studies to evaluate the feasibility of using its technology to topically deliver ISA247. These studies will commence over the next few months and are expected to be completed over the course of one year.
In exchange for this work, Isotechnika will pay Cellgate a total of $500,000, with $200,000 paid upfront and the remainder at predetermined time points. Upon successful completion of the studies, Isotechnika has the option to license the technology from Cellgate to further develop and commercialize conjugates for topical delivery of ISA247.
"The opportunity to collaborate with Cellgate is very worthwhile," noted Dr Randall Yatscoff, Isotechnika's president and CEO. "If successful, this could allow us to expand our drug's use beyond the moderate and severe forms of psoriasis currently being tested with systemic ISA247 into the milder cases of psoriasis."

By Helen Marshall

Risk Factors For Psoriatic Arthritis

2006-04-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

Having psoriasis is the single greatest risk factor for psoriatic arthritis. Other risk factors include:
Heredity. Nearly half of people with psoriatic arthritis have a close relative with the disease.
Age. Although anyone can develop psoriatic arthritis, it occurs most often in adults between the ages of 30 and 50.
Race. Caucasians are more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis than are people of other races.
Sex. In general, psoriatic arthritis affects men and women equally, but DIP and spondylitis are more likely to affect men, whereas symmetric arthritis occurs more often in women.
HIV infection. Psoriatic arthritis seems to occur more often among people who are HIV-positive than among those who are HIV-negative. HIV infection may also exacerbate existing psoriasis.

More On The Causes Of Psoriasis

2006-04-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis is a skin condition marked by a rapid buildup of rough, dry, dead skin cells that form thick scales. Arthritis causes pain and stiffness in your joints. Both are autoimmune problems — disorders that occur when your body's immune system, which normally fights harmful organisms such as viruses and bacteria, begins to attack healthy cells and tissue. The abnormal immune response causes inflammation in your joints as well as the overproduction of skin cells.
It's not entirely clear why the immune system turns on itself, but it seems likely that both genetic and environmental factors play a role. Many people with psoriatic arthritis have a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, with the disease, and researchers have discovered certain gene mutations that appear to be associated with psoriatic arthritis.
Having a genetic mutation doesn't necessarily mean you'll develop the disease, but it does mean you have a greater tendency to do so than other people do. Something in the environment — such as a viral or bacterial infection or even physical trauma — may eventually trigger psoriatic arthritis in people who have an inherited tendency.
A number of other factors may trigger psoriatic arthritis, including:
Injury to your skin
Reaction to a medication or vaccine
Infection, especially streptococcal
Stress
Alcohol and poor nutrition
Overexposure to the sun or prolonged exposure to irritating chemicals such as disinfectants and paint thinners

Searching For The Cause Of Psoriasis

2006-04-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

Understanding Psoriasis Symptoms

2006-04-10T11:48:00.000-07:00

Biogen Sells Psoriasis Treatment Amevive In A Restructuring Move

2006-04-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

Biogen said it will continue to manufacture Amevive, a biologic anti-inflammatory compound, and supply it to Astellas. Biogen added it expects the transaction to close as early as mid-April. Biotech company Biogen Idec Inc. said Monday it agreed to sell the worldwide rights of Amevive, a psoriasis treatment, to the U.S. arm of Japanese drug maker Astellas Pharma Inc., for $60 million.
A Biogen spokesman said the deal also includes undisclosed royalty payments.
Biogen said it will continue to manufacture Amevive, a biologic anti-inflammatory compound, and supply it to Astellas. Biogen added it expects the transaction to close as early as mid-April.

Psoriasis Treat Reduces Side Effects

2006-03-29T12:10:00.000-08:00

A new treatment that directly targets parts of the immune system responsible for the skin condition psoriasis will be available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from next week.
About 17,000 Australians have chronic plague psoriasis and as well as suffering unsightly skin, many experience anxiety and depression.
The new class of drugs, known as biological agents, produce fewer side effects because they have a more targeted effect.
Dr Stephen Shumack, from the College of Dermatologists, says the treatment will bring relief to thousands of sufferers.
"They change the way the immune system works or they alter or reduce some aspect of the immune function," he said.
"It's done in a much more targeted way than some of the agents we currently use such as steroids which have a blanket suppression of the immune system."
Dr Shumack says those with the disease can suffer psychologically.
"There's a lot of social isolation amongst sufferers of severe psoriasis," he said.
"They have trouble getting jobs they have trouble keeping jobs, they have a lot of time off work, they don't interact socially, they don't go out, they usually have trouble meeting partners."

Psoriasis Gene Identified

2006-03-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

A common genetic variation in an immune system gene may help explain why some people are more likely to develop psoriasis than others.
Researchers say it's the first gene to be linked to the skin disease, and the discovery could lead to more effective treatments for psoriasis with fewer side effects.
Psoriasis is a common and chronic disease that causes patches of itchy, scaly, and often inflamed skin. The symptoms can vary from mildly irritating to potentially disfiguring and affect about 2% of Americans. Psoriasis can also develop into psoriatic arthritis, which can be painful and debilitating.
Drugs used to treat psoriasis target the irregular immune system response that is thought to trigger the disease. These drugs counter this immune response but can leave the body more susceptible to infection.
By finding the specific gene that triggers the disease, researchers say more targeted psoriasis treatments could be developed.
"What we're all shooting for is trying to find out which branches of the immune system are triggering psoriasis, so you don't have to shut down the whole immune system -- only the parts that are important," says researcher James T. Elder, MD, PhD, professor of dermatology and radiation oncology at the University of Michigan Medical School, in a news release.
Psoriasis Gene Found
In the study, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, researchers isolated the gene PSORS1 (for psoriasis susceptibility 1) as a major player in psoriasis susceptibility from among a field of several genes that regulate how the immune system fights off infection.
Researchers say the gene's role in triggering psoriasis was demonstrated in 2,723 people from 678 families in which at least one family member had the skin disease.
But having the gene isn't enough to cause the disease.
"For every individual with psoriasis who carries the PSORS1 gene, there are 10 other people with the gene who don't get psoriasis," says Elder.
"It's as if you are pushing a shopping cart down the aisle at the grocery store and putting genes in your cart," Elder explains. "There are several different brands of each gene on the shelf and one of them is bad for you. If you pull down enough bad ones, then you can get sick.
"But even if you get all the bad genes, you still need a trigger from the environment to develop the disease," says Elder. In some cases, that trigger may be infection, such as strep throat.
Researchers say the next step is to identify the other inherited genes that may play a role in psoriasis in order to develop better treatments for the skin disease.

Psoriasis Facts

2006-03-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

Researchers may not always know the best way to treat psoriasis but they do agree on these facts on psoriasis:

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affecting approximately 4.5 million people in the United States.
New skin cells grow too rapidly, resulting in inflamed, swollen, scaly patches of skin in areas where the old skin has not shed quickly enough.
Psoriasis can be limited to a few spots or can involve more extensive areas of the body, appearing most commonly on the scalp, knees, elbows and trunk.
Psoriasis is not a contagious disease. The cause of psoriasis is unknown, and there currently is no cure.
Psoriasis can strike people at any age, but the average age of onset is approximately 28 years. Likewise, it affects both men and women, with a slightly higher prevalence in women than in men.
Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis are estimated to have moderate-to-severe forms of the disease.
Psoriasis can be a physically and emotionally painful condition. It often results in physical limitations, disfiguration and a significant burden in managing the daily care of the disease.
Psoriasis sufferers may feel embarrassed, angry, frustrated, fearful, depressed and, in some cases, even suicidal.

Psoriasis: Not Just A Cosmetic Issue

2006-03-14T10:46:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis is more than a cosmetic issue. "This disease is common, chronic, and costly, both in monetary terms and in quality of life," says Jonathan Wilkin, M.D., director of the Food and Drug Administration's Division of Dermatologic and Dental Drug Products.
More than 5 million Americans have psoriasis, and they spend between $1.6 billion and $3.2 billion each year to treat the disease, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF). Between 150,000 and 260,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, including 20,000 in children younger than 10.
"Psoriasis can be painful and can be profoundly disruptive to a person's life," says Jill Lindstrom, M.D., an FDA dermatologist. "People who don't have it don't understand how burdensome the disease can be. There is constant shedding of scales. There can be functional impairment, itching, and pain." And health complications, such as arthritis, accompany some cases.
There is no cure for psoriasis, but a broad range of treatments is available to reduce the symptoms, clear up the skin, and send the disease into remission. FDA-approved treatments range from creams rubbed into the skin, to lasers that aim ultraviolet rays at the skin, to the newest treatments--injectable drugs made from living cells

Raptiva Appears Safe For Three Years of Continuous Use

2006-03-10T08:36:00.000-08:00

Efalizumab (Raptiva) appears to be safe for up to 3 years of continuous weekly therapy for chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, researchers reported here at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology."
The point of this study is to look at safety," said Alice Gottlieb, MD, Director, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey -- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Clinical Research Center, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States, in a poster discussion session on March 6th."We saw flu-like symptoms in the first 12 weeks of treatment that are typical of this therapy, and they tend to diminish over time," she noted."
There does not seem to be a signal of increased internal malignancy, increased arthritis events, increased adverse events related to psoriasis or increased cardiac events over the 60 weeks in the retrospective look at the data," she reported.
Efalizumab is a T-cell inhibitor approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis.Many traditional systemic psoriasis agents are useful only for short-term therapy because of concerns about organ toxicity and teratogenicity. To evaluate the safety profile of efalizumab over extended therapy periods, Dr. Gottlieb and colleagues looked retrospectively the results from two studies that addressed the safety of efalizumab, one at 15 months and the other at 3 years.Patient populations were similar in both studies. For the combined population of the studies, the mean duration of psoriasis was 18.1 years, with a range of 0-68 years. The mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) at enrollment was 19.2 with a range of 9.6 to 63.6. The mean percent Body Surface Area Affected (BSA) was 28.7% with a range of 10% to 90%.
The most frequently observed adverse events included acute-type adverse events, specifically, headache, fever, chills, nausea and myalgia occurring within 48 hours of efalizumab injection."No new common adverse events appeared during the extended therapy periods," the authors reported.
Serious adverse events occurred in 2.3% to 3.3% of the patients during each 12-week exposure. With the exception that serious adverse events related to skin occurred at a rate of 1.1% during 37-48 weeks of exposure, the incidence of each serious event was not greater than 1%.The incidence of selected adverse events (arthritis, infection, malignancy, psoriasis) within any 12-week treatment period was similar to that seen in shorter individual clinical trials.
This is the largest compilation of psoriasis patients studied out to 60 weeks for any biologic therapy, according to the researchers."This combined analysis of more than 1000 patients further demonstrates that extended exposure to efalizumab for up to 15 months appears to be well tolerated by patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis."
The study was supported by Genentech, Inc.

