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Psoriasis Club is a friendly on-line Forum where people with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis
can get together and share information, get the latest news, or just chill out with others who understand. It is totally
self funded and we don't rely on drug manufacturers or donations. We are proactive against Spammers,
Trolls, And Cyberbulying and offer a safe friendly atmosphere for our members.
So Who Joins Psoriasis Club?
We have members who have had psoriasis for years and some that are newly diagnosed. Family and friends of those with psoriasis
are also made welcome. You will find some using prescribed treatments and some using the natural approach. There are people who
join but keep a low profile, there are people who just like to help others, and there are some who just like
to escape in the Off Topic Section.
Joining Couldn't Be Easier: If you are a genuine person who would like to meet others who understand,
just hit the Register button and follow the instructions.
Members get more boards and privileges that are not available to guests.
OK So What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It
occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the
growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. It commonly
causes red, scaly patches to appear on the skin, although some patients
have no dermatological symptoms. The scaly patches commonly caused by
psoriasis, called psoriatic plaques, are areas of inflammation and
excessive skin production. Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites which
gives it a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the
skin of the elbows and knees, but can affect any area including the
scalp, palms of hands and soles of feet, and genitals. In contrast to
eczema, psoriasis is more likely to be found on the outer side of the
joint.
The disorder is a chronic recurring condition that varies in severity
from minor localized patches to complete body coverage. Fingernails and
toenails are frequently affected (psoriatic nail dystrophy) and can be
seen as an isolated symptom. Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of
the joints, which is known as (psoriatic arthritis). Ten to fifteen
percent of people with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis.
The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood, but it is believed to
have a genetic component and local psoriatic changes can be triggered by
an injury to the skin known as Koebner phenomenon. Various
environmental factors have been suggested as aggravating to psoriasis
including stress, withdrawal of systemic corticosteroid, excessive
alcohol consumption, and smoking but few have shown statistical
significance. There are many treatments available, but because of its
chronic recurrent nature psoriasis is a challenge to treat. You can find more information
Here!
Got It, So What's The Cure?
Wait Let me stop you there! I'm sorry but there is no cure. There are things that can help you
cope with it but for a cure, you will not find one.
You will always be looking for one, and that is part of the problem with psoriasis There are people who know you will be
desperate to find a cure, and they will tell you exactly what you want to hear in order to get your money. If there is a
cure then a genuine person who has ever suffered with psoriasis would give you the information for free. Most so called cures
are nothing more than a diet and lifestyle change or a very expensive moisturiser. Check out the threads in
Natural Treatments first and save your money.
Great so now what? It's not all bad news, come and join others at Psoriasis Club and talk about it. The best help is from accepting it and talking
with others who understand what you're going through. ask questions read through the threads on here and start claiming
your life back. You should also get yourself an appointment with a dermatologist who will help you find something that can
help you cope with it. What works for some may not work for others
Posted by: Fred - Mon-17-09-2012, 11:24 AM
- No Replies
British Journal of Dermatology:
Psoriasis is associated with considerable physical and psychological morbidity. Optimal use of psoriasis treatments can limit the physical manifestations of psoriasis and help improve quality of life, but non-adherence is common.
Smoking, obesity and excessive alcohol consumption are prevalent in this population. A systematic review of adherence to medication and recommendations for lifestyle change in psoriasis was undertaken, with a critical appraisal of the quality of selected studies. Electronic searches from inception to March 2012 (pub med, Web of Science and EMBASE) were conducted. Twenty nine studies were included, however, none examined adherence to advice about lifestyle change.
Studies using a dichotomous classification of adherence tended to report sub-optimal adherence, with 21.6% - 66.6% of patients classed as adherent. No consistent pattern of results emerged for socio-demographic, disease and lifestyle factors as determinants of adherence. However, some treatment factors were associated with adherence. Whilst mixed findings were reported for quality of life as a determinant of adherence, psychological factors (psychological distress and patient satisfaction with care / therapy) were associated with adherence.
Only tentative conclusions can be made for determinants of adherence because the methodological quality of many of the included studies limits conclusions. There is a need for improved research quality and reporting in this area and this review provides a platform from which future research within this area should progress with suggested research recommendations.
