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Hello everyone, I've just posted a looong post about my situation in the 'Please Help Me' section. When I'm not letting this plague ruin my life, I'm actually a nice person so looking forward to being part of this community and hoping I can learn from how other people do more than exist with this awful disease and hopefully, when I'm in a better place offer support to other people having a hard time with it! Thanks for reading.
JustJess x

Hi, hoping some people on here might be able to offer some words of advice or support.

Yes, I want to rip my skin off. Or burn it. All of it. I've had this plague for nearly 4 years now, I'm a woman in my mid 30's. it's everywhere and it just keeps getting worse. I've had both forms of light therapy - TLO1 and PUVA which were unresponsive, use dovobet all the time, and xamiol all the time. As best patches fade but never all of it. I was offered the next set of tablet treatment but I won't take it as it can cause cancer (which runs in the family any way) and infertility. I'm so at the end of my tether now with it, it has sytematically ruined my life in 4 short years and now I can feel a real depression coming over me having been made redundant earlier this year and recently separated from my husband. I'm getting to a very real mental state of thinking 'What is the point of it all, I can't live a normal life with this thing, it's never going to go away. I won't ever be able to have a normal relationship where I'm comfortable'.

I don't enjoy anything. I'm miserable all the time because of this. Every single day I wake up thinking what's the point even about very basic normal stuff, you know, 'What shall I wear today?' Who cares? There's no point. Wear the same as every other day. All I can wear is long trousers and long sleeved tops or jumpers (that have to be white due to scalp plague). Anything in contact with my skin is painful or itches like mad unless I moisturise top to toe every 2 hours. This plague is in every fold of skin so no matter how many times I wash or moisturise the skin splits, turns to a delightful paste and smells of rotting flesh (I am a very clean person but it does this anyway). I am a picture of femininity. Not.

I have to force myself to leave the house which causes so much anxiety I often talk myself out of it.

People I see don't 'get' what it's like and I often get a cursory and polite 'your skin's looking better' I usually nod and reply with a 'mmmmmm', but inside my head is screaming at them 'no, obviously it's not better. It's just as bad as last time I saw you so shut the fu*k up'. Or worse, for example if I hear people talking about how they have nothing to wear, in my head I want to scream at them 'try living a life knowing you will NEVER. EVER., be able to wear a skirt, or cropped trousers, or a vest, or a t-shirt EVER again or ever go to a special event or get dressed up and then see how limited your wardrobe looks. Just be grateful you self-centred and insensitive git'. (ok, that's probably more one for the girls).

I can't go on a night out with friends or family as it just throws up the question, what can I wear. Jeans and a cardigan like every other single day
of my life. I hate the school run, the other Mums just stare.

Think that's one of the worst things about this plague, people think it's something worse or something contagious and they stare. They never ask. Maybe it would be better if they did. On public transport it's a nightmare, I daren't hold onto a hand rail on an over crowded bus, people physically lean away from me as if they're going to catch it. And, after a hot day in an office, with every skin fold pasty and l'eau'd'rot in full effect, it's no joy getting on an even hotter bus packed to the rafters where you're inches away from people on all sides. I waited over an hour once for a bus that wasn't full (busses arrive every 8 minutes or so).

I know this is a genetic thing passed down through the family but I can't forgive the person who gave it to me. If they knew this ran in the family they shouldn't of had children. If I had known about it and that it was hereditory and that I would get it, I would not have had my daughter (really). I didn't get this plague until after she was born. If I have passed this on to her I'll never forgive myself either.

People say, 'you've just got to not let it affect you'. How? Please tell me. How do I do that when it is a constantly in my face taunting, 'look at the life you could of had!'
Another thing I get a lot is 'you've just got to get out in the world and take each day at a time' Again, HOW????? And my personal favourite 'there are people in the world with worse things that this'. True. Very true, but that doesn't mean my experience of this is any less real or valid.

If there's a knack to just accepting it? Please tell me. I'm just not one of those people who can just put two fingers up to the world and say 'this is me, if you don't like it, that's your problem'. I would love to know how people on here have come to terms with it. How do people live normal lives with this disease when it affects so many things on a day to day basis.

