How I Came to Better Control My Psoriasis

From everydayhealth.com

A combination of light therapy and biologics helped the author gain better control of his psoriasis.

                                                     Getty Images; Rafe Swan/Getty Images

When it comes to my psoriasis, I don’t often have good news to share. Today, though, I can say my skin looks and feels clearer than at any time in recent memory. I woke up this morning feeling great and took less time than usual to take care of my skin before heading out to work.
The last time the inflammation on my skin calmed this much I was taking cyclosporine to manage my psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Cyclosporine effectively controlled my skin conditions at higher approved doses. However, my doctors and I agreed from day one that I should try to find something with fewer and less severe side effects for long-term management.
Treatments I tried over a 12-year period failed to work well enough to allow me to stop cyclosporine completely. Then last summer a new biologic injectable medication called Tremfya (guselkumab) gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, and my doctor and insurance company allowed me to try it. It improved the psoriasis enough to where I could almost stop using cyclosporine.

This August marks the one-year milestone of my trying that new biologic. It also happens to be Psoriasis Action Month. A couple of years ago the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) decided to change the month’s focus from “awareness” to “action.” The idea of the new emphasis is to empower those with psoriasis to take control of their disease.
This message resonates with me because there have been times when my psoriasis seemed to be in control of my life. The repeated failure of traditional and complementary treatments left me dejected and willing to settle with more psoriasis. The following tells the story of how I overcame disempowering barriers and took positive steps to better control my psoriasis over the past year.

It Works for Me

I vividly remember a psoriasis magazine column called “It Works for Me.” I enjoyed reading about how certain treatments helped individuals with psoriasis. It also gave me new things to try even if they might not ultimately work for me. I daydreamed about how I would one day share my story in that column.
What became discouraging over the last few years, though, is how new treatments worked for others while none seemed to work for me. When I heard a friend in the psoriasis community share their story of how a treatment cleared their skin, I felt both glad and envious. One time, I told a friend that I was still using cyclosporine. They shook their head disapprovingly and said, “You need to get off that!”
Psoriasis medications and treatments often come with a percentage label indicating its effectiveness. The first biologic injectable for psoriasis, called Amevive (alefacept), became available in 2003. Even though studies showed a relatively low effectiveness rate, it helped a friend at church with psoriasis. Remembering that friend gave me hope to keep trying and encourage others to find what works for them.

Failure Is Not an Option

One of my favourite movies is the 1995 film Apollo 13, directed by Ron Howard. The flight director of the Apollo mission, Gene Kranz, is attributed with saying “Failure is not an option” when the mission goes awry. That phrase represented the Apollo team’s dedication and perseverance to find a solution to save the astronauts. When I wanted to give up on finding a better treatment for my psoriasis, I thought of Apollo 13.
With the rapid flow of psoriasis research findings and treatments available, I reasoned I could eventually find a solution for myself. One treatment I tried midyear, however, tested that enthusiasm. I can’t say for certain that the medication made me feel ill, but I can report that it did not improve my psoriasis during the few months I took it.
My dermatologist and I then set our sights on using the new biologic, which was scheduled for availability a few months later in the summer. In the meantime, I went back to cyclosporine and pondered the next steps. I didn’t give up hope, although I needed a pause. The saying “Failure is not an option” inspired me as I recovered and regained the strength and will to fight on.