Hi there my names alan im 33 from leeds. Ive been suffering with psoriasis since the age of 3. I have just recently set up my own Psoriasis support site
Posted by: Fred - Sat-15-09-2012, 10:24 AM
- No Replies
Despite the growing body of literature linking psoriasis to poor cardiovascular outcomes, most psoriasis patients are not being regularly screened for the major CV risk factors, according to the results of a new analysis.
"Screening for high blood pressure, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity are not performed at most outpatient visits for psoriasis," wrote clinical research fellow Amir Al-Dabagh and colleagues at the center for dermatology research at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C.
To determine whether and to what degree CV screening is taking place during outpatient psoriasis visits in the ambulatory care setting, the investigators reviewed data from the NAMCS (National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey) from 2005 to 2009. They calculated the probability of a patient’s being screened for at least one of four CV risk factors (blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and body mass index). They also compared screening rates by physician specialty, patient demographics, and clinical practice characteristics.
Approximately 11.4 million psoriasis patient visits were recorded during the study period. Age was found to be the only demographic factor that was significantly associated with all CV risk screens, Mr. Al-Dabagh reported in a poster presented at the American Academy of Dermatology’s Summer Academy Meeting. "Psoriasis had a statistically significant negative association on overall screening rates for blood pressure and BMI screening, but not for glucose or cholesterol."
A comparison of screening rates among patients with and without psoriasis showed that only 41.2% of the psoriasis patients were screened for at least one of the four risk factors, compared with 66.3% of patients without psoriasis. When looking at psoriasis patients only, the researchers found that screening for each of the risk factors occurred more frequently during nondermatology vs. dermatology visits, regardless of disease severity.
Specifically, among patients with severe and nonsevere psoriasis, respectively, 100% and 89.9% of psoriasis visits to nondermatology offices included screening for at least one risk factor, compared with 28.9% and 12.3% of psoriasis visits to dermatology offices, according to the analysis. In both settings, screening rates were higher among male patients, as well as among black and non-Hispanic patients, Mr. Al-Dabagh noted.
The majority of nondermatologist visits for patients with severe and nonsevere psoriasis included screening for blood pressure (100% for severe; 87.9% for not severe) and BMI (88.3% for severe; 54.4% for not severe). By comparison, during dermatology visits, 3.8% of patients with severe disease and 2.4% of those with mild to moderate disease had blood pressure screens, and 14.8% and 8.5%, respectively, had BMI recorded. Relatively few visits in either setting included glucose or cholesterol measurement, regardless of disease severity.
In 2008, the National Psoriasis Foundation issued a clinical consensus report recommending that screening psoriasis patients for cardiovascular risk factors begin as early as 20 years of age. The recommendation was based on mounting evidence from population-based studies that found psoriasis to be a risk factor for developing atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction.
In addition to early, routine screening, psoriasis patients should be counseled to modify cholesterol levels when necessary, to take measures to control depression, to quit smoking, to moderate their alcohol intake, to eat a healthy diet, and to exercise at least three times a week, according to the consensus report.
Well Hello There =D
My name is Lauren, I'm 25, and have suffered with severe plaque psoriasis since I was 15.
It started off small - random plaques here and there on my scalp, and then the more that time went by, the more I was noticing the patches spreading to other parts of my body. By 16 I was covered from head to toe in massive plaques. My back was entirely covered, from shoulder blade to shoulder blade and all the way down to just before the small of my back, The entire top of my left arm was another giant plaque, my right elbow and up my arm was another, plaques were spotting my shinns, my face and my ears. I had tried just about every cream/ointment/foam you could think of with little to no relief.
Eventually when I was about 20 or 21 I was out on my own with my own health insurance and I found a dermatologist who said that she'd been in the field for 20+ years and I was one of most severe psoriasis cases she'd ever seen. So she put me on the MTX folic acid cocktail for a while, to no avail.
She then tells me about Enbrel. Tells me all the risks and so forth and so on (if youve ever had a consultation you know the drill) and I REALLY had to sleep on it. Ive never since birth had a good medical history (I.E - I was born with a vascular hemangeoma *benign tumor* about my left eye which is a WHOLE other adventure story, rheumatic fever, lymes disease, quarantined in the hospital for 10 days with meningitis - you name it, i've probably had it) so needless to say I was terrified assuming that with my luck, something that could potentially kill me would probably do just that.
But something snapped in my head and I decided that I was tired of wearing long sleeves and jeans in the summer time. It had, at that point been about 7 or 8 years since I had gone out in public in anything less. After talking with my family and friends I decided to go for it.
