Cosentyx Gains FDA Approval for Scalp PsoriasisFor those suffering from moderate to severe scalp psoriasis, there is a potential light at the end of the tunnel. The FDA recently approved Cosentyx to treat scalp psoriasis. If you're one of these people, I'd get in touch with my doctor and see if you're a good candidate for this new drug.
Psoriatic Arthritis Rates Increasing in Taiwan Despite Leveling Psoriasis RatesThis 13-year study in Taiwan aims to help identify psoriatic arthritis patients earlier. It's really a very interesting story if you can work your way through the scientific jargon. One of the most interesting things to me was the increase in psoriatic arthritis with a decrease in topical treatments.
U.S. Drug Companies Need CompetitionAnyone who has spent any amount of money on prescriptions knows that they're ridiculously expensive. This letter to the editor shows how U.S. pharmaceutical companies are really lagging behind other parts of the world when it comes to competition. Unfortunately for people with autoimmune diseases like psoriasis, there's almost no competition in the biologics area.
Psoriasis Symptoms Limited by Avoiding These Trigger FoodsAngela Barber was able to contain her psoriasis flare-ups through diet. I know my flare-ups can be postponed through a diet that avoids trigger foods. It doesn't get rid of the flare-ups but it does increase the time between them.
For more psoriasis news, check out our psoriasis news page. Be sure to read our reviews of the best shampoo for psoriasis and the best over the counter psoriasis cream. The post Psoriasis News Storm – Increasing Arthritis, No Competition, Avoiding Triggers and Cosentyx is courtesy of: http://www.psoriasiszap.com/ via Blogger Psoriasis News Storm – Increasing Arthritis, No Competition, Avoiding Triggers and Cosentyx
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Case Western Reserve University Receive $6.5 Million for Psoriasis ResearchFunding for psoriasis research has just been given to Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. It's definitely good to see that research goes on to find a cure for psoriasis. Universities like Case Western Reserve continue the fight!
Teen Psoriasis Sufferer Learned to Love Her SkinAlice Weekes is a brave girl who's decided to take a stand against her psoriasis. Despite being affected on over 70% of her body during her flare-ups, she doesn't let it get control her life. Keep reading to see how she copes.
Dove's DermaSeries Advertisements Feature Women With Skin ConditionsDove has stepped out of the ordinary in order to feature women with skin conditions in their latest product launch. Focusing on those of us with various skin conditions, they are using models with psoriasis, eczema and other skin conditions to showcase their new line of fragrance-free moisturizers.
Woman Claims She Cured Her Psoriasis with VeganismA 20-year old woman, Jessica Belshaw, has had success in clearing up her psoriasis by switching to a purely plant-based diet. We've talked about the benefits that changing your diet can have on psoriasis before. This is yet another example of how effective it can be!
The post Psoriasis News Storm – Vegans, Grants, Loving Teens and Dove is available on: psoriasiszap.com via Blogger Psoriasis News Storm – Vegans, Grants, Loving Teens and Dove UV Light Treatment for PsoriasisUV light treatment has been helping people get rid of their psoriasis for a very long time. Sunlight is the original psoriasis treatment and is still one of the most effective ways to treat this autoimmune disease. is one of the best ways to treat psoriasis. What is UV Light Treatment for Psoriasis?UV light treatment (also known as phototherapy) is done by simply exposing the part of your skin affected by psoriasis to ultraviolet light. The process is done over and over until the psoriasis clears up. Phototherapy is the treatment that many dermatologists prefer over other methods. Despite this fact, it still isn’t widely used because home UV light treatment can be expensive and sometimes isn’t understood by patients. How Does UV Light Treatment Get Rid of Psoriasis?Psoriasis is caused by an abnormal reaction between immune cells and normal skin cells. Applying UV light to the area can kill those immune cells or disrupt the abnormal interaction between immune cells and skin cells. By disrupting the abnormal interaction between the cells, UV light treatment reverses the inflammation of the area and allows for normal healing. Where is UV Light Treatment Done?In the past, UV light treatment has normally been done in a doctor’s office and usually involved stand-up, full body length lamps to treat the area. This has the side effect of exposing the entire body to UV light instead of just the area that you need to target and it doesn’t on areas that are covered, like psoriasis on the scalp. Today’s UV light treatment is moving from the doctor’s office to the home. This allows patients to treat themselves in privacy, makes it less expensive because they don’t have to pay for a doctor’s visit every time they go for treatment, and allows them to fit it into their already busy schedules. Home treatment is also great for anyone with mobility issues or transportation problems.