Treatments New and Old

The biologic worked as well as any of the four I had tried before, but not well enough. After a few months, my dermatologist declared that psoriasis covered a moderate amount of my skin and that my atopic dermatitis needed better control. I immediately asked if I could go back to cyclosporine. But he suggested I add either narrowband ultraviolet light therapy or another biologic for atopic dermatitis.
Neither of the two options he proposed appealed to me. Light therapy is an old treatment that I first started using at age 9. Since then, I’ve logged over 20 years on various forms of light therapy. I even vowed to never use artificial ultraviolet light again after I sustained a painful skin burn over a decade ago. The idea of taking a second biologic seemed intriguing, but I worried about the side effects and cost.
I opted to purchase a home narrowband ultraviolet light panel, and started using it at a very low dose of light exposure three times a week.
It took a couple of months of trial and error, but the light therapy–biologic combination treatment did begin to clear my psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. I’m hoping that this combination works for a while so I can enjoy the rest of summer with mostly clear skin.
Gaining better control of my skin conditions has taken perseverance, courage, and a willingness to try an older treatment together with a newer biologic. While there is no magic formula that works for everyone with psoriasis, I encourage anyone still struggling to manage their psoriasis well to take action this month. Remember: Failure is not an option!
You can read more about my experiences in my blog for Everyday Health and on my website.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/howard-chang-the-itch-to-beat-psoriasis/how-came-better-control-my-psoriasis/

What to do if your child has psoriasis - triggers to avoid and treatments to try

From rsvplive.ie

Psoriasis runs in families, so if you have it, it could be passed on to your kids.
For most children, the inflammatory skin disease is usually limited to just a few patches - and it tends to respond well to treatment.
However it can sometimes be quite serious and cause kids to be self-conscious about their appearance, develop low self-esteem or even depression.

                                                            (Image: Shutterstock)

Risk factors that can increase the chance of a breakout include: 1) Infections including colds, strep throat and other contagious diseases
2) Obesity
3) Certain medications including lithium, anti-malarial drugs and beta blockers used to treat high blood pressure
4) Skin injuries including cuts, sunburn and insect bites
5) Cold weather

If your child is showing symptoms of psoriasis, you should talk to your doctor to figure out the best method of treatment.
Treatments can be phototherapy, topical (creams and ointments) or systemic (oral and injected medications).
Sometimes a combination of therapies can be used.
Besides following your doctor's advice, there are certain things you can do at home to help ease your child's psoriasis, according to KidsHealth,

These include:
1) Feeding your child plenty of fruits and vegetables

2) Cutting down on treats and helping your child maintain a healthy weight
3) Reminding your child to keep skin clean and moisturised
4) Spending time outdoors
5) Giving your child plenty of emotional support
6) Reminding them to keep up their treatment.

https://www.rsvplive.ie/life/health/psoriasis-child-triggers-treatment-help-13081536

Psoriasis: Five things that are triggering it and how to avoid them

From rsvplive.ie

Psoriasis affects 100,00 people in Ireland and there's still no known cure, but there are ways of avoiding the triggers.
Things that tend to encourage a flare up or cause symptoms to get worse include:

1) Drinking too much alcohol
2) Smoking
3) Certain medicines, including lithium, some antimalerial medicines, anti-inflammatory medicines including ibuprofen, and ACE inhibitors (used to treat high blood pressure)
4) Stress
5) An injury to your skin, sun as sunburn, an insect bite or cut
Psoriasis suffers should try to cut down on drinking and smoking, make sure to protect themselves to the sun and reduce stress by getting plenty of sleep and exercise and practising relaxation techniques.

A recent study also showed that a Mediterranean diet, containing large amounts of olive oil, fruit, vegetables and wholegrain cereals and limiting meat, dairy and alcohol, could combat the chronic inflammatory disease.
Unfortunately psoriasis is hereditary, so you're more likely to get it if you have a close relative with the disease.

Symptoms include red patches of skin, itching and burning, thick, pitted nails and painful joints.

Treatments can be topical (creams and ointments) or systemic (oral and injected medications).
Phototherapy is also used, sometimes in combination with other treatments.

https://www.rsvplive.ie/life/health/psoriasis-things-triggers-symptoms-treatment-13081165

Here’s how turmeric is beneficial for your skin

From thehealthsite.com

Turmeric can treat acne, psoriasis, stretch marks and skin pigmentation. It is an ancient medicinal herb. The scientific name of turmeric is Curcuma longa.