Living with Guttate Psoriasis

2006-03-07T13:01:00.000-08:00

Topical Therapies Show Promise In Treating Psoriasis

2006-03-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis, a chronic skin condition characterized by thick, red, scaly patches that itch and bleed, not only makes the activities of daily life difficult, but also can affect a person's emotional well being. Psoriasis affects more than 4.5 million adults in theUnited States with a large percentage of those patients living with mild or localized psoriasis, which in no way lessens the burden of this challenging skin condition. While new biologic treatments are available for patients with severe psoriasis, those with less severe psoriasis rely on topical therapies to manage their disease. In addition, some topical therapies that are approved for treating other skin conditions may be effective for the treatmentof less severe psoriasis.

Speaking today at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Academy ofDermatology, dermatologist Linda Stein Gold, M.D., director of dermatology clinical research at the Henry Ford Health System in West Bloomfield, Mich., spoke about myths and misconceptions about the use of topical corticosteroids and some new topical treatment options for psoriasis.

"Topical treatments, such as corticosteroids, are considered the first line of treatment," said Dr. Stein Gold. "With the emergence of several new therapies, more people with psoriasis are experiencing substantial improvements and reporting a greatly enhanced quality of life."

National Psoriasis Foundation Meets To Educate Legislators

2006-02-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of the National Psoriasis Foundation are in Washington, D.C., today to educate legislators about the need for access to quality care for people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. In meetings with congressional representatives, the Foundation is urging members of the House and Senate to generate awareness about the serious physical and emotional impact of these diseases. With continued advocacy efforts, the National Psoriasis Foundation and patient advocates hope to secure much-needed funding to accelerate the discovery of additional safe and effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to:
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/chd/23636/
According to Gail M. Zimmerman, president and CEO of the National Psoriasis Foundation, it's important to keep psoriatic disease at the forefront of governmental discussion. "Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are chronic, potentially disabling diseases that are often misunderstood. Capitol Hill Day offers the chance to educate members of Congress and to continue to advocate on behalf of those living with these diseases."
Additionally, while in D.C. today, the National Psoriasis Foundation will officially recognize several congressional leaders for their commitment to enhancing federal level support of psoriatic disease education and legislation, including Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR), Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Representative Tim Murphy (R-PA), Representative Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA) and Representative Jim Gerlach (R-PA). Last year, Senators Smith and Lautenberg spearheaded the Senate resolution that designated August 2005 as Psoriasis Awareness Month.
More than 100 volunteers with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis are participating in the National Psoriasis Foundation's third annual Capitol Hill Day. Capitol Hill Day is an annually organized advocacy effort that motivates people living with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis to speak out about their conditions. Patient volunteers from the National Psoriasis Foundation will convene at the offices of congressional leaders to tell their personal stories of living with psoriatic disease and to shed light on the life- altering impact of these conditions.
Building on momentum of past Capitol Hill Day events, today's program is specifically designed to allow members of the psoriatic community to lobby Congress to increase federal funding for psoriatic research, address the lack of access to effective treatments, and become personally involved in educating themselves and others about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis as "champions" who directly impact the future of psoriatic disease.

XTRAC Laser for Psoriasis Treatment

2006-02-24T11:46:00.000-08:00

Doctors have begun introducing an instrument known as the XTRAC laser to treat psoriasis.
Statistically, about four and a half million Americans suffer from psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a skin condition that is difficult to diagnose and has no cure. The skin troubles associated with psoriasis are caused by abnormal white blood cells. The cells settle into the skin, causing it to become irritated and inflamed.
Experts said the XTRAC laser targets those cells.
Bethesda Dermatologist Dr. Ronald Prussick said the laser works best on people with relatively small, isolated patches that don't respond to other treatments.
"The way it works is it helps get those abnormal white blood cells that are in the skin, back out of the skin back into the blood stream," said Prussick. "It works very well for the scalp, and I also use it for people who have the psoriasis on the hands and the feet, because traditionally, those areas are difficult to treat."
Each laser treatment lasts just a few minutes. But doctors said it usually takes several sessions over a period of weeks to see a difference.
Elizabeth Thornton has been suffering with psoriasis on her hands and feet for two years. She said that at times, it's been so severe she could barely walk and trying to find a treatment that works has been a struggle.
"I've had 10 million creams. I have any cream you can name, I've had so many of them," said Thornton.
The laser has been able to do for Elizabeth what the creams and medications couldn't.
"It cleared up my feet, completely cleared, my hands cleared," said Thornton.
Doctors stress that the laser is not a cure for psoriasis and it only provides temporary relief. They also said the laser won't work for everyone and should be used by people who haven't responded to other treatments.
The cost of the laser treatments is usually covered by health insurance.

Costly New Options In Psoriasis Care

2006-02-22T08:51:00.000-08:00

The new biologically engineered treatments promise more targeted therapy without those risks:
Amevive and Raptiva interfere with the harmful T cells, dramatically clearing psoriasis lesions in 20 percent to 40 percent of patients.
Amevive causes those T cells to die, explaining why some people’s symptoms don’t return for months after a three-month course of weekly shots. About 3,500 patients have begun Amevive since FDA approval in January, says maker Biogen Inc. The intramuscular shots are given in a doctor’s office.
In contrast, Raptiva keeps harmful immune cells from getting into and inflaming skin, so patients must take it indefinitely. Sales will begin by Thanksgiving, say makers Genentech Inc. and Xoma Ltd. Patients give themselves weekly under-the-skin shots.
That difference means more than convenience; some insurance pays for in-office therapy but not at-home drugs.
Instead of targeting T cells, Enbrel and Remicade inhibit a protein, TNF, that’s crucial to inflammation. FDA-approved for certain types of arthritis, some doctors already use the drugs for psoriasis’ skin lesions. The FDA now is evaluating Enbrel injections for that use; a final-stage study of intravenous Remicade is about to begin.
Specialists call the four new treatments largely safe but acknowledge that even mildly tinkering with the immune system for years might spur infections or cancer. “We’re crossing our fingers,” Tharp says.
That plus their huge cost means the new drugs are reserved for the worst patients. For less severe psoriasis sufferers, “we’re back in the stone ages,” Tharp says, urging companies to study better options for them, too.
The new options don’t help everyone, cautions Dr. Michael Tharp, dermatology chief at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center. And they’re very expensive, costing $10,000 a year or more.

Health Canada Approves Enbrel For Psoriasis

2006-02-14T09:01:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis sufferers living with disfiguring and painful skin lesions have improved prospects for symptom-free remission, following the announcement that Health Canada has approved Enbrel® (etanercept), an innovative biologic therapy for treatment of this debilitating autoimmune disorder.
Affecting more than one million Canadians, psoriasis is a chronic skin condition often characterized by raised, inflamed, red lesions covered by silvery white scales.Biologic medications are a newer class of drugs which function differently than traditional psoriasis treatments by targeting the immune system at the cellular level. Enbrel helps regulate the process that leads to the inflammation of psoriasis and has demonstrated rapid and significant clearing in many patients.
In fact, after 6 months of therapy over half of patients are clear of psoriasis or have minimal lesions while the majority (77%) of patients shows at least a 50% improvement in symptoms. "In addition to pain and the ongoing threat of infections and general physical debilitation, the emotional burden of psoriasis is often underestimated even by physicians," says Dr. Yves Poulin, Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at Laval University, Quebec City. "The approval of Enbrel for psoriasis treatment marks major progress in our ability to treat this disease more effectively and with improved safety."While psoriasis has a physical impact on the body, it can affect a person's emotional well-being. A study published in Lancet last month showed that Enbrel also reduces patient depression and fatigue, both major aspects of psoriasis. Research has also shown that sufferers often battle sexual dysfunction, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Administered from a pre-filled syringe or a lyophilized vial, Enbrel works by deactivating tumor necrosis factor (TNF), one of the dominant immune system messengers that stimulates overproduction of skins cells and promotes inflammation. Its unique mechanism of action means it can be used continuously, without the need for periodic breaks in treatment. Other than injection site reactions, no adverse events occurred at increased frequency with Enbrel compared to respective control groups in psoriasis trials.On December 20th, 2005, Enbrel received Notice of Compliance from Health Canada for treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis in adults. Previously, Health Canada has approved Enbrel for a number of other diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. More than 337,000 patients worldwide, including 74,000 with psoriasis, have used Enbrel, and it has more than 450,000 patient-years of post-market exposure.

Treat Psoriasis Naturally With The Power Of The Sun

2006-02-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

Brief, regular periods of exposure to natural sunlight can improve or clear psoriasis in some people. This approach to treating psoriasis is called climatotherapy. Sunburn should be avoided because it can make psoriasis worse. Exposure to sunlight is not recommended for people who are sun-sensitive. Sun exposure can cause aging of the skin. An annual medical checkup is advised because sun exposure can increase the chance of skin cancer.