Here's a list of things I can't do now, some of which are day to day things and others are 'that would be a nice thing to do once in a while but I can't because of the plague' kind of things....
1. I can't take my daughter swimming. (breaks my heard because she always asks me if I'll be able to take her when my skin is better to which I have to say 'yes' because she's desperate for me to go with her even though I know it'll never be better enough to do it.
2. I will NEVER be able to wear a t-shirt or a vest out in public again.
3. I will NEVER be able to wear a skirt/dress/cropped trousers in public again.
4. I can no longer wear my hair in a ponytail due to it being so bad on my scalp.

These things alone are enough to fu*k your life up, imagine never being able to wear a t-shirt again in hot weather. I literally have anxiety leaving the house now and have to make sure I'm covering it all up with my boots, jeans, long sleeved t-shirt or jumper or cardignan which is most delightful in 30 degree heat.

5. It fu*king hurts. No matter how clean or how moisturised I keep it it hurts. Every. Single. Day. Sitting for more that 5 minutes, standing, walking, sleeping.
6. I can't sit in the garden. It's over looked. I used to be a really outdoorsy person, not anymore.
7. Can't go on holiday. Anywhere that might need skin exposure due to heat ot activity. Unless perhaps a secluded holiday if such a thing exists. I know I wouldn't enjoy it. The mere thought fills me with dread. Might as well stay at home and be secluded here. (cheaper). Unfortunately that means my daugher won't ever have a holiday which hardly seems fair. More guilt.
8. Can't play team sports - can't wear shorts or t-shirt.
9. Can't go to the gym - same as above.
10. Can't think, hey it's my birthday, lets get the girls together and go for a spa day or out for a meal.
11. Can't join in on friends hen do's or birthday days out as they usually involve the above.
12. Can't have a love life.
13. Can't get a hair cut. - Probably manage 2 a year after weeks of mental preparation and hours of crying beforehand. Same with the dentist or optician or seeing the Doctor, anything that involves someone being close to my head.
14. Answering the front door. It has to be a very VERY good day for me to answer the front door. Usually just sit very still and hope they go away.

These things might sound like materialistic things but they're really not, they're normal everyday things which you take for granted until you can't do them anymore.

Maybe I should just suck it up and get on with it like people tell me to but I just can't seem to get past this.

Before this, I was a happy, out-going, confident person and fun to be around. Really.

Would burning the skin help? Would it come back? I'll consider anything. Honestly.

Sorry for being depressing. Someone help me, please. Any advice will be gratefully received.
JustJess

We all know how important it is to use plenty of Moisturiser. I mostly use Coconut Oil which I get from an ethnic shop in the city. a €4 pot lasts me about 3 months. I sometimes switch to a 50/50 mix of Olive and Peanut Oil. My dermatologist also gives me Dexeryl, I don't use it that often though.

So what do you use as a Moisturiser ?

Company names a fine but please don't post links as it's not good for the forum.

Thanks.

The FDA requires that all skincare companies list their ingredients in order of highest concentration first. Learn to read your lotion labels. Do your own research as well. Does your daily lotion contain these harmful ingredients?

Paraben
This is also known as Methylparaben, Propylparaben, IIsoparaben, Butylparaben. Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. They have been linked to possible carcinogenicity, as well as an estrogenic effect from being exposed to the continued use of parabens as preservatives. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their report "Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: Agents of Subtle Change?" reported that the parabens—methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl displayed estrogenic activity in several tests. It is a known medical fact that estrogen stimulates breast cancer and anything absorbed through the skin may be as high as 10 times the concentration of an oral dose. There have been no successful studies to show that repeated and prolonged use of paraben is safe. It is a low-cost synthetic preservative for which many large cosmetic brands have tried to fund study to prove that prolonged usage is safe; all studies failed. Parabens are used in many personal products as a preservative to extend the shelf life of products. These chemicals can be found in face and body moisturizers, body wash, and cleansers.

Petrochemicals
Almost all skin care products contain synthetic substances - petroleum (chemical) based. Studies have found that oral and topical application of petrochemicals in rodents resulted in anemia, kidney degeneration, and nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. Even more disturbing was that several animals died before the study ended! Are you shocked that people still use these chemicals on their body? Some synthetic colors, such as FD & C Blue No. 1, are suspected carcinogens. Behentrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydrosypropyltrimonium Chloride, Linoleamidepropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate are toxic ammonium compounds for which concentrations as low as 0.1%. In the past little, was known about the long term exposure to petrochemicals. However, today we know that many of the household cleaning products, home furnishings and our food supply is loaded with petrochemicals, and this is linked to the rise in cancer, along with other diseases. The FDA (Federal Drug Administration) has not been proactive in removing these products from households in the United States. Read more about petrochemicals at The Ecology Centre.