Turmeric contains an antioxidant which plays a vital role in enhancing skin health. Like health benefits, this spice has several skin benefits as well. It can treat acne, psoriasis, stretch marks and skin pigmentation. It is an ancient medicinal herb. The scientific name of turmeric is Curcuma longa.

Psoriasis treatment
The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric can help treat psoriasis easily. According to researchers, turmeric might obstruct the inflammatory enzymes linked to psoriasis. It can also reduce the levels of cytokines, which stimulate cell inflammation.
For psoriasis using turmeric is pretty simple. You can take half a teaspoon of powdered turmeric and add water to it. Until you get a paste to keep stirring. Apply a thin layer of this ointment to the affected area. Cover the area with some breathable fabric and leave it on overnight. Next morning, remove the cloth and rinse your skin with warm water.

Acne treatment
The antibacterial properties of turmeric help to treat acne. And its anti-inflammatory properties help to treat the inflammation caused by pimples.
Use turmeric milk to treat acne. All you need to do is to take 3 tablespoons of milk and 1 teaspoon of turmeric along with few drops of honey and 2 tablespoons of flour. Mix all the ingredients properly and apply a thin layer of this mixture on your face. Leave it on your skin for 20 minutes, allow it to dry. After that, you can then rinse off the mask and apply moisturizer.

Stretch marks cure
It is best for treating stretch marks because of the curcumin content, which penetrates the cell membranes. It is known to alter the physical properties of the cell membrane and thus, it might cure stretch marks as well.
You can use turmeric with curd. Simply apply to paste to your legs, waist arms and stomach before your bath. Wait for about 20 minutes, allow the paste to soak in. Then wash it off.

Treats skin pigmentation
Turmeric have bleaching properties which helps to treat skin pigmentation. You just have to mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Apply the mixture to the affected area and leave it on for 20 minutes. For at least an hour don’t go out in the sun. Rinse with cold water. Daily before showering, you can do this once.

http://www.thehealthsite.com/news/heres-how-turmeric-is-beneficial-for-your-skin-kd0818/

Mum Cures Her Psoriasis With 'Miracle' £4 Baby Cream

From pretty52.com

Kirsty Usher from Bristol has suffered with severe psoriasis for 20 years, but she has finally found a cream that has cured her condition.
Forty-six-year-old Kirsty was so self-conscious about the psoriasis on her legs that she would wear 100 denier black tights all the time - including during summer ever since the age of 27.
The mother-of-two has tried everything to cure her regular flare ups, including prescription medication and remedies such as UVB light treatment.
In December 2017, she saw a success story about Childs Farms products on Facebook, and after buying the £4 Baby Moisturiser she saw a noticeable difference in her skin within days.
Kirsty said: "For the past twenty years I have been so self-conscious about my legs that I have been wearing 100 denier tights, even in the middle of summer.
"The worst of my psoriasis has always been on my legs, but it also gets on my elbows and scalp too.

"I can tell people think it is contagious by the looks they give me, so I've always thought it was just easier to cover up rather than be made to feel uncomfortable by people staring.
"One evening I went out with my friends and they convinced me to leave the tights at home. At the bar, a man came up to us and ridiculed me for my legs. That was it then - I never went out without my tights on after that.
"When I saw the story about the Childs Farm Baby Moisturiser I just thought: 'why not?' I was desperate for something to work.

"I popped into Tesco to buy the cream and started using it, and within a couple of hours the itching had stopped. Within a week I could see my skin was no longer so red, and soon after my skin was really flat and I could see whole sections where my legs were a skin colour rather than bright red. I couldn't believe it."This summer marks the first time that Kirsty has gone out wearing dresses without tights for the first time in nearly 20 years.