Most Common Type Of Psoriasis

2006-02-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. It is characterized by raised, inflamed (red) lesions covered with a silvery white scale. The scale is actually a buildup of dead skin cells. The technical name for plaque psoriasis is psoriasis vulgaris (vulgaris means common). Plaque psoriasis may appear on any skin surface, though the knees, elbows, scalp, and trunk are the most common locations. Sometimes the patches of infected skin are large, extending over much of the body. The patches, known as plaques or lesions, can wax and wane but tend to be chronic. These can be very itchy and if scratched or scraped they may bleed easily. The plaques usually have a well-defined edge and, while they can appear anywhere on the body, the most commonly affected areas are the scalp, knees and elbows. However, if the scalp is involved, you may develop psoriasis on the hairline and forehead. The actual appearance of the plaques can depend on where they are found on the body. Plaques found on the palms and soles can be scaly, however they may not be very red in color. This is due to the thickness of the skin at these sites. If the plaques are in moist areas, such as in the creases of the armpits or between the buttocks, there is usually little or no scaling. The patches are red and have a well-defined border. Chronic (or common) plaque psoriasis affects over 90% of sufferers. It appears usually on the scalp, lower back, elbows, arms, legs, knees and shoulders. It is very much an adult condition.

Psoriasis Nail Care

2006-01-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

Not everyone has the time or the inclination to spend lots of time grooming their nails. But experts say nail care is more than an exercise in vanity. Without the proper attention, irritating and sometimes painful problems can develop, including ingrown nails and persistent fungal infections. And nails can sometimes reveal that someone is suffering from an underlying illness.
Below, Darryl Haycock, DPM, a spokesperson for the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, explains what you need to do to keep your nails healthy.
What are the different parts of the nail?There is the cuticle at the base of the nail and then a whitish area that's called the lunula. Then you have the nail plate itself, which grows out on a nail bed.
Why do we have nails?It's felt that it's an evolutionary leftover. A lot of animals have claws, and nails were a means of allowing us to use our fingers and toes to grab things and hold onto things. Basically it helps stabilize the end of the finger or toe.
What should a healthy nail look like?A healthy nail should look smooth. It should look pink in coloration and the white portion near the cuticle should be nice and clear, and it shouldn't be excessively thickened. In the drier weather, however, you'll get more cracking and hangnails.
Are nail problems ever a sign of a medical illness? There are a lot of medical illnesses that are diagnosed through the fingernails or toenails. These include nutritional deficiencies, such as calcium and protein deficiencies, and diseases like psoriasis, which can cause a pitted look and white discoloration.
It might be lichen planus, which is basically a thickening of the skin. White spots under the nail are usually due to some kind of trauma, or injury. Sometimes even you can see a malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer, as a black discoloration underneath a nail. That doesn't mean that every black discoloration is a cancer; sometimes those are just normal changes in the nail color.
What causes ingrown nails?Ingrown nails have a number of different causes. Some people have a lot of thick skin around the nail itself, and it's hard for the nail to grow out through that thick skin. Some people have nails, particularly toenails, that become curved, almost like an old covered wagon that buckles around and pinches in. Trauma such as having the nail stepped on can also cause ingrown nails by putting pressure on the nail and forcing it to grow into the skin; this causes a cut between the side of the nail and the skin, which can become infected and irritated.
Trimming the nails poorly can cause ingrown nails. We see a lot of ingrown nails in teenagers. It seems that teenagers who are going through a rapid growth spurt also have faster-growing nails, so they need to cut their nails more often.
How can you prevent and treat ingrown nails?Just try to cut your nails properly. It's recommended that you go straight across. If you prefer to cut in a curved fashion on the corners, you can do that, but you have to be aware that you have to frequently trim your nails in the corners so the nail doesn't grow into the skin. Be careful not to pull any thickened skin that may grow in the corner of the nails but to clip them. If you get a cut in the side of your nail as you're doing that, it's important to disinfect that area. Put an antibiotic ointment on there to keep it nice and moist, and to give it a chance to heal up. If it does become infected, then it's probably going to be best to see your podiatrist or dermatologist about it.
What about blood under the nail? Blood underneath the nail is usually from a trauma, such as if someone drops something or sets a table leg on their toe, or crushes or pinches their finger.
People can have shoes that are too short or too small for them, so when they walk or run, the toenail is continually driven into the end of the shoe. This is what we call microtrauma; the toenail can either separate off completely or it can cause a build up of blood underneath that toenail. We see it a lot in soccer players and distance runners. It is also common in ballet dancers who wear pointe shoes. Likewise, typists who have long nails may have microtrauma to their fingernails from chronically hitting the keys.
If the area with the blood clot is painful, we'll try to relieve the pressure by drilling a hole in the nail and allowing the blood underneath the nail to come out.
How do you identify and treat nail fungus?It can start in several different ways. But usually it appears as a yellow, brownish discoloration of the nail. It usually starts at the end of the nail, then works its way back underneath the nail. It makes the nail thick, yellow, crumbly. Sometimes you'll see yellow streaks on the nail as the fungus progresses.
Nail fungus tends to be resistant to cure with most topical ointments and creams. The only one that's been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of nail fungus is ciclopirox, a nail polish-like material that is brushed on. There are also oral medications, or, if the nail has been completely deformed or thickened or is painful, it will sometimes be removed.
Is it possible to get a fungal infection from a manicure or pedicure? If someone has a manicure or pedicure from an establishment that does not properly clean instruments a fungus could spread from person to person.
What should proper nail care involve? Examine your nails and frequently trim them. If they get too long, they can cause a number of other problems from being torn to being completely lifted off because the nail catches on something.
Don't push the cuticle back all the time. The cuticle is actually a nice barrier that keeps infection from coming into the nail. You might need to slide it back a little bit, but you have to be careful about pushing it too hard.
As far as putting anything onto the nails, it's tough to say whether that has a real benefit. I know some people have a natural split in their nails, and they'll put superglue in that split and that seems to help keep that from splitting and giving them problems.
Nail polish does strengthen the nails a bit and doesn't seem to create problems. But if you put on too much, it will stain your nails. And nail polish covers up your ability to see your nails and see if they're healthy. Nail polish remover may dry the nails.

Psoriasis Is A Cause Not A Result Of Obesity

2006-01-19T10:35:00.000-08:00

While obesity among people with psoriasis is common, being overweight does not cause the disease, as previously thought, a recent study shows. Instead, U researchers found that the disease actually causes patients to become overweight. They also found that people with psoriasis are more likely to have a weight problem after developing the autoimmune skin disease.The researchers published their findings in the December issue of The Archives of Dermatology. Researchers studied 557 patients from the Utah Psoriasis Initiative, which was formed to help find causes of the disease and to link symptoms and traits in order to better understand psoriasis. U researchers are also looking at the correlation between smoking and psoriasis. They reported that 36 percent of the patients studied were smokers and that smokers are more likely to develop psoriasis. About 2.5 percent of people in Utah are affected by psoriasis, which most commonly produces painful lesions on the skin.Among the researchers is Gerald Krueger, professor of dermatology, who recently received a Presidential Chair award.

Advitech To Market Psoriasis Supplement in The U.S.

2006-01-13T10:49:00.000-08:00

Quebec-based Advitech said today it has reached an agreement with US company PhotoMedex to market and distribute its whey-derived psoriasis supplement in the US.The Canadian biotech firm has recently signed a deal for the product, called Dermylex, to reach the French market and said it expected further distribution to follow on quickly.
PhotoMedex, which sells products for skin health through its own sales force directly to dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons, and spas, intends to trial the product during the first quarter of 2006 in selected locations. If the market develops well, it will roll-out the product in all its sales locations in the United States in the second half of the year.
Although a dietary supplement, Advitech is targeting pharmaceutical distributors to increase awareness of its product. Last year a phase 2 clinical trial of the active ingredient, XP-828L, confirmed the efficacy and safety profile of the product for patients with mild to moderate psoriasis.
Renaud Beauchesne, chief executive of Advitech, said PhotoMedex's sales organization and access to dermatologists would allow the product to be positioned very well in the important US market.
Prior to a nationwide roll-out Advitech will sign over exclusive rights to PhotoMedex to market products using Dermylex in specific US market segments.
The contract will extend over several years, and will provide for certain minimum level of purchase of products to be negotiated between PhotoMedex and Advitech. Other terms and conditions of the Agreement were not disclosed.

Discovering The Trigger For Psoriasis

2006-01-10T11:13:00.000-08:00

An immune molecule that normally assists in cell “suicide” may be an important trigger in the development of the common skin disease psoriasis, according to scientists from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and State University of New York, Stony Brook.
The culprit, a molecule called Fas, acts as a middleman between activated immune cells and a handful of inflammatory hormones involved in psoriasis flare-ups, say Technion researcher Dr. Amos Gilhar and colleagues. The study appears in the January, 10 2006 American Journal of Pathology.
Psoriasis is a non-contagious, lifelong skin disease that usually appears as scaly and inflamed patches of skin, although it can take several different forms. In patients with psoriasis, the white blood cells that make up the body’s immune defense system go into overdrive, triggering other immune responses that pile up skin cells at an abnormal rate.
Current treatments for psoriasis such as the drug Enbrel focus on these inflammatory hormones, but the researchers were able to stop the development of psoriasis in mice long before these hormones came into play by injecting an Fas-blocking antibody.
“The finding that antibodies to Fas can prevent psoriasis further demonstrates the complexity of the disease and its numerous molecular pathways,” Gilhar says.
Dr. Alice Gottlieb, chair of the Clinical Research Center at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey agrees. “This research shows that activation of the Fas pathway is important in starting the ball rolling in psoriasis,” comments Gottlieb (who was not involved with this study). “These findings could have implications for other immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease,”
The researchers suspected that the Fas molecule was in the middle of this process, since it is found at high levels in psoriatic skin and leads an intriguing dual life. Most of the time, Fas guides the normal process of cell suicide called apoptosis. But in cells where apoptosis is blocked by other molecules, as it is in psoriatic cells, Fas switches roles and encourages the production of common inflammatory hormones instead.
To figure out exactly where Fas stood in the development of psoriasis, Gilhar and colleagues transferred grafts of clear, non-involved skin from human psoriasis patients to mice. They injected the mice with white blood cells bearing the Fas molecule on their surfaces to jump-start the formation of psoriatic skin lesions.
By blocking Fas action with a special antibody, the researchers were able to show that Fas actually is the key middleman in psoriasis formation. Without Fas, the natural killer cells were unable to trigger the production of the inflammatory hormones that lead to the characteristic skin thickening and other signs of psoriasis.
There is some evidence that Fas is involved in other skin conditions such as eczema, so future treatments targeting the Fas pathway may prove useful for a variety of diseases, suggests Dr. Richard Kalish, Gilhar’s collaborator from SUNY Stony Brook. However, researchers need to develop a human antibody to Fas before the technique could be tested in people.
“The current study is one of the many wonderful papers that have come out of this very productive collaboration across many miles between Dr. Gilhar and Dr. Kalish,” says Gottlieb.
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation in the United States, 1-3 percent of the world’s population suffers from psoriasis. About 30 percent of people with psoriasis have severe cases, where the affected skin covers more than 3 percent of their body. In some people, the disease is associated with a form of arthritis.
The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is Israel's leading science and technology university. Home to the country’s winners of the Nobel Prize in science, it commands a worldwide reputation for its pioneering work in nanotechnology, computer science, biotechnology, water-resource management, materials engineering, aerospace and medicine. The majority of the founders and managers of Israel's high-tech companies are alumni. Based in New York City, the American Technion Society is the leading American organization supporting higher education in Israel, with 17 offices around the country.