Types of UV Light TreatmentUV light treatment comes in three forms with Narrow Band Ultraviolet B Light (NB-UVB) being the most common these days. NB-UVB systems try to produce a narrow band of light only in the ranges that are effective in treating psoriasis. NB-UVB is also preferred because it causes side effects in fewer people, is easier to use, and has a wider range of uses in treating skin conditions. How Effective is UV Light Treatment?UV light treatment has been very effective in a wide range of patients. Studies show that 60-75% of people that try phototherapy achieve at least a 75% improvement in around 20 sessions! This success rate has led to quite a few hand held NB-UVB units being made for home use. These handheld units are great for treating scalp psoriasis as well as other areas of the body. Excimer laser treatment is another light therapy that is showing a lot of promise. It’s basically a high energy NB-UVB laser that can be very effective in treating areas with heavy plaques. Since these areas need more light to effectively treat than other areas the laser is able to use more energy in these areas to get rid of psoriasis. The downside is that it isn’t very effective over large areas of the body. Remission from laser treatment is generally longer than with NB-UVB treatment but cannot be done at home. Can You Use Tanning Beds for Psoriasis Treatment?Tanning beds often produce carcinogenic light and the power and frequency of commercial tanning beds vary wildly. If you want to try UV light therapy it is suggested that you only use a device designed for the task and only after consulting a physician. Does Normal Sunlight Help?Regular sunlight has been used for centuries to treat psoriasis and other skin conditions. Some people suggest using a sunblock on unaffected areas then covering the affected areas about 10 or 15 minutes after you’ve been in the sun. You just have to be careful since sunburn can actually have the opposite effect on psoriasis and actually make it worse. Short exposure times are key. Make sure you talk to your doctor before you decide to try sun exposure just to make sure it’s right for you. ConclusionUV light treatment for psoriasis is quickly gaining traction as modern home UVB lamps become less expensive than they have been in past. In fact, a modern UVB lamp suitable for home treatment is actually much less expensive than a full course of biologics. Be sure to check out my review of over the counter psoriasis creams as well as over the counter psoriasis shampoos. Does UV Light Treatment Help Psoriasis – A Psoriasis Phototherapy Guide was first seen on: www.psoriasiszap.com via Blogger Does UV Light Treatment Help Psoriasis – A Psoriasis Phototherapy Guide Psoriasis on the Palms of Your HandsMany people suffer from . I actually have psoriasis on my fingers so I can feel for those people that have to deal with it on their palms. Having psoriasis on a part of your body that you use to interact with everything can really be a challenge. It also makes it really hard to try to cover it up. Just shaking hands can be embarrassing to the point that it gives me anxiety. The Best Ways to Soothe the Symptoms of Psoriasis on Your PalmsOver the Counter Topical CreamsI prefer topical creams as they provide the fastest relief of symptoms like dried, cracking skin and itching. Revitol is offering a free bottle of their Dermasis Psoriasis Cream right now if you're interested in trying it out. Try Plastic WrapA good way to add to the efficiency of any type of topical cream is to wrap your palms in plastic wrap after you apply it. This helps keep it from rubbing off. It also has the added benefit of preventing the cream from getting on anything you touch before it has a chance to soak in. This is really good if you're using one of the creams that stays greasy for a long time. Soaking in Cold and Warm WaterCold water can be soothing when your psoriasis is really inflamed. Some people have good luck with warm water as well. The main advantage that I see from soaking is the fact that it loosens the skin and can help with movement. CapsaicinCapsaicin is the ingredient in chili peppers that causes the heat. If you're experiencing a lot of pain, you can try a cream that contains capsaicin to try to stop the transmission of pain signals. Apple Cider VinegarA lot of people find that apple cider vinegar helps relieve itching and helps plaques peel away. It doesn't really seem to work for me, but it's worth a try as it's really cheap and you probably already have some in the house. You can just pour it straight into a small bowl and soak your hands in it. Just be careful if you have any breaks in the skin. The vinegar is acidic and burns when it makes contact with broken skin. AntihistaminesAntihistamines can help with any itching that you may be experiencing. If you have itching that keeps you up at night, antihistamines can really help if taken before bed as they cause sleepiness in a lot of people. Understand What Causes Psoriasis Flare-upsWeather, stress, infections, trauma to the skin, smoking, and alcohol are all known to aggravate psoriasis symptoms. Read our article on how to avoid these triggers for more helpful information. Sunlight or UV TreatmentSunlight and UV lamps can have a drastic effect on the severity of psoriasis. 