And was it ever worth it!!
within 3 months I was 80% spot free - clear beautiful skin. And what a better time to get it but the break of summer! I remember I went out and bought myself a little spaghetti strap dress and went out to the store with my then boyfriend. Once we parked, I froze and couldnt get out of the car. Terrified of getting out of the car, because i felt naked in this little dress when I hadnt worn less than long sleeves and jeans in almost a decade. I started BAWLING realizing what I was about to do. After I composed myself, I got out of the car, shaking and afraid that everyone around me still saw what my skin had previously been. I had never felt SO good in my life. It was such an amazing feeling to feel..pretty for once in my life.
Then moral of that story is I lost my job and insurance followed by losing the Enbrel. My skin stayed clear fooorrr, probably close to a year, before I started seeing anymore signs of it. I had just gotten a new boyfriend (Kurt for future reference, since im still with him haha) and been dating a few months before I started to break down again. I COULDNT have this again, this COULDNT have come at a worse time..Finally Im happy with my life. My skin has been clear, no major medical issues, and just met this AMAZING guy...who knows nothing of what this has the potential of turning into.
Long story short here - I go to the dermo and have them put me back on Enbrel. I had been taking my injections 2x a week for roughly a month and then there it was. Double Vision. Id had bouts of it many times in the past but was usually accompanied by bells palsy - it was strange but Id always ignored it, it went away on its own within a few days. Id been to the ER and the DR before and they"d done MRIs but never came up with anything. Most assumed that it was somehow connected to the vascular hemangeoma - though the mass is above the skull (making an outward appearing bump above my left eye). So I have this double vision and Kurt is concerned and wants me to see a DR and I assure him that it happens all the time and will just go away- and like a good boyfriend, he wasnt okay with that. He gave it 2 days after I told him about it (it had been going on for about 4 before I told him), and I was at work and almost fainted and could barely pick up my pocketbook, my muscles were extremely weak. I called him and he rushed me to the ER and we were there from 10am until 1am, and after 2 CT scans and 2 MRIs they came to the conclusion that quickly became the end all to my skin miracle.
.Multiple Sclerosis.
It sort of felt and still sort of does feel, like I have been dealt some of THEE crappiest health cards in the deck. I know it could be much worse, and Im certainly not looking for sympathy, but....REALLY?!? lol I mean, look at the things/diseases Ive had and still have in my life, and you wanna add THAT crap shoot on top of my crap cake?!? haha.
*side note that I still do not carry a commercial insurance plan, I am however covered by Medicaid*
So now Its been 15 months since I've been diagnosed with MS and have had to stop taking my injections. I kind of came to the conclusion that Id rather treat the MS so my odds are better for this to not disable me, than to keep taking the shots and take a different route to try to keep this under control. So needless to say my skin is...I dont want to say WORSE than it was before I very first went on enbrel. It was VERY tough having giant plaques all over my body...but they were easier to target and attempt to 'treat'. Now Ive got psoriasis in places Ive never had it before and in a different way. Instead of a few LARGE patches, I have a pant load of SMALL lesions spotting my entire body. And the itch is MUCH more intense than it has ever been.
Even ATTEMPTING to treat with creams and things of that nature are tedious, time consuming, messy, smelly, I'm exposing NOT damaged skin to the steroids and/or whatever else is in them, i'm staining clothes/sheets and its just an overall NOT great way to do it.
Unfortunately due to the medication I take for the MS the options for skin treatment are limited (the MS med I take is called gilenya and my neurologist actually told me that gilenya attacks the immune system in a similar fashion to biologics and may eventually end up helping the psoriasis though there is no scientific proof to that theory).
So after reading THAT ^ novel, what do you think? lol What would YOU do? are you or do you know someone else suffering from both psoriasis AND MS?
Sorry this was so long, its just a rare occasion that I can freely express my story/concerns/questions to people who can relate. Any input is appreciated!
-Lauren
(This post will eventually be followed with pictures/video links of part of my journey on Enbrel)
Posted by: Fred - Tue-11-09-2012, 10:34 AM
- No Replies
A report in Skin & Allergy News suggests patients with psoriasis are almost nine times more likely to have enlarged tonsils, compared with patients without psoriasis, according to the results of a small study.