Managing Psoriasis In Winter

2006-01-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Fall and winter can be the toughest times of year for people with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis.

A combination of dry air, decreased sunlight exposure, and colder temperatures all contribute to psoriasis getting worse in the winter. Frequent moisturizing and using a home humidifier can help alleviate some of the symptoms. Also, discuss treatment such as UVB or home phototherapy with your doctor.

Anything that can affect the immune system can, in turn, affect psoriasis. Having a cold or the flu can definitely play a role in your psoriasis. Make sure you get plenty of rest, wash your hand frequently, and try to be aware of other triggers in your life, such as stress, that can increase your susceptibility to sickness.

One form of psoriasis called guttate is often associated with strep throat. A microorganism called Streptococcus causes strep infections. Many times a person may not even have symptoms of strep throat but still have an active flare of psoriasis. Talk with your doctor about getting a streptococcal antibody test to determine higher than normal levels of strep in your system.

Smoking Affects Skin

2005-12-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

Heavy smokers may be putting their skin at risk.
A new study shows people who smoked more than a pack of cigarettes per day were twice as likely to have severe psoriasis as those who smoked 10 cigarettes or less per day.
Researchers say the results suggest that cigarette smoking may exacerbate existing psoriasis, and highlights the need for people with the skin condition to quit smoking. Smoking is a risk factor for many other diseases, such as lung cancer and heart disease, but little is known about its relationship to psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that is not contagious or life-threatening, but it causes itchy and sometimes embarrassing red, scaly patches on the skin. Psoriasis can also affect the nails and joints.
In the study, published in the Archives of Dermatology, researchers compared smoking history and severity of psoriasis in 818 adults with psoriasis.
The results showed that people who smoked heavily had twice the risk of severe psoriasis compared with light smokers.
In addition, an increasing number of cigarette-years (a measurement of both the intensity and duration of smoking) also raised the risk of severe psoriasis.
Researchers found that the effect of cigarette-years on psoriasis severity was stronger for women than for men. This means that present women smokers and recent quitters had a higher risk (72%) for worse psoriasis.
In an editorial that accompanies the study, Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, of Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, says the study shows researchers still have a lot to learn about psoriasis. For example, the study does not answer whether psoriasis leads to smoking or smoking exacerbates psoriasis.

Easing Psoriasis And Depression

2005-12-16T08:16:00.000-08:00

Enbrel, a drug approved to treat rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, might also help psoriasis patients mentally and physically.
The finding, published in The Lancet, comes from a study of 618 people with moderate to severe psoriasis.
The study's main goal was to test Enbrel as a psoriasis skin treatment. The researchers also noticed a drop in depression and fatigue in patients who got Enbrel instead of a fake drug.
The researchers included Stephen Tyring, MD, of the dermatology department at the University of Texas Health Science Center, and Ranga Krishnan, MD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University Medical Center.

"While depression scores improved, we cannot be sure why," Krishnan says, in a news release. "Our next step is to run this type of trial in people who have depression but not psoriasis."
"At this point, no one should run to their doctor and ask for this drug for depression," Krishnan continues. "However, the science is very exciting to us."
Enbrel blocks an inflammatory chemical called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha has been linked to fatigue and sleepiness, and it may also be connected to depression, according to background information in the study.

Psoriasis is a common, chronic condition marked by patches of itchy, scaly, and sometimes inflamed skin, often on the elbows, hands, feet, scalp, or back.
Some psoriasis cases are mild. Others are severe, leaving patients feeling self-conscious, isolated, and depressed.
"Depression, substance abuse, and suicidality are common and problematic in patients with psoriasis," write Tyring and colleagues.
Depression is also common in people in general and depression treatments (including talk therapy and the use of antidepressants) are often helpful.

New Possibilities For Psoriasis Sufferers

2005-12-14T07:43:00.000-08:00

An extract found in the cotton plant, gossypol, has shown the strongest anti-inflammatory actions yet seen in the scientific world. In the lab it completely knocks out dozens of different forms of skin inflammation and normalizes dilated, inflammed and hyper-reactive blood vessels. Gossypol's first indication is for the treatment of psoriasis because it also has a normalizing effect on keratinocytes.

Pharmaceutical companies are moving very fast on this substance and have already placed them in nanosomes for penetration into the skin and timed release. Two other skin disorders on their list are rosacea and atopic dermatitis.

Once again, the researchers have never seen an anti-inflammatory as potent, fast acting, and effective on dozens of different inflammatory responses. It out-performed a medium potency, prescription only steroid in a split-face study which is unheard of. Also, the nanosomes drop it off at several different levels in the dermis to treat multiple levels of blood vessels and inflammation. Anecdotally, many patients report diminished burning and stinging sensations within minutes of nanosome delivered gossypol.

Statistics on Psoriasis

2005-12-13T09:25:00.000-08:00

According to a survey done by the National Psoriasis Foundation 75 percent of people with moderate to severe psoriasis report that their disease has a moderate to large impact on their everyday lives:
26 percent alter their normal daily activities
21 percent stop their normal daily activities
40 percent say their psoriasis affects their clothing choices (avoiding dark colors, covering up arms and legs)
36 percent say it affects how they sleep
36 percent report bathing more than normal.

Psoriasis doesn’t discriminate. It is a chronic skin disease affecting 2.1 percent of the U.S. population – more than 4.5 million adults in the United States. It is found in all age groups, and men and women are equally likely to get it. Most people have the first symptoms between the ages of 20 to 30 years old.

There are several types of psoriasis, ranging from mild forms on restricted skin areas to severe forms covering the entire skin surface. The disease often seriously compromises the quality of life of the affected persons. There are is a variety of types of psoriasis, but no matter what form it takes, psoriasis patients can feel very uncomfortable, both because of the itch, the appearance, and the stares from an innocent, but uninformed public.

Treating Psoriasis With Pepper

2005-12-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic inflammatory skin conditions such as Eczema and Psoriasis. And even more of us face the onslaught of chronic dry winter hands. While these skin disorders have become a multi-billion dollar industry -- no drug, or natural remedy has ever been able to conquer their painful symptoms until the release of “PepperCare,” ( http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/prweb/bs_prweb/storytext/prweb318103/17292779/SIG=10rnr5our/*http://www.peppercare.com ) a natural hot pepper based skin cream guaranteed by the manufacturer to relieve most chronic dry itchy skin conditions within days.
Although PepperCare contains hot pepper extract, when applied to the skin – it doesn’t burn. In fact, one application of PepperCare begins to equalize most dry skin conditions overnight leaving the skin’s surface noticeably soothed and renewed.
This incredible skin cream contains 13 active plant based ingredients along with the hot pepper extract, and each is proven to repair damaged skin while preventing further destruction caused by chronic inflammation and dryness. According to the manufacturer (SiCap Industries), each ingredient is specifically designed to kill bacteria, reduce inflammation and replenish dried out skin layers.
“The hot pepper extract is definitely an important part of our formula. Especially for reducing inflammation and ichting, but the Yucca Root powder and Shea Butter are equally important. The formula also contains Grape Seed oil, Rosemary, Calendula and Grapefruit Seed extract. It’s a combination that really works for any chronic dry or itchy skin problem,” says Wayne Perry, president of SiCap Industries.
According to SiCap Industries officials, this unusual herbal cream is designed to kill inflammatory causing bacteria while exfoliating and conditioning the top layers of skin. The result is baby soft skin that looks and feels years younger.
“You notice the results within minutes after applying the cream. Once you rub it in you’ll notice a renewed color and it instantly stops any itch. Even those caused by allergic reactions to things like Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac. Along with all the natural skin conditioners, we also add steam distilled Stinging Nettle oil to help fight off the skin's natural allergic reactions. There’s nothing better for fighting and preventing dry winter skin than PepperCare. This stuff works better than anything else out there and we back it up with a 100% money back guarantee,” boasts Perry.
"Aside from conditions like Eczema and Psoriasis, another big market for us is simple dry winter skin. We sell alot of PepperCare to people who spend alot of time outside in the winter like contractors and toll collectors. It's amazing how many people contact us to tell us how well this cream really works. I mean this stuff will prevent dry winter hands just by using a little everyday," adds Perry.

Winter's Effect on Psoriasis

2005-12-01T11:02:00.000-08:00

Winter's colder, drier air, psoriasis can worsen -- sometimes inviting more of the dry, scaly, itchy red patches associated with this condition to develop.

"The lack of humidity in the air allows the skin to retain moisture less well, and when that occurs, tiny cracks or fissures can develop on the surface of the skin," says Bruce Strober, MD, director of the psoriasis and psoriatic Arthritis Center at NYU Medical Center in New York City.

psoriasis most commonly appears on the scalp, knees, elbows, and torso but can develop more readily in areas where skin is traumatized or "broken." Strober says anything that causes that to happen -- like cool, dry air -- can also exacerbate the disease.

According to the National psoriasis Foundation, this irritating skin condition comes in several different forms with varying levels of severity. In nearly all cases, however, it begins when the normal system of cell turnover goes awry.