She added: "This is the first time in nearly twenty years that I have worn a dress without tights. It feels amazing to finally have bare legs especially in this heat. Childs Farm has change my life and given me back my confidence."
Joanna Jensen, founder of Childs Farm, added: "We believe that everyone should feel happy in their skin and so it's fantastic to know that our Baby Moisturiser has offered Kirsty some relief, as well as giving her the confidence to step out without tights. We are constantly overwhelmed by the love and support we get for our brand and would like to wish Kirsty all the very best for the future."

http://www.pretty52.com/news/real-life-mother-cures-psiorisis-with-4-baby-cream-20180727

Mediterranean diet might help ease psoriasis

From reuters.com

(Reuters Health) - The Mediterranean diet might do more than help ward off heart disease, it may also help improve psoriasis, a new study suggests.
“Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease triggered by environmental factors,” said lead author Dr. Celine Phan, a dermatologist at Hopital Mondor, in Creteil, France.

“The Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by a high proportion of fruits, vegetables, cereals, fish, extra-virgin olive oil, etc., could reduce chronic systemic inflammation thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties of these foods,” she said in an email.

Some people seem to inherit a susceptibility to developing psoriasis, noted Dr. Laura Ferris, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh, who wasn’t involved in the study.
“It’s a condition characterized by areas or patches of skin that is red and thickened and scaly,” Ferris said in an email. “It can really impair a patient’s quality of life because of discomfort and appearance. If there’s red flaking, scaling skin on the face and hands it really gets in the way of life.”
About 2 percent of the U.S. population has psoriasis, Ferris said.

Phan and her colleagues tapped into a large ongoing French health study that had collected dietary information on 158,361 volunteers over two years. The researchers sent all of the study participants a link to an online psoriasis questionnaire. Of the 35,735 who filled out the questionnaire, 3,557 reported they had psoriasis, with 878 saying it was severe.

Along with information on food consumption, the original study also collected information on lifestyle and health factors, such as gender, age, smoking habits, body mass index (BMI), physical activity levels, cardiovascular disease and depression symptoms.

The researchers rated volunteers’ eating habits according to how closely they followed the Mediterranean diet. Previous studies have found the diet is associated with a lower risk of chronic systemic inflammation, which has been linked to heart disease as well as conditions like psoriasis.
After taking into account other lifestyle and health factors that can raise the risk of psoriasis, researchers found that severe cases of the disease were less likely in people whose eating habits were more similar to the Mediterranean diet.

Compared to people whose eating habits scored lowest by Mediterranean diet standards, those who scored highest on Mediterranean diet adherence were 22 percent less likely to have severe psoriasis, and those whose diets were moderately Mediterranean were 29 percent less likely.

The study found no association between diet and the onset of psoriasis.
The researchers did, however, find an association between psoriasis severity and several other factors, including BMI, smoking, activity levels, heart disease, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, diabetes and depression.

While the study doesn’t prove that consuming a Mediterranean diet will lessen the severity of psoriasis, “it raises some interesting questions and is provocative,” said Dr. Jonathan Silverberg, an associate professor of dermatology, preventive medicine and medical social sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and director of the Eczema Center at Northwestern Medicine. “Other studies have suggested a connection. So this would be confirmatory of those studies.”

What an observational study like this one cannot show is whether the Mediterranean diet is causing improvement or whether there’s some factor shared by people who eat this way that is helping with psoriasis, said Silverberg, who was not involved in the new research.
But it takes studies like this to spur other researchers to do the randomized controlled clinical trials that could answer that question, Silverberg said. Even if it’s shown that the Mediterranean diet can help improve symptoms, “I doubt it would be effective enough to replace the myriad treatment options we now use in clinical practice,” Silverberg said. But doctors might be able to use it as an add-on treatment strategy, he noted. 

For now though, it might make sense to steer patients toward a Mediterranean diet because there’s little downside, Ferris said. Moreover, “there is an association between following the Mediterranean diet and other health benefits,” she explained. “And maybe it will help with psoriasis.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-psoriasis-mediterranean-diet/mediterranean-diet-might-help-ease-psoriasis-idUSKBN1KF26R

Unlike Beauty, Psoriasis Is More Than Skin Deep

From prweb.com

July 2018, Unlike beauty, psoriasis is more than skin-deep. In fact, recent research links the inflammatory skin disorder, in its more serious forms, to greater incidence of early death, says Christopher Byrne RPA-C, referring to a recent study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Byrne is a certified physician assistant at New York- and New Jersey-based Advanced Dermatology PC and the Centre for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery.