"Our findings suggest that hypertrophic tonsils may be associated with a pathogenic role in psoriasis," Dr. Marianna Shvartsbeyn and her coinvestigators reported in a poster presented at the American Academy of Dermatology’s Summer Academy Meeting. But it is still too soon to know the clinical implications.
In all, 32 patients with psoriasis and 14 patients with noninflammatory skin conditions (common warts, melanoma, and nonmelanoma skin diseases) were recruited. Patients who previously underwent tonsillectomy were excluded.
Tonsils were examined by one investigator, using a 5-point standardized tonsillar hypertrophy grading scale (adopted from Am. Fam. Physician 2004;69:1147-55).
Tonsils that were entirely within the tonsillar fossa received a grade of 0. Tonsils occupying less than 25% of the lateral dimension of the oropharynx, as measured between the anterior tonsillar pillars, received a grade of 1; tonsils occupying less than 50% of the lateral dimension of the oropharynx were a 2; tonsils occupying less than 75% of the lateral dimension of the oropharynx were a 3; and tonsils occupying 75 % or more of the lateral dimension of the oropharynx received a grade of 4.
Chart reviews were conducted to collect information on patient age, sex, race, social history (tobacco, alcohol, and drug use), diagnosis of skin condition, and the duration/severity of disease, noted Dr. Shvartsbeyn and her colleague of the departments of pathology and dermatology at the New York University.
Patients with psoriasis were found to have had an odds ratio of 8.77 for having enlarged tonsils (grade 2 or greater), compared with healthy controls. Tonsillar size also was significantly larger in patients with psoriasis (mean tonsil grade, 1.78), than in control patients (mean tonsil grade, 0.86); the severity of psoriasis was positively associated with tonsil size, Dr. Shvartsbeyn and her colleagues reported.
Limited clinical data have suggested that there is an association between hypertrophic tonsils and inflammatory skin disease. Small studies have shown that among patients with psoriasis, the cutaneous lesions disappeared or improved after tonsillectomy. It is suspected that there may be a genetic predisposition that makes certain patient populations more susceptible, the researchers noted.
Histopathologic studies also point to the possible link between the robust immune response that takes place in the tonsils and the changes in the skin of patients with pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP).
Histologic evaluation of tonsils obtained from patients with PPP has revealed enlargement of the secondary T nodules and atrophy of the lymph follicles, with a decrease in the number of the germinal center cells and fibrosis – changes typically seen in older tonsils. This finding provides indirect evidence of the intensely advanced stage of the immune response within the tonsils.
"Our hypothesis is that in chronic tonsillar hypertrophy, bacterial species that reside in the tonsils are released into the circulation and cause stimulation of T cells. As a result of this constant chronic stimulation, an autoreactive clone may be formed. The auto-clone may produce an antibody attacking the skin and drive inflammatory response. In some individuals, this exaggerated immune response may manifest as psoriasis," the investigators wrote.
And although there is empirical evidence "that tonsillectomy improved skin lesions in patients with psoriasis and pustulosis palmaris et plantaris in small retrospective studies, further studies are needed. ... The observed association needs validation and interventional study is needed to prove causation/contribution," Dr. Shvartsbeyn noted in an interview.
Posted by: Hanna - Mon-10-09-2012, 16:05 PM
- Replies (15)
Well that was the biggest f-ing waste of my time ever!
I'm feeling very down now and totally frustrated and angry :-(
Just seen a derm and what a joke, I seriously wonder where GPs keep their brain cells!
When I saw my GP and explained my cases history of light therapy methotrexate and cyclosporine and told him now pregnant and skin worse and with short time to go would like to see derm in the hope of getting an action plan together I very wrongly assumed I would of seen someone who could help!
So my derm appointment wasn't at the hospital, this didn't phase me to much as have been seen at a GPs before then had to go to hospital the following few days, this is how it went.....
Hi I have psoriasis which is very bad now and has gotten worse with my pregnancy, I'm not sure what the GP has sent you........
Derm...oh I see, umm well sometimes that can happen due to hormones, I see you stopped cyclosporine was this for pregnancy? we can certainly use some creams for you.
Me....yes I stopped that last october, I then had to go back for UVB as skin flared I finished that in feb and normally I would call the hospital direct but it was given by a different nurse and I was told to see GP if psoriasis got worse.