"Normally the top layer of skin makes itself over every 28 to 30 days -- the old cells are microscopically shed, while the new ones take their place," says Mark Lebwohl, MD, phD, chairman of the department of dermatology at the Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City. In psoriasis, however, Lebwohl says that this natural process is sped up dramatically.

"In psoriasis, cells turn over as quickly as every two to three days," says Lebwohl.
The old cells don't shed off normally and new cells multiply so quickly they stick together and form lesions called patches or plaques. In the most common form of this condition, the end result can be dry, scaly, red, and sometimes itchy patches of skin. And the drier your skin gets, the worse the patches can look -- and feel.

The good news: Judicious use of moisturizer can make a huge difference -- particularly as the seasons change. Not only can this help keep tiny cracks in the skin from forming, it can also help the dry patches already there look and feel better.
"Continued use of a good penetrating moisturizer, as well a bath oil, is absolutely vital to controlling psoriasis in any weather, but particularly during dry, cold weather," says Milton Moore, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

In fact, getting moisture deep into the skin is so important that Moore used his degrees in pharmacy and medicine to develop a patent-pending pretreatment lotion known as "Hydroglide pre Application Lotion." When applied to psoriatic plaques first, he says, studies presented before the American Academy of Dermatology showed it can help almost any moisturizer or topical medication penetrate more deeply.

Other doctors say any bland but greasy moisturizer will work it's way into the skin as well, as long as you apply a lot of it and use it often, particularly after bathing.

RolerRx and Abbott Join Forces In Psoriasis Treatment

2005-11-29T09:43:00.000-08:00

TolerRx Inc. has entered into an agreement with Abbott for the manufacturing of TolerRx’s TRX4 monoclonal antibody to treat diabetes and severe psoriasis. TolerRx is a Cambridge-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies to treat patients with immune-mediated diseases. Abbott is a global health-care corporation with laboratories in Worcester.TolerRx has two antibodies in clinical development: TRX4 in type 1 diabetes and psoriasis, and TRX1 in cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The company is enrolling subjects in a Phase 1b/2 trial of type 1 diabetes and a Phase 1b trial of moderate to severe psoriasis.Abbott will perform scale-up and GMP manufacturing of TRX4 for use in clinical trials, as well as supply commercial-grade material to support regulatory submissions and potential commercial launch.

Dry Skin Moisturizer

2005-11-18T09:33:00.000-08:00

If your skin is dry enough to chafe, crack, or bleed - or if you suffer from mild eczema, psoriasis, or atopic dermatitis - forget regular hand or body lotion - You need intensive moisture therapy.
Renew Intensive Skin Therapy is a therapeutic moisturizer that delivers hours of moisturizing relief. The only dry skin therapy of its kind, Renew combines allantoin with the soothing, penetrating power of T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil. Allantoin, an herbal extract found in comfrey, pulls moisture deep into your skin, so it won't wash off. As it penetrates, allantoin helps to actually form a protective seal against moisture loss. The unique properties of T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil help naturally soothe dry skin irritation. Renew Intensive Skin Therapy absorbs quickly and completely-leaving no greasy residue. It keeps working... even after repeated washing.

Tumeric May Improve Psoriasis

2005-11-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

Turmeric, the Asian spice that makes curry yellow, not to mention French's mustard and Hindu priests' robes, has yet another life: It's a promising potential weapon against several cancers, Alzheimer's, cystic fibrosis, psoriasis and other diseases.
"We know that it's an effective preventive at low doses," said Dr. Bharat Aggarwal, of the experimental therapeutics department at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. "The question is whether larger doses can be therapeutic" for disease sufferers.
At least a dozen clinical trials on humans are under way in the United States, Israel and England to test the safety and dosages of turmeric's main ingredient, curcumin. It's a hot topic in health journals, too, cited 967 times since 2000 in articles reported on PubMed, the National Library of Medicine's research service.
The University of Maryland Medical Center has a briefing on turmeric: www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/Turmericch.html
The online encyclopedia Wikipedia offers objective information on turmeric: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric
Abstracts of research on turmeric and curcumin: www.PubMed.org and type in those words as search terms.
Recipe sites
McCormick Spice : www.mccormick.com. Search for turmeric.
Epicurious.com : www.epicurious.com. Search for turmeric.
International Recipes Online : www.internationalrecipesonline.com/recipes. Click on "recipes," then enter turmeric as a keyword and click on "Search."
The spice, which is a relative of ginger, comes from the stems of the root of a large-leafed plant widely grown in Asia, especially in the province of Maharashtra in southwest India. The stems are boiled, dried and crushed to a powder with a bitter woody taste that's widely used as a spice and in folk medicines to cure stomach ailments and skin lesions. Turmeric was in use when the first Westerner, Marco Polo, visited the region in the 13th century.
Dietary link suspected
Low rates among Indians for colorectal, prostate and lung cancers as well as coronary heart disease and Alzheimer's first drew Western researchers to curcumin. While genetics might have explained the low incidences, the rise in rates among Indians whose parents had moved to Western countries suggested a dietary cause. Subsequent lab tests on diseased cells and in mice strengthened claims for curcumin.
It's been demonstrated in animals to protect the liver, inhibit tumors, reduce inflammation and fight some infections. Curcumin has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, according to researchers, and may help lower cholesterol.
Unlike newly invented pharmaceuticals, "we know a lot about curcumin because it's been used widely for many years," said Dr. Christopher Goss of the University of Washington Medical Center. He's recruiting cystic fibrosis patients for a Phase I study of curcumin's safety and efficacy. The patients will take up to three grams daily — six of the biggest pills that U.S. pharmacies sell. That's more than 50 times the amount of curcumin in a portion of curry.
Goss also will be seeking insight into findings reported last year in the journal Science that curcumin corrects the cystic fibrosis defect in mice. The defect, which suppresses a mutant protein essential to cell health, results in thick mucous that fatally clogs the lungs and pancreas. Researchers from Yale University and the University of Toronto found that curcumin treatment released the protein and enabled cells and membranes to function normally, at least in mice.
Quite a difference
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, a nonprofit drug-research arm, sponsored this study and Goss' work. Among Indians and Pakistanis living in England, the cystic fibrosis rate is 1 in 10,000, according to an epidemiological study. That compares with 1 in 2,500 among Caucasians. Rates in India and Pakistan are unknown.
The U.S. National Institute on Aging has launched a clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of curcumin for individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. A report in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in December found that in mice injected with a chemical that mimics Alzheimer's, curcumin reduced by half the buildup of knots in the brain called amyloid plaques, which have been linked to Alzheimer's.
M.D. Anderson, the Houston cancer center, has small trials under way testing curcumin on pancreatic and bone marrow tumors. Colon-cancer studies using curcumin are under way elsewhere.
All trials are in the earliest and easiest of four stages, preceding any Food and Drug Administration approval of a curcumin-based pharmaceutical by many years. Many drugs that look promising in mice fail to deliver in humans or prove to have dangerous side effects.
Curcumin's side effects are less of a concern, because it's been so widely used for so long. But there's an issue with it that doesn't arise with drugs created in labs:
Curcumin consumed in small amounts from an early age may ward off some Western ailments, Aggarwal said. But once someone's contracted these diseases, curcumin's ability to counteract them is largely unproved.

Amevivie Slows Joint Damage In Psoriatic Arthritis

2005-11-12T05:03:00.000-08:00

Biogen Idec Inc. said Tuesday a drug it sells to treat psoriasis appeared to slow joint damage in arthritis associated with the skin condition in a recent mid-stage trial.

In February, the biotechnology firm presented data from the first part of the study showing that its Amevive drug significantly improved the signs of symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. That data came from 185 patients given Amevive plus a common anti-inflammatory over 6 months, compared with those give the anti-inflammatory alone.

Cambridge, Mass.-based Biogen added Tuesday that x-rays of patients hands and feet showed that joint damage had progressed more slowly in those who took Amevive for 24 weeks. However, follow-up tests after another 6 months were inconclusive. The second-half of the study was "open label," meaning that patients were aware they were taking Amevive.

Psoriasis and associated psoriatic arthritis are disorders that are believed to result when the immune system begins acting abnormally, attacking healthy cells and causing inflammation.
Amevive works by suppressing some of the immune system's ability. The drug has led to serious liver injury in some patients.

HIV Positive Individuals Should Avoid Amevive

2005-11-10T04:52:00.000-08:00

FDA and the pharmaceutical company Biogen Idec on Thursday said HIV-positive individuals should not take the company's skin drug Amevive because it might lower their CD4+ T cell counts, Reuters reports (Reuters, 11/10). The drug is approved to treat moderate to severe psoriasis, an autoimmune skin disorder (Dow Jones/Boston Globe, 11/11). In a letter to health care providers last month, Biogen contraindicated Amevive for HIV-positive patients (Reuters, 11/10). Carmen Bozic, senior director of drug safety and risk management for Biogen, wrote that the contraindication says "Amevive should not be administered to patients with HIV. Amevive reduces CD4+ T lymphocyte counts, which might accelerate disease progression or increase complications of disease in these patients" (Biogen Idec letter, October 2005).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org.

Canadian Company Completes Phase III Clinical Trials

2005-11-07T04:20:00.000-08:00

Isotechnika Inc. announcedtoday the unaudited 24 week data for the Company's Canadian Phase IIIpsoriasis trial for its lead immunosuppressive drug, ISA247. A summary of the results is as follows: - All primary and secondary efficacy endpoints were achieved at 24 weeks - Efficacy endpoints were achieved with minimal side effects - In the mid- and low-dose groups, continued improvement in PASI scores were observed from 12 to 24 weeks - No clinically significant differences in mean serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were observed amongst the four treatment groups at 24 weeks "We are extremely pleased to have met our endpoints and achieved a dosethat demonstrates a continual increase in efficacy with minimal effect onrenal function," stated Dr. Randall Yatscoff, Isotechnika's President & CEO."Again, this positions us well for future clinical trials with ISA247.