Phthalates
A truly toxic skin care ingredient. Dibutylphthalate and diethylphthalate (DBP, DEP, also butyl ester) helps lotions absorb into skin. DEHP has been classified as a "probable human carcinogen" by the EPA. The Department of Health and Human Services has also classified DEHP as a potential carcinogen. L'Oreal is the only major cosmetic company to discontinue the use of this chemical in Europe only due to severe allergic reactions. L'Oreal in the United States, as well as many other cosmetic companies continue to sell and use this harmful chemical. We prefer a lotion that may take longer to absorb, rather than a lotion which absorbs rapidly while injecting cancer and killing our skin cells. Do not use it.

Cosmetic Fragrance
Artificial fragrances are made from petroleum or coal which degrade in the environment and cause skin irritations.
Cosmetic fragrance is made with cheap synthetic chemicals which replicate the natural aroma of products which already exist in nature. Companies use them because it is cheaper than using the natural scent.

Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate
Also known as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). This is the second most concentrated ingredient in shampoos. READ YOUR LABELS - the FDA requires that label ingredients are listed in the order of highest concentrations - meaning that the highest level of ingredients are listed first. Take a look at your cleanser or shampoo and you will find SLS is second or third. Simply disgusting. It is used in concrete floor cleaners, engine degreasers, car wash detergents, and just about every soap and shampoo on the market. In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. According to the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, Vol. 2, No. 7, l983, SLS is a mutagen. In sufficient amounts, it is capable of changing the information in genetic material found in cells. It has been used in studies to induce mutations in bacteria. It denatures protein, impairs proper structural formation of young eyes, creating permanent damage. SLS can damage the immune system. It can cause separation of skin layers and cause inflammation to the skin. If it interacts with other nitrogen bearing ingredients. Do your own research - there have been many studies done on these chemicals.

Diazolidinyl Urea or Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
It is chemically related to imidazolidinyl urea and is a formaldehyde releaser used as a preservative. It was International Agency for Research on Cancer to its highest toxic class, IARC 1 (known human carcinogen). Formaldehyde is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which provides sufficient evidence that formaldehyde causes nasopharyngeal cancer in humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The label on your skin care product may not list "formaldehyde". The following ingredients break down and release formaldehyde: diazolidinyl urea (or 3-diol diazolidinyl urea) 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 (or bronopol) DMDM hydantoin. The label on your skin care product may not list "formaldehyde". The following ingredients break down and release formaldehyde: diazolidinyl urea (or 3-diol diazolidinyl urea) 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1 (or bronopol) DMDM hydantoin.

It has been banned in Europe, after studies concluded that effects can result in: carcinogen, causes allergic reactions and contact dermatitis; headaches; irritates mucous membranes; damaging to eyes; linked to joint and chest pain; depression; headaches; fatigue; dizziness and immune dysfunction.

Source: madefromearth.com

First things first the PASI score is not the same as the Psoriasis Score you see in the menu bar above of the forum.

The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) is the most widely used tool for the measurement of severity of psoriasis. PASI combines the assessment of the severity of lesions and the area affected into a single score in the range 0 (no disease) to 72 (maximal disease).

The calculation works like this:
The body is divided into four sections (head (H) (10% of a person's skin); arms (A) (20%); trunk (T) (30%); legs (L) (40%)). Each of these areas is scored by itself, and then the four scores are combined into the final PASI. For each section, the percent of area of skin involved, is estimated and then transformed into a grade from 0 to 6:

   0% of involved area, grade: 0
   < 10% of involved area, grade: 1
   10-29% of involved area, grade: 2
   30-49% of involved area, grade: 3
   50-69% of involved area, grade: 4
   70-89% of involved area, grade: 5
   90-100% of involved area, grade: 6

Within each area, the severity is estimated by three clinical signs: erythema (redness), induration (thickness) and desquamation (scaling). Severity parameters are measured on a scale of 0 to 4, from none to maximum.

The sum of all three severity parameters is than calculated for each section of skin, multiplied by the area score for that area and multiplied by weight of respective section (0.1 for head, 0.2 for arms, 0.3 for body and 0.4 for legs).

There are other ways of scoring hence the Psoriasis Score on the forum. its just a way of monitoring how well your treatment is going.