Derm......well when we give UVB we tend to see something called remission for some people this can last 5 years or so
Me.....yes my remission with UVB is normally short lived
Derm......so we need to look at immune suppressants, methotrexate or cyclosporine
Me......yes I have had both before and there has been talk of biologics being the next step for me, but I'm not so keen on that at the moment I would prefer to try the UVB again.
Derm......oh well I'm not linked with the hospital and can't arrange that for you but I can prescribe you steroids or cyclosporine.
Me......oh well I'm not sure why I am here then, I can't use steroids and I really don't want a prescription for cyclosporine with being pregnant, I asked the GP to refer I assumed it would be hospital linked!
Derm....if I'd known you were pregnant I would of advised you had gone to the hospital, would you like some creams? Are you using moisturiser?
Me....no I can't use creams, I'm also allergic to a lot of the moisturiser creams so I can only use epaderm mixed with savalon and I can only apply that a couple of times to stop my skin becoming sensitive to it!
Derm....oh well I'll send a letter to the hospital for you!!
I get up and walk out!!!!!
I'm so upset, I finally go to someone about my skin only to be passed around and not get any where other than just waste my time, and what has upset me the most is that my younger sister got a call last night to say a letter has come from the hospital for her to see a derm next month, a f-ing blind person would pay to see her psoriasis she has the smallest bits on her knees and elbows and I'm about 80% covered and causes me pain and burning....how is that fair??
I've really had enough now :-( what's the point?
What a D-head trying to give a pregnant women cyclopropane he didn't even look a me or ask if I plan on breast feeding!!!
Just wish I could drown my sorrows with some cheap wine and cigarettes :-(
Posted by: Hanna - Sat-08-09-2012, 22:53 PM
- Replies (11)
I was just browsing the web and was looking at star sign bits, not that I'm a big believer in them but I just read that being a pisces I'm more prone to liver and skin trouble!
So can star signs determin health issues?
The poll won't give me the other 2 options so if you are an Aquarius or pisces you will have to write your reply!!!
Hi my name is Liza and I have had psoriasis for 7 years now. I had tried every cream then light treatment but only got 2 days clear after light treatment so stopped everything and gave up trying to fix this as nothing worked.
I went to GP last week who prescribed me Dovobet again. I had not used anything for 3 years and my psoriasis was awful. One week later after using Dovobet I have honestly only slight pink patches of a shadows where the flaky red psoriasis had been. Actually cant believe it!!!
Thought I would come on here and say as I vowed the minute I found something that worked I would share it with other suffers.
I know I might stop this Dovobet as I'm to only use for 4 weeks and it could come back straight away but I'm keeping everything crossed it works.
My psoriasis was particularly bad on my hands and was very noticeable. I had lots on my legswhich isnt as clear as my hands yet but I could hide my legs.
Dovobet did not work for me before so I'm amazed it worked this time. I'm sure it is stronger than the one I was presciped before as I didnt have to stop the other Dovobet after 4 weeks so possibly a different strength.
If like me you have not used this strength of Dovobet speak to your GP as it has honestly made me so happy. Even if I do only get 4 weeks clear it will have been the best I have felt about my self for ages xx
Posted by: Fred - Thu-06-09-2012, 14:49 PM
- Replies (15)
Just thought I would mention this. I've had a bit of a bad belly the last few days and Mrs Fred came home with some Tonic Water and said try this it should help your stomach. Anyway my belly is fine again now, but I did a bit of research into Tonic Water because I was telling Mrs Fred that it contained Quinine.
I found out that Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic (fever-reducing), antimalarial, analgesic (painkilling), and anti-inflammatory properties. Now I don't know if there is any thing in this but in the last couple of days I have noticed the psoriatic arthritis is a little less painful. I should point out that it wasn't to bad anyway, but anyone with PsA will know what I mean when I say you can often feel it, and you know if it's feeling better or not.
Quinine has been used to also treat Malaria, Lupus (a systemic autoimmune disease), nocturnal leg cramps, and arthritis. Obviously there are small amounts of Quinine in my Schweppes Tonic Water (Other brands are available) and I wouldn't recommend anyone try using pure Quinine "nono"
But just wanted to share this with you, and if anyone has any comments I would be interested. Oh and No I didn't mix it with Gin or Vodka
Posted by: Hanna - Mon-03-09-2012, 18:01 PM
- Replies (12)
So I've Have given in and saw a GP and they have referred me to a dermatologist under emergency conditions (all that means is I get seen quicker)
My appointment is next Monday, so I'm planning on taking with me a few questions and points that I feel are important and what I hope to achieve from seeing a new dermatologist.