This data supports that ISA247, at therapeutic doses, is efficacious with minimalside effects." The overall decrease in PASI scores at 24 weeks for the low (0.2 mg/kgtwice daily), mid (0.3 mg/kg twice daily) and high (0.4 mg/kg twice daily)dose groups were 41%, 55% and 70%, respectively. For the placebo patients thatconverted to the mid dose group at 12 weeks the overall decrease in PASI scorewas 62%. The PASI 50 scores at 24 weeks for the mid (0.3 mg/kg twice daily)and high (0.4 mg/kg twice daily) dose groups were 56% and 70%, respectively.PASI 75 scores for the mid and high dose groups were 26% and 49% at 24 weeks.

Patients treated in the mid dose group and low dose group (0.2 mg/kg twicedaily) experienced a continual increase in efficacy over the 24 week periodwith minimal effect on renal function. Both the PASI 50 and PASI 75 scoreswere statistically significant (p less than 0.05) versus placebo. In all dosegroups, PASI scores exhibited good efficacy. Following 24 weeks of treatment, there were no clinically significantchanges noted in the following parameters; hypertension, cholesterol,triglycerides and infectious complications which is consistent with thepreviously released interim report. Additionally, the incidence oftreatment-related adverse events in patients receiving ISA247 was notdifferent to those receiving placebo. The mean decrease in glomerular filtration rate at 24 weeks in the low,mid and high dose groups was 3.0%, 2.8%, and 6.0%, respectively. This meanpercentage change is not clinically significant as it is within normalanalytical and physiological variation. There were no progressive changes inrenal function from 12 to 24 weeks in all dose groups. Of the 451 patientsenrolled in the trial a total of 7 patients, (six in the high dose (7%) andone in the mid dose (1%)) experienced two consecutive greater than 30%decreases in glomerular filtration rate. Patients originally receiving placebothat were subsequently crossed over to the mid-dose group at 12 weeks showedno change in kidney function. Dr. Robert Bissonnette, a principal investigator involved in thePhase III SPIRIT trial stated, "Results from patients treated with ISA247 for24 weeks confirm its safety and efficacy profile in the treatment ofpsoriasis. These results suggest that ISA247 could become one of our firstline systemic treatments for moderate to severe psoriasis." Management will provide an overview of the unblinded Phase III data thismorning at 8:00 a.m. EST/ 6:00 a.m. MST. All Interested parties can access thelive web cast (listen only mode) by going tohttp://www.newswire.ca/en/webcast/index.cgi?companyID=815958378.Alternatively, you may access the web cast through our corporate Web site athttp://www.isotechnika.com. The web cast will be archived for a six month periodthrough the web cast archives at http://www.newswire.ca. The Canadian Phase III Psoriasis (SPIRIT) trial commenced on December 2,2004. The trial was conducted at 32 sites over a 24 week period using orallyadministered ISA247 in psoriatic patients. This randomized, double-blind trial examined the efficacy of three dosing groups of ISA247 (0.2 mg/kg, 0.3 mg/kgand 0.4 mg/kg) administered twice daily compared to placebo with equal numbers of patients assigned to each of the four treatment groups. The 24 week results outlined below are based on a total of 451 patients.

Seborrheic and Psoriasis

2005-11-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

Psoriasis can occur simultaneously with seborrhoeic dermatitis, a more common scalp condition. This combination is referred to as Sebopsoriasis.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis has some differences from psoriasis. Its scale is usually diffuse throughout the scalp, as opposed to the raised, well defined plaques associated with psoriasis. It also tends to localize on the face and front of the chest. When these symptoms are combined with the symptoms of psoriasis, Sebopsorias results.

Sebopsoriasis has a more yellowish, greasy scale than the typical silvery, dry scale associated with psoriasis. It will occur not only on the scalp, but on the face and chest - similar to the pattern associated with that of seborrhoeic dermatitis. It is deeper red in color, has more defined margins, and a thicker scale than seborrhoeic dermatitis alone.

A Link Between Heart Disease And Psoriasis?

2005-11-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

People severely afflicted by psoriasis have a significantly increased risk of dying from heart disease, new research shows.

A Swedish study found that patients hospitalised with the skin disorder were 50% more likely to die from a heart condition than expected.
The extra risk increased sharply as patients got younger, rising to 162% for those admitted under the age of 40.

For severe psoriasis sufferers aged 40-59 when they were hospitalised, the risk was 91% higher than in the average population.

However the same trend was not seen in less seriously affected individuals who were not admitted to hospital.

The findings emerge from a Swedish study of almost 9,000 psoriasis patients admitted to dermatology wards and more than 19,000 outpatients.

They suggest a genetic defect linking the skin condition and heart problems.

Serious psoriasis sufferers are known to have raised levels of blood cholesterol, which is a chief indicator of heart and artery disease.

Previously this was blamed on the age of older patients or the long term effect of drugs used to treat the disorder.

But the Swedish researchers found high cholesterol levels in a group of 600 newly diagnosed patients who had been suffering from psoriasis for less than a year.

Ultraviolet Therapy For Psoriasis

2005-10-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

Most people with psoriasis know that spending time in the sun can help clear up their skin. That's because the sun is the most common source of ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet A light primarily causes the skin to tan, while ultraviolet B light causes tanning and sunburns. Lamps that produce both types of light are sometimes used to treat moderate or severe cases of psoriasis.

Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A
On its own, ultraviolet A does not have a significant effect on psoriasis. The medication psoralen makes the skin respond to ultraviolet A. Psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), also called photochemotherapy, involves a combination of the medication psoralen and ultraviolet A rays.
Therefore, the first step in a PUVA treatment is to either ingest psoralen pills two hours before the treatment or apply it by painting it on or soaking in a tub of water that contains psoralen about 15 minutes before the light treatment.
Light treatments last between 30 seconds and several minutes. Most people require treatments two or three times a week for a total of 20 or 30 treatments to clear the skin. After that, many people require maintenance treatments. For some people, one treatment a month is enough; others may need more frequent maintenance.
PUVA appears to be effective in 85 to 90 percent of patients. The treatment is especially helpful for people with stable plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, which causes droplet-shaped lesions instead of larger patches of psoriasis, and psoriasis on the hands and feet.
The side effects of PUVA include nausea (from the oral medication), itching and skin redness. Long-term use of PUVA increases the risk of skin cancer. The treatment also can cause freckling, skin aging and cataracts. The increased risk of cataracts can be avoided if patients wear eye protection for 12 to 25 hours after ingesting psoralen.

Ultraviolet B
Ultraviolet B therapy involves coating the skin with an emollient such as mineral oil or petroleum jelly, and then exposing the skin to UVB light for brief periods, sometimes just a few seconds. Occasionally, medicated lotions, like anthralin-salicylic acid paste or pills, like retinoids, are used in combination with UVB therapy.
There are two types of UVB therapy: broadband and narrowband. Broadband therapy, which has been available for more than 80 years, involves a wide spectrum of UVB wavelengths. Patients require three to five treatments a week. Narrowband therapy is newer and involves a narrow band of UVB wavelengths. It is more effective than broadband treatment, requiring two to three treatments a week.
The skin usually clears up after about 15 to 25 treatments. Maintenance treatments, perhaps two a week, begin as soon as lesions reappear.
Although UVB treatment is less effective than PUVA, it has fewer side effects and is less likely to cause skin cancer.

Questions to ask your doctor:
1. How many treatments will I need?
2. Are there any lotions or medications I should avoid before treatments?
3. Will I need special screening for skin cancer after treatment?

Advitech Tries to Bring Psoriasis Product to Market

2005-10-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

Advitech is embroiled in discussions with potential partners to bring its XP-828L product to market, targeting sufferers of mild to moderate psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases.The Canadian biotech has spent the past year conducting clinical trials to support the safety and efficacy of its sweet whey-derived ingredient, to give it more weight with both dermatologists and natural product suppliers.
It now says it has signed confidentiality agreements and met with companies from the United States, Europe and Asia, and has been contacted by a number of companies interested in distributing the product.
Advitech's immediate aim is to sign an agreement in principle with its first marketing partner before 2005 is out.
At the beginning of this month, Advitech announced positive results of a preclinical study into XP-828P for inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and autoimmune colitis, conducted in collaboration with Patrice Poubelle at the Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval. The in vivo studies using two animal models indicated statistically-significant improvements of several clinical parameters, and showed a dose-dependent effect, said the company.
“These results confirm the potential of our XP-828L platform in the development of additional applications for chronic inflammatory diseases,”said president and CEO Renaud Beauchesne.
“Our strategy at this time consists in identifying the best possible partner for continuing the development of this application, and for bringing it to market. Discussions are already under way to develop a partnership for this application.”
However the company's net loss continued to deepen in 3Q 2005, to C$528,100 compared to C$446,100 for the same period of last year. Operating expenses increased two percent to C$617,300, while total revenues plummeted from C$160,200 to C$89,200.
Advitech said it is “currently reviewing options to ensure continuous funding of its activities”. One thing is apparent, however: the bioactive ingredient Lactium, for which Advitech sells to the US market under a 1999 agreement with Ingredia, is not performing as a cash cow.
Although the company indicated earlier this year that it plans to continue with this venture, the failure of resale activities to meet expectations and no new distribution agreements for the US market is causing it to reconsider.
“The company will be reassessing the status of such activities in the future and may decide not to renew its distribution agreement for this product,” it said.

