Drugs for Psoriasis
A new weapon in the fight against psoriasis
By Amanda Gardner
New breakthrough treatments, along with the existing stock of remedies, should mean more satisfactory results for people afflicted with mild and even severe forms of the condition.
"We’re not only making a tremendous amount of progress understanding the immunology of psoriasis but also the genetics of psoriasis," says Dr. Paul Cabiran, a dermatologist with the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans.
"Before, treatments were more generalized, and now they’re more specific. They’re getting much more sophisticated," Cabiran adds.
That’s a message health officials want to communicate during August, which has been designated psoriasis Awareness Month. An estimated 5.5 million Americans suffer from psoriasis. And up to 15 percent of people with psoriasis suffer from psoriatic arthritis, an inflammation of the joints that produces arthritis symptoms, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. psoriasis is marked by an uncomfortable thickening of the skin with bright red patches and silvery scales. But this is just the visible manifestation of what is apparently an immune process gone awry. Defective immune system cells trigger a cascade of events that results in the skin’s outer layer growing at a much faster rate than normal. "In some cases, it’s seven or eight times the normal rate of skin growth," Cabiran explains. "The process is accelerated tremendously so the dead layers build up too quickly." So quickly, that there’s not enough time for the old layers to slough off to make room for the new, hence the scaly, thick patches or "plaques." The red colour comes from the increased blood supply that rapidly growing cells need to fuel them. The majority of psoriasis cases seem to have a genetic component, though scientists are still working to find the culprit gene — or genes. The relatively recent discovery that psoriasis is an immune-based disease has paved the way for breakthroughs in treatment for more severe forms of the disease. "That understanding has led people to say, ‘Let’s see what we can do to have more effective therapy,’" says Dr. Kenneth Gordon, an associate professor of medicine at the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago and chairman of the National psoriasis Foundation’s research committee. An estimated one-quarter to one-third of people with psoriasis suffer from more severe forms of the disease, measured by how much of their body surface is affected. Traditionally, these individuals have been treated with high-octane drugs that affect the whole body, not just the area requiring care. One of the most common is methotrexate, a chemotherapy drug most often used against cancer of the lymph system. Another common drug is cyclosporine, which suppresses the immune system and is used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients. The problem is that, over the long term, these therapies can increase the risk of cancer and may have adverse affects on the liver, kidney and blood pressure, Gordon says. "We’ve been limited and many physicians have felt uncomfortable treating [psoriasis] aggressively," Gordon says. "We have not been making patients very happy because almost half of them want more aggressive therapy and are unsatisfied with therapy they have." In March, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first biologic treatment for psoriasis — alefacept (brand name Amevive), which is widely considered to be a breakthrough drug. A study in the June issue of the Archives of Dermatology found that people taking 15 milligrams of alefacept had a 75 percent reduction in their psoriasis Area and Severity Index (pASI), a measure of the clinical severity of the condition. Alefacept halts the overproduction of skin cells by destroying the defective immune cells that are responsible. "These biologic medications are designed to attack a very specific part of the immune system and leave the rest of the body intact," Gordon says. "The true benefit of these medications, we think, is this ability to use them with a high level of security about safety for long periods of time. "Many patients get psoriasis when they’re young. What you have is a situation where people are going to have a disease for 30, 40, 50 years so long-term safety is paramount," he adds. Another biologic drug, Enbrel or Etanercept, has also been approved by the FDA for psoriatic arthritis. For milder forms of the disease, different treatments are available. "Topical therapies [creams] are more reasonable with people with less body area involved because it takes less time to cover themselves with creams every day," Gordon says. Cabiran says steroid creams and topical Vitamin D are a common first step for people who simply have a little patch on the elbow or knees or scalp. people with larger areas affected might benefit from phototherapy — light therapy. "One of the most successful types is narrow-band UVB, which is a very specific wave length of UVB light," Cabiran says. "You turn the light on for a few minutes. It’s a really great way to treat the whole body. Can you use the light with topical steroids or vitamin D? Yes, that’s perfectly reasonable." A disorder of the skin. Its symptoms include itchiness and blotchy spots. It will often reoccur and its cause is not fully understood, although it is generally considered to be an auto-immune disease. So what drugs do you use to treat psoriasis?