Hello Folks

I'm a 'newbie' and at some point soon will probably bore you all rigid with my own story!! But at the moment a query...I have palmar plantar psoriais (isn't it funny that something so horrid can sound so posh?!) which I'm having difficulty in getting under control, it first being diagnosed in 2009. My husband came back from The Body Shop the other day with some dropper bottles of a new product, Hemp Hand Oil. I've heard that hemp oil can be good for psoriasis but wondered if anyone had tried it and is it any good? I'm desperate to wean myself off the Dovobet and Elocon (I refuse to take tablets because of the side effects) and anything that will help alleviate the problems would be really helpful.

Thanks to you all and I'm glad I found this site!

How come I have made 4 posts and my post count is -2

Have just registered for the new forum.. and I'm liking the layout here very much!

I'm an American living in Germany with my German husband and two terrifying cats

And I've been a victim/ warrior of psoriasis for most of my 40 years on earth.. diagnosed at the age of six. Thankfully, the German and the furr-balls don't seem to mind.

There are good days, great days, bad days and terrible ones.. and then there are those days when I want to tell psoriasis to kiss my .

It is also not a fast-acting treatment, so if you're looking for a quick fix, this isn't it.

But I do think it's safer than almost any other treatment out there - and Germany has been using this therapy for over 20 years.

My own dermatologist has had 3 patients who were prescribed Fumaderm for a period of 3-4 years, whose psoriasis symptoms did not return once they ended treatment.. at least this is what he told me.. whether it's true or not I cannot say.. but he is a very good doctor and treats me with the utmost care, so I would have a hard time calling him a liar.

Having been treated with Fumaderm now for 3 months, I can see a slow but steady improvement in my condition. When I started on the old forum, my Psoriasis Score was 37.

Today it is 23.

In the next few months, I aiming for 0.

Hi all, not been available much lately, been very busy.
Hope everyone is well, apart from the obvious.
Oh, and a thanks to Fred for remembering my birthday in May.
Regards to all......

I am re-starting this thread from the old forum, since this is my current psoriasis treatment.

What is Fumaderm?

Fumaderm® (fumaric acid esters) tablets are licensed in Germany for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis for whom topical therapy is ineffective.

It is beneficial in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, particularly chronic plaque, guttate or pustular disease; at least 50% of patients treated with Fumaderm® will have a reduction of about 70% or more in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score after 16 weeks of treatment.

Data from controlled and observational studies show Fumaderm® is effective as a first-line systemic agent in patients not responding to topical therapy, as an alternative to other systemic agents that are ineffective or not tolerated.

Adverse effects, including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and facial flushing, are common at the start of treatment with Fumaderm® and lead to discontinuation and/or non-compliance in 30 to 40% of patients.

Reversible leucopenia, lymphopenia and transient eosinophilia are frequently observed. Observational studies following patients for up to 14 years do not indicate that Fumaderm® is associated with serious or permanent adverse effects. Increases in serum creatinine and liver function tests occur rarely and resolve with continued treatment or on dose reduction.

Please note if you are not receiving emails from Psoriasis Club when you should be, please check your spam folder.

This seems to be a bigger problem with hotmail and livemail so please make sure you have https://psoriasisclub.org and www.psoriasisclub.org in your "Safe Sender List"

Any problems let us know.

Ever since first getting psoriasis over 30 years ago I have often tried to work out what triggers a Flare Up !

I have tried keeping a diary of foods / drinks / emotional state / health / weather / etc / etc. but I just can not get an exact answer. I have found being wound up about something doesn't help but still can't say for definite that it caused the flare up.

After more research I have found the following things seem to be the most recognised triggers. but even they can sometimes contradict each other.

Food, Drink, Tobacco : Beef, Pork, Veal, Sausage, Salami, Burgers, Margarine, Tomatoes, Tobacco, Peppers, Potatoes, Chilli, Lobster,Shrimp, Prawn, Crab, Coffee, Gluten, Yeast, Fried Food, Pizza, Vinegar, Pickles, Spices, Strawberries, Peanut Butter, And Alcohol.

Emotional State: Anger, Stress, Depression, Anxiety, Tiredness.

Drugs: Betablockers (propranolol, atenolol, etc), Antimalarial medication, Lithium, Anti-inflammatory painkillers (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, etc), Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor drugs, and some Antibiotics.

Trauma: Injury to the skin, including excessive scratching, may trigger a patch of psoriasis to develop. The development of psoriatic plaques at a site of injury is known as What is Koebner reaction ?