A Film About Psoriasis

2005-10-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

"People judge us on the basis of our skin — our whole culture is based on cosmetics, lotions, creams and all that," said Finkelstein, of Oakland, Calif. "With (psoriasis), there's a whole layer of psychosocial problems, feelings of embarrassment, of shame, of ultimately feeling isolated."
But these days, Finkelstein, a filmmaker, has cast off the shy persona and is sharing his story with a new documentary, "My Skin's on Fire: Living With Psoriasis." DVDs of the film can be ordered for free at www.beyondpsoriasis.com.
He said now is an ideal time to shed light on the skin disease that affects more than 5 million people because, thanks to new medications, it's no longer a disease that needs to remain hopelessly hidden.
Rather than treating the disease topically, a new class of drugs known as "biologics" and "immuno-supressants" target the internal cause — an immune system on overdrive, which leads to the visible pile-up of inflamed skin cells. Inflammation normally protects the body, but too much of it is harmful.
"Here, really in the last 2 to 3 years, they've changed the disease of psoriasis. For many years it was considered an inflammatory skin disease. Now it's known as an 'immune-mediated disease,'" he says. "They've been able to pinpoint some of the mechanisms that misfire in the immune system."
But as Finkelstein's film shows, living with psoriasis is often far more than just a bothersome condition. Its obvious symptoms — flaky, red skin — can be a tremendous mental burden as well.
In the film, Finkelstein follows the typical trajectory of dealing with psoriasis. First, small patches of flaky skin crop up, usually when a person is a young adult. Then comes the diagnosis of psoriasis. The person may feel confused, wondering where they got such a disease, but a bit of questioning often reveals that it runs in the family — a trait kept hidden from most family members. Then, the person goes through a long trial of different treatments, many of which don't work.
Thankfully, that last step has been shortened by the advent of biologic drugs, said Dr. Alan Menter, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and founder of the International Psoriasis Council.
Menter, who was interviewed for Finkelstein's film, said it accurately portrays the emotional burden of the disease.
For example, when patients first come to him for medical help, they often are overweight and depressed, Menter said. Most newly-diagnosed patients are young adults.
"For example, you take a 25-year-old, standing in the mirror seeing these crusted patches all over his or her body. They're trying to go out and get a date and it's crushing. They can hide it with clothing but that can't hide it from themselves or when they relationship starts becoming intimate," he said.
But Menter and Finkelstein are both optimistic that this will be less of a problem in the coming years, as more people are treated with medicines that truly help quell the disease.
"Right now I think there are something like 40 new drugs," Finkelstein said. "The future looks very bright for all of us who have suffered for so many years. I think it's a very good time to be talking about psoriasis."

EAR PSORIASIS

2005-10-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis is commonly found in the ears too. In this case it can appear as dry scales in the ear canal. It also occurs behind the ear so this area has to be checked to look for the plaques if the diagnosis of psoriasis is considered. The image shows some dryness of the skin in the ear, with some scaling, which is characteristic of psoriasis.

Junior Psoriatic Arthritis

2005-10-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

Juvenile psoriatic arthritis can be tricky to diagnose. While psoriasis is a common skin condition, associated primarily with a chronic rash all over the, only about 12 to 14 percent of people with psoriasis will develop related arthritis.CausesGenetic and environmental factors play a strong role in the development of psoriatic arthritis. A family history of psoriasis is linked to many children with juvenile psoriatic arthritis, as well as a family history of other forms of spondyloarthropathy. There is little relationship between the severity of a rash and the risk of getting juvenile psoriatic arthritis, however.NOTE: In some people with juvenile psoriatic arthritis, the arthritis shows up before the rash. In these cases, diagnosis can be so difficult that it may take up to 10 years to be certain of a definite diagnosis.Signs and Symptoms
Pitting or thickening and yellowing of the fingernails and toenails
A small round scaly patch on the scalp, belly button or buttocks
Joint problems in large joints, such as the hip and sacroiliac joints
Joint problems can occur on just one side or in the same joints on both sides of the body
Swelling of entire fingers or toes, making them resemble sausages (dactylitis)
Eye inflammation occurs in 10 to 20 percent of children
NOTE: Children with juvenile psoriatic arthritis should be examined by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) annually to check for eye problems.Long-term Concerns
Damage to the eyes or other eye problems
Decreased range of motion of a joint
Shortening or lengthening of a limb or digit
Damaged cartilage and/or enlargement of a joint
NOTE: Many children have no long-term consequences of having juvenile psoriatic arthritis. Your child may have none, one or several of the concerns listed above, but you should be on the lookout for any or all of them

Statistics on Psoriasis

2005-10-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

The numbers tell the story about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

About 2.1 percent of the U.S. population has psoriasis

More than 4.5 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with psoriasis

Often appears between the ages of 15 and 35, but can develop at any age.Some infants have psoriasis, although this is considered rare

Three percent to 10 percent of the body affected by psoriasis is considered to be a moderate case. More than 10 percent is considered severe. The palm of the hand equals 1 percent of the skin. However, the severity of psoriasis is also measured by how psoriasis affects a person's quality of life. Psoriasis can have a serious impact even if it involves a small area, such as the palms of the hands or soles of the feet.

About 30 percent of people with psoriasis have cases that are considered moderate to severe (generally meaning it covers more than 3 percent of their body)

More than 1.5 million Americans have moderate to severe psoriasis

Severe types of psoriasis can compromise the skin's ability to control body temperature and prevent infections

Psoriasis' impact on the quality of life
75 percent of people with moderate to severe psoriasis report that their disease has a moderate to large impact on their everyday lives:
26 percent alter their normal daily activities
21 percent stop their normal daily activities
40 percent say their psoriasis affects their clothing choices (avoiding dark colors, covering up arms and legs)
36 percent say it affects how they sleep
36 percent report bathing more than normal(based on results of National Psoriasis Foundation 2001 Benchmark Survey on Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis)

Psoriasis may disqualify a person from serving in the U.S. military

About 1 million people in the U.S. population have psoriatic arthritis; that equals about 0.5 percent of the country

Between 10 percent and 30 percent of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis usually develops between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can develop at any time

Generally psoriasis appears before the psoriatic arthritis, but it can develop without the characteristic skin lesions

There are five types of psoriatic arthritis

Psoriasis patients make nearly 2.4 million visits to dermatologists each year
Overall costs of treating psoriasis may exceed $3 billion annually
150,000 to 260,000 cases of psoriasis are diagnosed each year

If one parent has psoriasis, children have a 10 percent to 25 percent chance of developing psoriasis
If both parents have psoriasis, children have a 50 percent chance

Psoriasis affects an estimated 1 percent to 3 percent of the world's population

ARTHRITIS DRUG FOUND HELPFUL FOR PSORIASIS

2005-10-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

A drug for rheumatoid arthritis can relieve the suffering of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis for a year, researchers said on Friday.
They found that infliximab, which is marketed under the name Remicade by Johnson & Johnson in the United States and by Schering-Plough Corp in other markets, improved symptoms of the chronic skin condition that affects 2 percent of the population in western countries.
"This is the first study to show that the very rapid and dramatic improvement that you see with psoriasis can, in the majority of patients, be maintained over at least the medium term -- over the course of a year," said Professor Christopher Griffiths, of the University of Manchester in England.
Previous trials have only looked into the impact of the drug on psoriasis over a short period of about 12 weeks.
The study published in The Lancet medical journal also showed patients saw a significant improvement in one of the most disturbing features of psoriasis: nail disease.
"Up until now it has been extremely difficult to treat," Griffiths told Reuters.
He and his colleagues compared the effects of the intravenous treatment to a placebo, or dummy drug, on 378 patients with the illness.
Each patient was given three intravenous infusions of the drug or a placebo over six weeks and then every 8 weeks for nearly a year. After less than 3 months on the treatment, 80 percent of the patients showed at least a 75 percent improvement, compared to 3 percent in the placebo group.
By the end of the trial, the drug completely cleared the skin condition in a quarter of patients but no one in the placebo group had the same result.
"Some of the patients were improved to the extent that they had no psoriasis and there was no impairment of their quality of life. So this is the best result you could possibly aim for with a treatment for psoriasis," said Griffiths.
"Compared with the other available treatments, it does work extremely effectively and extremely quickly."
The scientists said none of the patients given the drug had any serious side effects. But they stressed that the treatment is not a cure. It is likely patients would have to be on a long-term maintenance programme.
Psoriasis, an immune mediated disease, can develop at any age but it occurs most commonly before the age of 40. Psoriasis patches can also show up on the fingernails and toenails. About 15 percent of patients also suffer from arthritis linked to the condition.
European regulators recently approved infliximab for the treatment of psoriasis but the drug has not yet been approved for the skin condition in the United States.
The drug is also used as a treatment for Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel condition.

Psoriasis Triggers

2005-10-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis triggersPsoriasis is not contagious—no one can "catch" it from another person. Because of their genes, certain people are more likely to develop it, but a "trigger" is usually necessary to make psoriasis appear. These triggers may include emotional stress, injury to the skin, some types of infection and reaction to certain drugs.
StressStress is a proven trigger in some people. It can cause psoriasis to flare for the first time or aggravate existing psoriasis.
Relaxation and stress reduction may help people with psoriasis. For example, not only does relaxation help lower stress levels, but also it gives people a feeling of control. These techniques, however, seem to work best with traditional medical treatments, instead of using the techniques alone.
How can people cope with stress?
Cope with the stigma: A stigma—a characteristic that other people think of as negative—can erode a person's self-esteem. Low self-esteem can lead to stress, and possibly a worsening of psoriasis. One way to overcome the stigma, however, is to understand how and why it occurs.
Hypnosis: This relaxation technique may help people who are using other treatments. For example, one study found that people who listen to meditation-based relaxation tapes while they are using light therapy may clear faster than those who don't listen to the tapes.
Injury to skinSometimes psoriasis appears in areas of the skin that have been injured or traumatized. This is called the "Koebner phenomenon." Vaccinations, sunburns and scratches can all trigger a Koebner (KEB-ner) response. The Koebner response can be treated if it is caught early enough. For example, people receiving a vaccination may be at risk for the Koebner response, but the physician can bring it under control if the psoriasis occurs at the injection site.
MedicineCertain medications are associated with triggering psoriasis.
Lithium: Used to treat manic depression and other psychiatric disorders. Lithium aggravates psoriasis in about half of those with psoriasis who take it. However, people can ask their physicians about alternatives to lithium.
Antimalarials: Quinacrine, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine may cause a flare of psoriasis, usually two to three weeks after the drug is taken. Hydroxychloroquine has the lowest incidence of side effects.
Inderal: This high blood pressure medication worsens psoriasis in about 25 percent to 30 percent of patients with psoriasis who take it. It is not known if all high blood pressure (beta blocker) medications worsen psoriasis, but they may have that potential. Sometimes other medications can be substituted.
Quinidine: This heart medication has been reported to worsen some cases of psoriasis.
Indomethacin: This drug is used to treat arthritis. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It has worsened some cases of psoriasis. Other anti-inflammatories usually can be substituted. Indomethacin's negative effects are usually minimal when it is taken properly. Its side effects are usually outweighed by its benefits in psoriatic arthritis.
What are some other triggers?Allergies: Although unproven, some people suspect that allergies trigger their psoriasis.
Diet: Although unproven, changing the diet has helped some people improve their psoriasis or avoid flares.
Strep infection: May trigger guttate psoriasis.
Weather: May make skin drier and more susceptible to a psoriasis outbreak.