Maximum Strength, Natural Psoriasis Cream. 60ml Developed for people suffering from psoriasis, a very common skin disease that generally appears as patches of raised red skin covered by a flaky white build-up most common on the elbows and scalp. This skin condition can cause intense itching and burning, resulting in extreme irritation and painful rashes. We believe that our Psoriasis Cream provides an extremely powerful and intense natural psoriasis treatment and amazing results have been reported by users of this product. Our Psoriasis Cream provides a wonderful natural alternative psoriasis treatment that we believe will help reduce all the symptoms associated with this condition. Avena Psoriasis Cream contains: Lavender and Bergamot, which provides soothing skin relief, Sandalwood, which quietens the skin condition, Sweet Almond which helps naturally moisturise the condition and Sunflower which helps relieve itching, soreness and dryness. Psoriasis Cream layers your skin with an extremely soothing treatment that typically results in very positive improvements after only 3 – 5 days of use. The rich cream then also moisturises, rapidly encouraging the skin back to excellent health. Key benefits- This product may, relieve painful itching, soothe inflamed skin, restore tender skin rashes, provide a natural psoriasis treatment, heal cracked skin and radically improve skin tone and condition. Usage- Apply a small amount four times per day, massaging well into the skin or scalp. This specially formulated cream may help to clear red, patchy and flaky skin. It can be used on the scalp with wonderful results. READ MORE
Psoriasis Scalp Shampoo 250ml. SLS Free & Parabens Free. A maximum strength shampoo developed for people suffering from psoriasis on the scalp. Using a SLS & parabens free shampoo base blended with essential oils reputed to soothe itching and burning feelings on the scalp while reducing painful, flaky skin patches that occur with psoriasis and can be so irritating. Use daily or as needed when condition flares up. See just one of our users testimonials below for an example of the great feedback we get about this product. NOTE; This product is mixed for adults only. This product is a SLS free & parabens free. READ MORE
Psoriasis Skin Oil 100ml. Avena psoriasis skin oil has been designed to reduce the dry, flaky and peeling skin patches common with psoriasis through its fantastically rich sandalwood formula. The natural oils within this product are carefully chosen and blended as they are reputed to be excellent for rejuvenating and helping cleanse and revive such effected areas, which should rapidly result in a clearer and fresh skin complexion. This oil can also be used on the scalp where psoriasis is very common by massaging in with fingertips. Key benefits- This product may, reduce skin discomfort, relieve painful itching, moisturise cracked, tender and inflamed skin, improve skin tone and condition. Usage- Shake well before use and apply using a dry cotton wool ball or fingertips. Then, gently massage over the areas affected, concentrating on particularly red and weeping areas. Psoriasis Skin Oil should be used twice daily. READ MORE
Psoriasis Skin Oil PLUS. Extra strength oil. 100ml Maximum strength psoriasis oil mixed stronger and with more oils for stubborn skin problems or where a lot of products have been tried without success and something that bit stronger is needed. Providing an excellent natural remedy, it contains a blend of pure essential oils reputed to help sooth and soften red flaky patches, ease itching and encourage the healing of peeling skin. Only a small amount is needed to leave a hydrating protective film on the skins surface ensuring fantastic relief. The natural oils permeate the skin providing a wonderful healing remedy for most types of stubborn psoriasis. Key benefits- This product may: Reduce skin discomfort, relieve painful itching, moisturise cracked, tender and inflamed skin, improve skin tone and condition. Usage- Shake well before use and apply to a dry cotton wool ball or fingertips. Then, gently massage over the areas affected, concentrating on particularly red and weeping areas. Can also be used on the scalp by simply massaging in with the fingertips. READ MORE
Psoriasis Cream Specially developed for people suffering from psoriasis which is a common skin disease that generally appears as patches of raised red skin covered by a flaky white build-up. This skin condition can cause intense itching and burning, resulting in extreme irritation and painful rashes. We believe that our natural Psoriasis Cream provides an extremely powerful and intense natural treatment and we have seen amazing results with great feedback from purchasers of this product. This natural Psoriasis Cream provides a wonderful alternative Psoriasis treatment made with essential oils reputed to help reduce the itching, redness and scaling associated with the condition. The cream contains an exacting blend of- sandalwood, which quietens the skin, lavender & bergamot, which provides soothing relief, sunflower which helps naturally moisturise the condition and sweet almond which helps relieve itching, soreness and dryness. These ingredients help produce what we feel is a wonderful alternative psoriasis natural treatment. Our alternative psoriasis natural treatment layers your skin with an extremely soothing natural psoriasis cream that typically results in very positive improvements after only 3 – 5 days of use. READ MORE