5-10 minutes of direct sunlight a day can make a noticeable difference. If you plan on using UV lamps, you should look over our article about UV photo therapy for more thorough information. Always remember that tanning beds are not recommended for treating psoriasis of any kind. Add Fish Oil and Probiotics to Your DietBoth of these products can help boost your immune system and thus help with psoriasis flare-ups. ConclusionPsoriasis, especially if it's on your palms, can be embarrassing and feel like it controls your life. It doesn't have to be that way! Try some of the things recommended above and see what works for you. Everyone is different so a little trial and error is going to be needed to find out what works best for you. Make sure you check out our article Psoriasis Diet and Natural Treatment Options for more suggestions to keep your psoriasis on palm of hands in check. The following article Psoriasis on the Palm of Hands – Best Practices to Soothe Symptoms is available on: http://www.psoriasiszap.com via Blogger Psoriasis on the Palm of Hands – Best Practices to Soothe Symptoms Alternative Psoriasis TherapyMany people are looking for . A holistic approach to treating psoriasis has worked for quite a few people! Treat Your Psoriasis With Your Mind and BodyMindfulnessTry this in a seated position similar to how you would try to meditate. Focus on what is happening around you. Your mind will wander away from the current moment from time to time. When it does, realize that it has wandered away and bring it back to the present. Don't get mad at yourself if it keeps happening. Just keep bringing it back to the present. Mindfulness is designed to change the body's natural reaction to conditioned responses. It has been shown to assist in lowering pain and has a calming effect on the body. Psoriasis sufferers can expect to see improvements in pain, itching, and stress. MeditationMeditation is very similar to Mindfulness. With meditation, you focus on your breathing to bring you back to the present. In a seated position, focus on your breath going in and out. If your mind wanders, slowly bring your concentration back to your next breath. If your mind keeps wandering just keep bringing it back with your next breath. As you practice this more and more, you'll get better at keeping yourself in the moment. Try this 5 minute guided breathing exercise: Meditation has the same effect on psoriasis sufferers as mindfulness. Many people see improvements in pain, less itching, less stress and fewer breakouts. AcupressureAcupressure is an Eastern therapy that has been used for thousands of years in China and other Eastern cultures. It is the process of applying pressure to specific parts of the body in order to relieve pain, stress and increase blood flow. It is essentially acupuncture without the needles and believed to focus the body's inner energy. Western doctors believe that these pressure points simply release endorphins and other chemicals that occur naturally in the body, but most still believe that it is effective. Sessions last about an hour and it could take several sessions to get the full effects of acupressure. One of the best parts of acupressure is that there are no real side effects, so feel free to try it if you're interested. It can only help. AcupunctureAcupuncture is another Eastern therapy that is similar to acupressure but uses needles to stimulate various points in the body. Western medicine agrees that acupuncture helps with perceived pain, but they cannot agree if it helps with other types of illnesses. For those of us that have pain from psoriatic arthritis, it's definitely worth a shot. Just be sure that you go to a reputable acupuncture clinic as there is a chance for infection and other side effects if done improperly. AromatherapyAromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils to enhance psychological and physical well-being. As an alternative medicine, aromatherapy is starting to gain traction in the U.S. and other Western countries. It's believed to assist with pain relief, mood enhancement and increased cognitive function. The stress relief alone can have positive effects on psoriasis. Spa TherapySpa therapy is normally associated with water therapy but can include mud baths and a wide variety of other treatments. The combination of minerals and warm water that most often come with spa therapy can help relieve the itching of psoriasis and loosen the plaques that come with psoriasis. Stiff, scarred skin can also benefit from spa therapy. MassageMassage therapy is a great way to counter the effects of psoriasis. It relieves stress and osteoarthritis pain. Just the removal of these two things can greatly improve the quality of life for psoriasis sufferers. ConclusionBy trying these alternative psoriasis therapies, you may be able to get away from the prescription medicines and get back to natural ways to relieve your symptoms. You can also look into phototherapy to treat your psoriasis as another way to ease symptoms and flare-ups. Combined with a topical cream designed to counter psoriasis symptoms, you should be able to nearly eliminate your psoriasis symptoms! Alternative Psoriasis Therapy – Stay Off the Prescriptions! was originally published to: psoriasiszap.com via Blogger Alternative Psoriasis Therapy – Stay Off the Prescriptions! Psoriasis Diet and Natural Treatment OptionsWe're always looking for ideas on how to better treat our symptoms and what can make our flare-ups less severe. This article covers some interesting ideas for anyone suffering from psoriasis.