Weather: Cold Dry Wind is the worst for psoriasis. and although Sunlight is generally good for psoriasis you should be careful not to over do it as sunburn is a skin injury.

Hormone changes in women: Psoriasis in women tends to be worst during puberty and during the menopause. These are times when there are some major changes in female hormone levels. Some pregnant women with psoriasis find that their symptoms improve when they are pregnant, but it may flare up in the months just after having a baby. Again, this is thought to be related to changes in hormone levels.

This list is not endless and if you have some triggers to add please post them here so we can keep them together.

Oh and by the way I never did find what triggers my flare ups, and I have now given up trying to find out. I don't have so many since giving up tying to work it out! so maybe I should add Don't bother trying to work it out in the "Emotional State" list.

So what's your Trigger for a flare up ?

The Koebner phenomenon is perhaps one of the most widely known phenomena in dermatology. It was described for the first time in 1872 by Heinrich Koebner, a well-known 19th century dermatologist, who gave it his name. Some of his patients had developed psoriasis on the site of an excoriation (an abrasion of the skin due to scratching), a bite by a horse or a tattoo.

The term is used to describe the response whereby new lesions appear and develop in patients suffering from skin conditions on healthy skin which has suffered a trauma. A trauma to a "normal" area of skin in a patient with psoriasis can hence lead to new lesions that are identical to those caused by the condition. This is why the Koebner phenomenon is also known as an "isomorphic reaction" (meaning a reaction in the same form).

The Koebner phenomenon is associated with several dermatological conditions, and most frequently with psoriasis, lichen planus and vitiligo. People with psoriasis are hence particularly vulnerable, and those with unstable or erythematic psoriasis, characterised by dark red patches all over the body, are especially at risk.

It should be noted that local traumas do not necessarily trigger this response.
The Koebner phenomenon usually appears between 10 and 14 days after a trauma to the skin, but it can appear up to several years afterwards. Other characteristics are that it does not affect any area in particular, appears most commonly in winter and especially affects children.

Various traumas can trigger this response. It has been observed at the site of bites by dogs and insects, abrasions, gunshot wounds, lacerations, burns, scars, friction, contact dermatitis, in the area rubbed by the elastic of a sock and also after the skin has been shaved, exfoliated or waxed.

The arms of glasses can cause a Koebner response behind the ears. Filing or manicuring the nails can exacerbate psoriasis of the nails. In one case friction by a tennis racket caused a Koebner phenomenon to appear in the right hand palm of a tennis player. Even when someone has psoriatic arthritis, friction by a wedding ring can lead to psoriatic lesions appearing solely on the ring finger.

In the case of palmoplantar psoriasis, lesions due to the Koebner phenomenon may be concentrated on pressure areas, and not be present on the arch of the foot. Sunburn can also lead to psoriasis spreading massively over the body, known as the photo Koebner phenomenon.

Many dermatoses can cause the Koebner phenomenon, including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, herpes, lichen planus, chickenpox and vitiligo. Eczema may therefore trigger psoriatic lesions. Finally, an allergic reaction to flu or tuberculosis vaccination, certain drugs, hair spray or hair dye, a tattoo, urticaria and some therapies such as UV therapy can also lead to a Koebner response.

Doctors sometimes talk about a reverse Koebner phenomenon when a psoriatic plaque clears after a trauma as may occur after rubella, a cold, acute pharyngitis or an operation.
Although external occurrences of the Koebner phenomenon are most well known, it can also be invisible and located on a nerve in close proximity with the site of an eruption. For example, a wrist fracture or isolated arthrosis can lead to psoriatic lesions on the nails. This is known as a deep Koebner phenomenon which is a rare phenomenon that should not be ignored.

Irish actress Jenny Kavanagh has revealed details of her 15 year experience with psoriasis at the launch of an educational campaign aimed at dispelling the myths associated with the skin condition. Jenny, better known for her portrayal of the character Cleo in the hit RTE soap Fair City, launched the initiative – which includes the results of a survey on the public's attitudes towards psoriasis – at the 80th Annual National Ploughing Championships in Athy, Co.Kildare.

The educational campaign, entitled 'Psoriasis - Clear as Mud' and supported by LEO Pharma, seeks to create a better understanding of the skin condition among the general public and those living with psoriasis. Dermatology nurses and the Psoriasis Association of Ireland provided information on the condition and educating the public at a dedicated 'Psoriasis – Clear as Mud' stand at the 2011 National Ploughing Championships.