I thought might be a chance also for others to give input on what you think important questions or goals are for when you have an appointment
Posted by: nerak - Mon-03-09-2012, 03:13 AM
- Replies (3)
Hello every one. I am new to the forum group. Does anybody else break out really bad from the sun with Psoriasis? I have been told that it gets better in the summer. Why do I get worse in the sun? I have 2 family members say the heat helps there psoriasis. I have been told that it is psoriasis. But why would I break out worse. My wedding in July was outside and my arms look terrible in my pictures. thank you karen
I suffered from psoriasis for about 3 years before I was able to visit the doctor to find out what it was. He gave me a skin cream that was one of those used for minor skin irritations that has steroids in it. it did not even phase it, so for the past 4 since then I have been searching for something to use. About 5 months ago I had a really bad flare up, and my skin hurt so bad I could not sleep. I cried for three days because my skin hurt so bad and nothing would help. I gained about 70 pounds in the last 7 years since I started having this skin problem and nothing was working.
I went crying to my mom. A 30 year old does not like to say that. She looked and looked and then remembered someone in her office at work had a blue gel or blue bottle or something is what she told me that helped with his skin condition. Then she went looking at the store.
She brought home Blue star ointment and I took a really hot bath that night and got rid of as many of the scales as I could, and applied the blue star to my abdomen and my lower areas where I was hurting. Kind of an all or nothing thing. The next day my skin was still irritated mildly. The second day it didn't hurt at all. it was stil red for a few weeks after and Within two months you could only see the lines of where the psoriasis had been. Now five months later I can barely tell I have it. My psoriasis was covering 1/3 to 1/2 of my body and now i can barely tell it is there. I would have written a whole lot more about this and I will take time to answer any questions you have about my psoriasis but I am at the library and it is closing.
Bluestar can be found at wal-mart or walgreens and all you need is bluestar and to not use any lye soaps. like the oil of olay cocoabutter soaps work excellent.
I hope this helps you.
Beka
EDIT: This post has been given it's own thread, see post below.
Posted by: Fred - Mon-27-08-2012, 18:02 PM
- No Replies
Do you have psoriasis and have 15 minutes per week to spare? Then why not come and join us here and help others. Your support or information could be valuable to others.
Psoriasis Club is looking for more friendly people to come and help others. Maybe you have experience with a certain drug or natural treatment for psoriasis. You may just have a kind nature and are willing to listen to others when they are feeling down. With a bit of luck you may be a comedian and could post something to make us laugh in the Off Topic section.
It would take around 15 minutes a week to login and see what new posts or threads have been made that need an answer or support. Can't spare 15 minutes?
No problem just get Notification of new threads and posts
You may have joined us but no longer need help or support. you may have found something that works for you and your happy with the results. but please take just 15 minutes a week to login and share with others. We're all in it together
Psoriasis Club is totally self-funded and does not rely on sponsors or donations, but we do need input from others who understand what it's like to live with psoriasis. If you fit the bill please join us now and feel part of a friendly group of people. "wave"
Hi all,
Wondering if anyone has any experience with Remicade? I'm currently using stelara, had really positive effects in the first couple of month's but my psoriasis doesn't seem to cope too well with the big gap inbetween injections, and after enquiring with my dermatologist, there is no scope to have injections more frequently :-( I've tried everything else apart from Remicade, so this is what is being suggested I try now. Anyone have any experiences, whether positive or negative? Thanks for reading :-)
Hi,
Just thought I would say a quick hello to everyone, it's so good to find a forum like this, I've suffered with psoriasis for a while and it's pretty widespread, will be nice to chat to fellow sufferers :-)
Posted by: Fred - Sat-25-08-2012, 12:00 PM
- Replies (7)
Would you swallow the eggs of a pig parasite to help your psoriasis?
Coronado Biosciences Inc Massachusetts, is developing what it hopes will be the first in a new class of treatments for autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis. Each dose of the drug consists of thousands of microscopic parasite eggs, culled from pig faeces, suspended in a tablespoon of saline solution to be swallowed.