Psoriasis: The 2000 Year Old Itch

2005-10-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

The first mention of the disease we now know as psoriasis was by the Greek physician Hippocrates, who lived between 460 and 377 BC. Psoriasis appeared again in the first century AD in the writings of a Roman author named Cornelius Celsus. He described it as a variation of impetigo. In the late 1700s, the English dermatologist Robert Willan recognized psoriasis as its own condition. But it wasn't until 1841 that the condition was given the name "psoriasis" by Viennese dermatologist Ferdinand Hebra; he was also the first to describe the picture of psoriasis we have today. The word was derived from the Greek word "psora" meaning "to itch."

The Origin of the Term Psoriasis

2005-10-05T08:18:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis was first given that name in complete differentiation from other skin conditions by the Austrian dermatologist Ferdinand von Hebra in 1841, although there are what are believed to be descriptions of the disease in sources going back to ancient Roman and possibly even biblical times.

Psoriasis Home Care

2005-10-02T05:40:00.000-07:00

Skin care at home can help control psoriasis. Skin care and treatment may include using creams or lotions, pills, baths or soaks, and ultraviolet (UV) light. Skin care for psoriasis includes the following:
Take care of your skin and keep it moist and lubricated.
Gently soften and remove psoriasis crusts by putting cream on the crusts and then peeling the loose crusts off. Removing crusts may help creams and lotions to be absorbed in the skin. However, this should be done very carefully so that the skin is not irritated.
Follow instructions for skin products and prescribed medications. It may take a period of trial and error until you know which skin products or procedures work best for you. For mild symptoms of psoriasis, various nonprescription medications, such as aloe vera, may be soothing.
Follow your schedule for sunlight or ultraviolet light treatments.
Seek information or counseling from your doctor. Psoriasis day care centers may be available in limited locations. To find a center near you, ask your doctor or contact the National Psoriasis Foundation at www.psoriasis.org.
For more information on caring for your skin, see:
Skin care for psoriasis.
Other helpful suggestions to control psoriasis include:
Protecting your skin. Treat all infections promptly, and try to avoid skin injuries and irritation.
Taking care of your scalp. When you have psoriasis on your scalp, treat your scalp, not your hair.
Trimming your nails. Keeping your nails trimmed may prevent the spread or flare-ups of psoriasis.
Being careful in the sun. Although short periods of sun exposure reduce psoriasis in most people, too much sun exposure can damage the skin and cause skin cancer. In addition, sunburns can trigger flares of psoriasis.
Being aware of possible medication reactions. Certain medications can trigger psoriasis or make symptoms worse.
Studies have not found any "psoriasis diet" that can cure or improve the condition, despite claims over the years. Try to eat a balanced, low-fat diet and maintain a healthy weight.

What is Psoriasis?

2005-09-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes skin cells to grow too quickly, resulting in thick, white, or red patches of skin. The patches range in size from small to large and typically occur on the knees, elbows, scalp, hands, feet, or lower back. Psoriasis is most common in adults, although children and teens may be affected.
Normally, skin cells mature gradually and are shed about every 28 days. New skin cells replace outer layers of the skin surface that are shed or sloughed off during normal daily activity. In psoriasis, skin cells do not mature but instead move rapidly up to the surface of the skin over 3 to 6 days and build up, forming the characteristic patches (plaques).

Psoriasis Facts

2005-09-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition affecting approximately 4.5 million people in the United States.
New skin cells grow too rapidly, resulting in inflamed, swollen, scaly patches of skin in areas where the old skin has not shed quickly enough.
Psoriasis can be limited to a few spots or can involve more extensive areas of the body, appearing most commonly on the scalp, knees, elbows and trunk.
Psoriasis is not a contagious disease.
The cause of psoriasis is unknown, and there currently is no cure.Psoriasis can strike people at any age, but the average age of onset is approximately 28 years. Likewise, it affects both men and women, with a slightly higher prevalence in women than in men.
Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis are estimated to have moderate-to-severe forms of the disease.Psoriasis can be a physically and emotionally painful condition.
It often results in physical limitations, disfiguration and a significant burden in managing the daily care of the disease.
Psoriasis sufferers may feel embarrassed, angry, frustrated, fearful, depressed and, in some cases, even suicidal.

Psoriasis Treatment

2005-09-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

Treatment of psoriasis is determined by the location, severity and history of psoriasis in each individual. There is no one method of treatment, for each person with psoriasis may respond differently. One main objective of treatment is to slow down the more rapid than usual growth rate of the skin cells. The rapid growth rate of skin cells causes the red, scaly psoriasis patches. The underlying cause of this increased skin growth is not yet known. For patients with minimal psoriasis, therapy is limited to topical medications that are drugs applied to the skin. For patients with moderate to widespread psoriasis, topical treatments are often combined with ultraviolet light therapy. Either sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light therapy can be used. If topical and ultraviolet light therapy are not effective, or are not practical, systemic or oral medications can be used. These may be combined with ultraviolet light therapy, the so-called photo-chemotherapy or PUVA therapy. In severe cases and unresponsive cases of psoriasis, there are oral medications that slow down the growth rate of skin which are helpful. These drugs can have significant side effects and have to be used with the proper safeguard and caution. Even these strong drugs do not cure psoriasis but only help to control the disease.

Treating Guttate Psoriasis

2005-09-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

Usually Guttate psoriasis spontaneously disappears in a few weeks without treatment. Simple reassurance and emollients may be sufficient care. As in other conditions, the choice of treatment should be tailored to the individual. For example, applying topical steroids, although effective, could be cumbersome, especially when the eruption is extensive as in most cases of guttate psoriasis.
Antimicrobials: Because of the clear association between guttate psoriasis and streptococcal infection in most cases, obtaining a throat culture for each bout of pharyngitis in patients with a known history of psoriasis and immediately starting the proper antibiotic treatment depending on the culture results are imperative. See Medication below for specific drugs.
Phototherapy: The clearance of guttate lesions can be accelerated by judicious exposure to sunlight or by a short course of either broadband UV-B or narrowband UV-B phototherapy. More resistant cases may benefit from oral psoralen plus exposure to ultraviolet A radiation (PUVA). Aside from the usual mechanisms by which UV light is believed to exert its beneficial effects in psoriasis, a specific fibrosing response to PUVA via increased mast cell activation has been observed in guttate psoriasis and might underlie the mechanism of action behind UV-induced resolution of the lesions. Considering the developments in photomedicine over the last several years, particularly regarding the clinical efficacy of narrowband UV-B phototherapy, treatment with narrowband UV-B might show equally satisfying results.

Understanding Guttate Psoriasis

2005-09-20T05:03:00.000-07:00

Guttate psoriasis refers to a distinctive, acute clinical presentation of an eruption characterized by small, droplike, 1-10 mm in diameter, salmon-pink papules, usually with a fine scale. The word guttate comes from the Latin word gutta, meaning drop. This type of psoriasis primarily occurs on the trunk and the proximal extremities, but it may have a generalized distribution.
It is most common in individuals younger than 30 years with a history of upper respiratory infection secondary to group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (eg, Streptococcus pyogenes) often precedes the eruption by 2-3 weeks. Although recurrent episodes may occur, especially those due to pharyngeal carriage of streptococci, isolated bouts are known to occur.
The sudden appearance of the papular lesions may be either the first manifestation of psoriasis in a previously unaffected individual or an acute exacerbation of long-standing plaque psoriasis. On the other hand, guttate psoriasis may be chronic and unrelated to a streptococcal infection.
The exact pathophysiologic mechanism is undetermined. The disease is believed to result from an immune reaction triggered by a previous streptococcal infection. T lymphocytes and cytokines are believed to cause the characteristic inflammatory changes appreciated on histopathologic examination of lesional skin samples. An autoimmune phenomenon has also been postulated because some streptococcal products and components have been found to cross-react with normal human epidermis. Electron microscopic studies have shown that mast cell degranulation is an early and constant feature in the evolution of guttate psoriatic lesions.

Treating Erythrodermic Psoriasis

2005-09-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Topical agents are useful in treating erythrodermic psoriasis as adjunctive agents:
Emollients
Coal Tar and Anthralin
Topical Steroids
Calcipotriene Systemic modalities (internal treatments) are often required for erythrodermic psoriasis. These may be used on a rotational basis or in combination:
Phototherapy
Methotrexate
Acitretin
Systemic Corticosteroids
Cyclosporine A

Defining Erthrodermic Psoriasis

2005-09-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

Erythrodermic psoriasis is described as a widespread reddening and scaling of the skin, often accompanied by itching or pain. Psoriasis characterized by severe redness and shedding of the body surface.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis is a generalized form of the disease, which covers 85% or more of the body, with which patients can be systemically ill. Erythrodermic psoriasis can appear suddenly or evolve from chronic Plaque Psoriasis, occasionally following initiation of exacerbating medications (such as Lithium or beta-blocking agents), or rapid systemic corticosteroid tapering.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis most commonly appears on people who have unstable Plaque Psoriasis, where the lesions are not clearly defined. The skin has large, red and fiery patches. Severe itching, swelling and pain may accompany the skin as it reddens and sheds.

Erythrodermic psoriasis can disrupt the body's ability to control its temperature, protein loss, and can lead to severe illness. In severe cases, people with this type of psoriasis may need to be hospitalized if they have lost a lot of fluid, have an infection or have poor blood flow (circulation). This can be life threatening.