The need to dispel misconceptions was underlined by the survey's results which revealed the extent to which worrying misunderstandings exist on this common skin condition. The campaign title reflects how this 'muddying of the waters' makes living with psoriasis increasingly difficult. An outspoken psoriasis advocate, Jenny urged Irish people with psoriasis to visit their healthcare professional early for treatment and support. "Having had psoriasis since I was eight years old, I understand the frustration and embarrassment that can sometimes be associated with the condition. That's why I am personally happy to be involved in this worthwhile campaign – I want to show people that psoriasis does not have to be restricting, psoriasis is treatable and there is help available so it is important to seek support early", the 23 year old actress said.

Awareness and attitudes research carried out recently by Behaviour and Attitudes suggests that a number of misconceptions concerning the condition still exist. While most respondents recognised that psoriasis was a debilitating skin condition, 9% believed psoriasis was a liver disease. The survey also revealed that 7% of adults actually believe that psoriasis may actually be contagious while another 7% of adults felt that people suffering from psoriasis should be banned from certain occupations, particularly those working with foods, such as chefs, or personal care In addition, 39% of male and just 18% of female sufferers say that they don't see healthcare professional in relation to their psoriasis which emphasizes the need to educate the public, particularly men with the condition, on the advances in treatments available.

Also speaking at the launch of the campaign was former farmer Ronan Farrelly, a committee member of the Psoriasis Association Ireland and a sitting board member of EUROPSO, the federation of psoriasis patients' associations based in Europe. "This campaign sets out to remove the stigma surrounding psoriasis and educate the public on this condition. The public need to know that psoriasis is a common skin disorder affecting more than 100,000 people in Ireland. It is not contagious and anyone can develop it.

"This initiative will seek to dispel the myths surrounding psoriasis. Those of us with the condition often feel frustrated with the treatment they receive from people who do not understand the condition. This can often lead to a sense of hopelessness. The understanding that will come from this campaign coupled with information about support networks will help people with their treatment and improve overall care of this condition" he added.

Sorce: waterford-today.ie

Janssen Biotech, Inc. announced today that STELARA® (ustekinumab) has been awarded the prestigious 2011 Prix Galien USA Award in the category of Best Biotechnology Product.  The Prix Galien USA Award recognizes extraordinary efforts in biopharmaceutical and medical technology research and development by honoring biomedical advances impacting both individuals and public health in the past decade. 

Approved in the United States by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2009 for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy, STELARA is a human monoclonal antibody that selectively targets two cytokines, interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-23 (IL-23), naturally occurring proteins that are believed to play a role in the development of psoriasis. 

"It is a tremendous honor to have STELARA recognized by the Prix Galien Committee as the Best Biotechnology Product," said Jay P. Siegel, M.D., Chief Biotechnology Officer and Head, Global Regulatory Affairs, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD), one of the Janssen pharmaceutical companies.  "This achievement is representative of the drive, dedication and commitment of a global team of scientists spanning discovery, research, development and manufacturing."

"The unique mechanism of action of STELARA and the extensive psoriasis clinical program conducted underpin our continued commitment to innovation and developing additional treatment options in immunology," added Susan Dillon, Ph.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Immunology, J&JPRD.   

The Prix Galien Award recognizes the technical, scientific and clinical research skills necessary to develop innovative medicines and devices, and is considered the industry's highest accolade.  Prix Galien was first established in 1970 by French pharmacist Roland Mehl and was inaugurated in the United States in September 2007.  The Prix Galien USA award committee comprises eleven individuals including Nobel Laureates, founders of major biotech companies and editors of world-renowned biology journals.

"STELARA represents our company's commitment to patients by bringing innovative solutions to market for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases like psoriasis," said Robert Bazemore, President, Janssen Biotech, Inc.  "We are honored to be recognized for the significant contribution STELARA has made to the biopharmaceutical community, and importantly to patients in the U.S. who have benefited from this biologic medicine."

Source: .prnewswire.com

A PROJECT to raise the profile of a painful skin disease has received a boost from an influential former MSP.
Ex-Wester Hailes GP Dr Ian McKee chaired a briefing for politicians on psoriasis, which was attended by scores of patients and nurses.

It is estimated the condition, which can cause difficulties with arthritis, affects more than 20,000 people in the Lothians.