psoriasis treatments Make sure you read our review of the best psoriasis creams on the market. Psoriasis Diet and Natural Treatment Options is courtesy of: Psoriasis Zap OTC Remedy Blog via Blogger Psoriasis Diet and Natural Treatment Options What Triggers Psoriasis?There are quite a few different things that can trigger psoriasis. When you're done reading this article you'll have a good idea what they are and how to prevent flare-ups. What leads to flare-ups of psoriasis symptoms?According to several scientific studies, close to 10% of the population has one of the genetic markers that can lead to psoriasis. Fortunately, only 2-3% of the population actually ends up having symptoms. For those of us that fall into that 2-3%, it helps to know what can cause flare-ups so we can minimize the symptoms that we need to deal with. WeatherCold weather can dry out the skin and cause psoriasis symptoms to act up. Keeping your skin moisturized with a high-quality topical cream, like Revitol Dermasis Psoriasis Cream, is a great way to keep prevent symptoms from popping up in cold weather. You can try to use a humidifier in your house to help keep the air moist and avoid some of the drying effects of the cold weather. Warm, sunny weather actually has been shown to keep psoriasis symptoms at bay. StressStress is one of the most common causes of psoriasis flare-ups. Learning relaxation techniques can help immensely when trying to treat stress in your daily life and help prevent flare-ups. I really like incorporating about 30 mins of yoga as a way to relieve stress in my life. I find it very helpful to prevent my flare-ups. Trauma to the SkinMost people normally avoid trauma to the skin anyway, but this is a leading psoriasis trigger for some people. This is known as the Koebner phenomenon. Bumps, bruises, cuts, scrapes, burns, vaccinations, and tattoos are all things that lead to a flare up for some people. Avoiding contact sports and other activities that have a high chance of causing skin trauma is a good idea. Tattoos are especially likely to cause flare-ups. Injecting ink into the skin and repeatedly piercing it with a needle is obviously going to cause trauma. Many people experience a flare-up within 2 weeks of getting a new tattoo. InfectionLike trauma, we all typically try to avoid infections. When we're not lucky enough to be able to avoid them, they can lead to a psoriasis flare-up. Strep throat, yeast infections, thrush, staph infections and respiratory infections are all known to trigger psoriasis symptoms. With psoriasis, your immune system is already compromised and fighting an inflammatory disease. Adding other infections in the mix can easily put it over the edge. MedicationsCertain drugs can also cause psoriasis symptoms to trigger. Medications that treat heart disease, mental issues, high blood pressure and arthritis can all trigger your psoriasis. Reactions from medication aren't only limited to those. Malaria meds, NSAIDs, steroids like prednisone, beta-blockers and ACE inhibitors can also cause flare-ups. Make sure you talk to your doctor if you think there's a connection between your psoriasis symptoms and the medication that you're taking. They may be able to prescribe something else that will not lead to any negative side effects. Never stop taking a prescription without consulting your doctor first! AlcoholThis is something that all of us can control. Avoiding alcohol has been shown to limit the number of flare-ups that people experience. Alcohol also affects the liver and doesn't mix well with many prescription psoriasis medications. There has been a close correlation shown between flare-ups and beer drinking, especially in women. SmokingSmoking is another activity that's totally avoidable and is known to lead to worsening of psoriasis symptoms. Smokers are more likely to have flare-ups, especially on the hands and feet. After I quit smoking, I noticed that the psoriasis on my hand got much better when I quit smoking! HormonesDoctors believe that hormones play a part in when psoriasis first shows up. Psoriasis can start at any age but times, when hormone levels are extreme, seem to be when they first show up. Puberty and menopause are common times for psoriasis to first show up. Those between the ages of 20 and 30 and those between 50 and 60 are also at risk. Food Related TriggersI've covered this in other articles. Pretty much everything that tastes the best can lead to psoriasis triggers. Luckily a lot of us don't react to food or only react to certain foods. If you see a connection between