“Authors of the study report that patients with 10 percent or more of their body covered by psoriasis were at double risk of dying. That finding is not surprising considering psoriasis’ link to increased likelihood of heart attack, stroke, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, life-threatening abdominal aneurysms, depression and even suicide,” says Byrne.

Calling psoriasis, a “complex, systemic, lifelong disorder,” Byrne advises patients to seek professional medical assistance should inflamed, raised, scaly, itchy patches characteristic of the disease begin appearing on the skin. The patches are the result of an over proliferation of skin cells, which, when scratched, may bleed and cause a burning or stinging sensation. Scratching also can lead to infection.

Psoriasis interrupts the body’s acquired immune system by causing antibodies and immune cells to attack, or interfere with, healthy tissue. The autoimmune reaction triggers an overproduction of T-cells, resulting in development of plaques on the skin. T-cells are the body’s defence again invaders like bacteria and viruses.

“Having a physician diagnose the condition in its earliest stages will ensure better management of the disorder, possibly slow or prevent certain disease-related processes and enhance a patient’s quality of life,” explains Byrne, adding that dermatologists, in particular, play an important role in screening patients for other diseases associated with psoriasis.

Early diagnosis is especially important since symptoms of eczema, a less serious skin problem, can sometimes be mistaken for those of psoriasis, Byrne says.

Considered the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the United States, psoriasis affects an estimated 7.5 million Americans and 125 million people worldwide. Between 10 percent and 30 percent of patients also will develop psoriatic arthritis, which promotes inflammation in and around the body’s joints.

The term psoriasis comes from a Greek word meaning “itchy.” Experts believe that people in biblical times may have oftentimes confused psoriasis with leprosy and isolated psoriasis patients even though the disorder is not contagious.

“Although the disease can develop at almost any age, it usually begins between the ages of 15 and 25,” Byrne says. “The most common form of the disorder is plaque psoriasis, which generates the appearance of scaly lesions typically on the scalp, knees, elbows and lower back.”

The disorder has no known cure, but treatments, including creams, corticosteroids, retinoids and other topical medications; photodynamic (light) therapy; biologic drugs for more moderate psoriasis; and systemic medications to attempt controlling serious flare-ups of the disease, can be effective in alleviating and minimizing recurrence of symptoms, Byrne says.

New research has given scientists a better understanding of psoriasis’ cellular and molecular mechanisms, which also underlie immunity system dysfunctions affecting the heart and other body organs, and Byrne says he is hopeful novel, more effective psoriatic treatments will be developed in the near term.

Meanwhile, Byrne emphasizes that patients can do much on their own to control psoriasis by avoiding “triggers” that aggravate symptoms or prompt recurrence of the disease and improving lifestyle. He offers these tips:

    Eat a well-balanced diet that includes omega-3 and vitamin D. Salmon, herring and walnuts are among sources of omega-3.

    Take short, warm – not hot – baths. Consider using fragrance-free bath oils or Epsom salts in the water to help reduce skin dryness and itching.

    Keep psoriatic skin moisturized. Use a topical ointment or cream, such as petroleum jelly. A moisturizer can be most effective when applied immediately after a bath.

    Try not to scratch that itch. Scratching further irritates the skin, and damaged skin can become infected.

    Reduce stress in your life. Stress can cause flare-ups of psoriasis.

    Avoid alcohol and stop smoking. Studies show both alcohol and smoking worsen symptoms of psoriasis and limit effectiveness of treatments.

Bio: Christopher Byrne RPA-C is a certified physician assistant at Advanced Dermatology PC and the Centre for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery.

https://www.prweb.com/releases/unlike_beauty_psoriasis_more_than_skin_deep/prweb15639587.htm