The stigma attached to having a skin condition is also putting pressure on patients, adding to the challenges of the illness.

The charity PSALV wants more attention paid to it and support given to sufferers, and its bid has been backed by Dr McKee.

He said: "Psoriasis is one of the most common of all conditions yet one which most people know very little about. Part of the reason for this general ignorance is the sad fact that many people with this skin condition go to great lengths to keep it a secret because of the cruel reaction they often experience."


Source: edinburghnews.scotsman.com

This database was compiled in 2004 and the statistics are derived from official causes of death by psoriasis detailed on certificates of death by each country.

# 1      United States:        33 deaths 
# 2      Brazil:                  13 deaths 
# 3      Canada:                6 deaths 
= 4      Hungary:              4 deaths 
= 4      Thailand:                  4 deaths 
= 4      Spain:                    4 deaths 
= 4      Netherlands:        4 deaths 
= 8      Chile:                         3 deaths 
= 8      Japan:                  3 deaths 
= 8      Uruguay:              3 deaths 
= 8      New Zealand:          3 deaths 
= 12      Venezuela:            2 deaths 
= 12      Costa Rica:            2 deaths 
= 12      Peru:                         2 deaths 
= 12      Croatia:                 2 deaths 
= 12      Argentina:            2 deaths 
= 12      Moldova:              2 deaths 
= 12      Poland:                 2 deaths 
= 12      Norway:              2 deaths 
= 12      United Kingdom:    2 deaths 
= 12      Slovenia:                 2 deaths 
= 22      South Africa:          1 deaths 
= 22      Colombia:            1 deaths 
= 22      Lithuania:              1 deaths 
= 22      Cuba:                  1 deaths 
= 22      Israel:                  1 deaths 
= 22      Denmark:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Romania:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Dominican Republic: 1 deaths 
= 22      Australia:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Egypt:                         1 deaths 
= 22      Latvia:                  1 deaths 
= 22      Estonia:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Mexico:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Finland:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Puerto Rico:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Germany:                 1 deaths 
= 22      Sweden:                 1 deaths 

Total: 117 deaths 

Compiled 2004
Source: nationmaster.com

-Cellceutix Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing small molecule drugs to treat unmet medical conditions, today released pictures of its mice study with KM-133, the Company’s small molecule acting on the principles of immune stimulation and PRINS reduction as a new treatment for psoriasis. The pictures are available for viewing at " cellceutix.com/product-candidates/km-133---psoriasis-compound.html " The pictures show a dramatic response to treatment with KM-133. In the studies 100% of the mice responded to the treatment.

The Company also reported that it has engaged its FDA consultant for the purpose of preparing a regulatory pathway with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) pursuant to Section 505(b)(2) for KM-133, as a new treatment for psoriasis.
Given the fact that the active moiety of KM-133 is an already FDA-approved product, Cellceutix believes that it will be eligible for a 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, which permits compounds in development to be taken into advanced stages of clinical trials based upon bioequivalence from previously reported filings; saving time and money in the development process.
Research of a human xenograft animal model of psoriasis conducted by Cellceutix on KM-133 measuring it against methotrexate, a commonly used drug today in the treatment of psoriasis, showed a faster reduction of lesion appearance (84% versus 63%), a greater reduction in serum PRINS (96 versus 48%) and a significant reduction in serum IL-20 (87% versus 46%) in models treated with KM-133 as compared to methotrexate. More importantly, psoriasis lesions showed no reoccurrence in models treated with KM-133 throughout the 180-day study whereas psoriasis lesions reappeared in those treated with methotrexate in 61 days.
“Now that we have Kevetrin firmly on course for human trials, we can dedicate resources towards other drugs in our pipeline,” commented Cellceutix CEO Leo Ehrlich. “The psoriasis market is a multi-billion dollar opportunity in which we feel we have a competitive edge based upon our pre-clinical data of KM-133 outperforming today’s standards of treatment. The results on the mice were beyond our most optimistic expectations. Most importantly the study used a ‘human xenograft” animal model of psoriasis. We have signed confidential agreements with some large pharmas who have already shown interest in KM-133. Our belief is that based on the chemistry of KM-133, it meets the eligibility for 505(b)(2) clearance which means that we could have two extremely promising drugs in clinical trials in 2012, with KM-133 potentially being in Phase II/III trials. I am excited about all of the developments happening at Cellceutix and look forward to providing shareholders with frequent updates over the coming weeks.”

Source: cellceutix.com