In a pig, the eggs would grow into mature whipworms and reproduce, without harming their host. In humans, the same eggs barely survive two weeks. Yet in that short period they appear to modulate a patient's immune system and prevent it from attacking the body's own tissues and organs.
"It has the potential not only to be a drug but to provide insight into the cause of these diseases," said Dr. Joel Weinstock, chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston and an adviser to Coronado.
The company is preparing to enroll 220 patients with Crohn's disease in a midstage clinical trial. Participants will receive either a dose with 7,500 eggs from a pig whipworm or a placebo once every two weeks for 12 weeks.
Coronado's partner, German drugmaker Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH, is conducting a midstage trial of the drug, known as trichuris suis ova (TSO), in Europe. The two companies plan to share data when filing for marketing approval in 2016 or 2017.
The technology behind Coronado's product was developed by Weinstock and researchers at the University of Iowa, where Weinstock was affiliated before Tufts. It is based on the "hygiene hypothesis," which holds that many developed countries have, in some ways, become too clean for their own good.
Millions of organisms, including viruses, bacteria and worms, enter the body through contact with dirt. Researchers believe many of these organisms are needed to train the body's immune system to recognize and fight disease.
Studies have shown that the incidence of autoimmune disease tends to be highest in the developed world, and is highest there among upper-income groups. Weinstock and others hypothesize that the elimination of certain intestinal parasites may have led to the loss in some individuals of a key mechanism for modulating the immune system.
"With the pig whipworm, there is no permanent infection, no real possible side effects," he said.
Sandage said about a third of patients experience some gastrointestinal discomfort, such as diarrhea or cramping, after the first or second dose, though the symptoms typically go away after a day or two.
"What we know from the pig whipworm is that when you give it to people, it is destroyed in the gut," said Fleming. "It doesn't come out, so you have to keep giving it."
Initial results from early trials of the drug in patients with multiple sclerosis are promising, he said, though much more study will be needed to prove efficacy.
Posted by: Fred - Fri-24-08-2012, 19:51 PM
- No Replies
Psychological interventions such as habit reversal, relaxation and cognitive behavioural therapy have for the first time been shown to help prevent skin conditions, University of Sheffield experts have found
A team from the Department of Psychology at the University of Sheffield analysed the combined results of previous studies and determined that psychological interventions provide benefits to patients with skin conditions like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.
Skin conditions have long been associated with psychological distress but for the first time interventions such as habit reversal, relaxation, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and other psychological interventions have been found to help end suffering.
Following analysis of 22 studies involving more than 900 participants the team at the University of Sheffield concluded that there was evidence of benefits but also that there was the need to develop further specific interventions and to conduct more rigorous evaluation of these, including assessments of effects over longer follow-up periods and a wider range of skin conditions.
From their evaluation they found that psychological interventions had a medium-sized effect on skin conditions but that a number of different factors influenced the effectiveness of the interventions, including: the type of intervention, the time interval between the end of the intervention and follow-up, and the type of outcome.
The number of skin conditions represented by the study was small but a medium-sized effect was seen for interventions treating psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The analysis showed that psychological interventions generally had less effect on skin conditions accompanied by pain.
From the studies analysed only four types of intervention were well enough represented for analysis: Habit reversal, CBT, arousal reduction and combined techniques. Habit reversal had the largest effect size, followed by CBT (medium to large) and arousal reduction and combined techniques (medium).
Although the duration of the intervention did not have a great impact on effectiveness, the length of time between the end of the intervention and the follow-up did have a significant impact with longer follow-up periods being associated with smaller effects, suggesting that there may be a need to provide booster sessions.
Group therapies appeared to be as effective as one-to-one sessions. However, the authors also drew attention to the finding that age was negatively associated with effect sizes, for example the older the person was, the less effective the psychological intervention was.
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How many people have Psoriasis?
In 2012 there were approximately 36.5 million prevalent cases of psoriasis, and by 2022, GlobalData epidemiologists forecast that this figure will reach approximately 40.93 million.
The condition affects individuals of both sexes and all ethnicities and ages, although there is a higher prevalence of psoriasis in the colder, northern regions of the world.
The prevalence of psoriasis in the central region of Italy is 2.8 times greater than the prevalence in southern Italy.
Caucasians have a higher prevalence of psoriasis compared with African-Americans, but African-Americans in the US tend to suffer from a more severe form of the disease.