certain foods and your flare-ups then you should try to avoid those foods. Common foods are peppers, citrus, dairy products, fatty red meats, and gluten. Too Much SunShort periods of sunlight have been shown to reduce psoriasis triggers. Sunburn, however, has the exact opposite reaction. Up to about 20 minutes a day of sun can limit your flare-ups, but make sure you're not burning! If you do it's almost guaranteed to make your symptoms worse. ObesityDoctors don't all agree why obesity has been shown to increase flare-ups. There have been studies that show a low-calorie diet decreases the severity of symptoms. Some doctors believe that obesity is more of a side effect of not doing things that help with psoriasis (exercise, diet, etc.) rather than the obesity itself being a cause. ConclusionMany psoriasis triggers are avoidable. Some simple lifestyle changes can go a long way toward preventing future flare-ups. I suggest trying to reduce stress, quit smoking, limit drinking and trying out a good topical cream. Those are the best ways that I've found to prevent my own flare-ups. What Triggers Psoriasis? – Learn How to Prevent Flare Ups! was originally published to: psoriasiszap.com via Blogger What Triggers Psoriasis? – Learn How to Prevent Flare Ups! Prevalence of Psoriatic Arthritis Quantified in Patients With PsoriasisWith about 20% of psoriasis sufferers having psoriatic arthritis, it's no surprise that there are several huge studies out there looking into how to counter it. This latest study doesn't really bring much news with it but I like to include them as it seems like the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis is on the rise!
Five Natural Tips to Keep Your Skin HealthyOne of the things that many of us with psoriasis have is a pretty strict skin care regimen. This article outlines five step to take daily that can result in improved skin health. What I like most is that they can all be done at home!
'Becoming vegan was the only thing that helped my psoriasis'Many of us have discovered that changing our diets is a great way to reduce the number of outbreaks that come along. For me, it's been a combination of many things but some minor dietary changes seem to be helping overall. Nothing as extreme as becoming vegan, but they help none the less.
For more psoriasis news, check out our psoriasis news page. Be sure to read our reviews of the best shampoo for psoriasis and the best over the counter psoriasis cream. Psoriasis News Storm – Arthritis, Daily Steps, and Vegans is republished from: http://www.psoriasiszap.com/ via Blogger Psoriasis News Storm – Arthritis, Daily Steps, and Vegans This study is pretty interesting. I've heard this before but it appears that they're able to prove the efficiency of selecting different biologic therapies to people based on individual factors. They believe that prescribing medication to psoriasis patients based on their individual factors will take into account that they also likely have other diseases that may limit the effectiveness of some treatments.
Good news for those of us suffering from psoriatic arthritis, it looks like another drug is showing good results in blocking IL-23. In the study, when IL-23 was blocked, patients showed not only pain and swelling improvements but their skin improved as well!
I haven't heard of this before, but apparently drinking mare's milk offers some kind of healing effect for those with psoriasis. Historically it's been used by many cultures to cure different ailments. Even if it works, I'm not sure I'm going to be beating down the barn door to get some nice warm horse milk any time soon.
For more psoriasis news, check out our psoriasis news page. Be sure to read our reviews of the best shampoo for psoriasis and the best over the counter psoriasis cream. The following article Psoriasis News Storm – New Drugs, News Drugs and Horse Milk? was first published on: http://www.psoriasiszap.com/ via Blogger Psoriasis News Storm – New Drugs, News Drugs and Horse Milk? We're always looking for ideas on how to better treat our symptoms and what can make our flare-ups less severe. This article covers some interesting ideas for anyone suffering from psoriasis.
psoriasis treatments Make sure you read our review of the best psoriasis creams on the market. The following blog post Psoriasis Diet and Natural Treatment Options is courtesy of: http://psoriasiszap.com via Blogger Psoriasis Diet and Natural Treatment Options |
AuthorMy name is Mike Walker. I put together this blog to help others that are suffering from psoriasis. |