Had these strange red patches come up on my leg about 5 days ago which I initially thought were insect bites. They don't itch at all but they don't seem to be disappearing. Is it psoriasis? No history of it in the family as far as I'm aware.






Thank you.

Howdy interested in what people are using as a moisturizer in the past i having been using a cream which is basically  oils and herbs , i have been using it for about 12 years now and when things get ultra itchy it calms things down . Side effects are stained clothes and strong smell so i only use it at home and mostly at night , hoping that some one might have something for every day use 
Cheers Wobbly

Hi everyone, I am a newbie to this group but have had psoriasis for most of my 57 years. For the past 20 years I have been treated very successfully with methotrexate - tablets mostly but weekly injection for the past 5 years. My dermatologist has told me to stop now though due to recurring sinusitis which has been so bad I needed surgery for it last month. I am using dovobet for now but he has given me literature on acitretin and suggested I start this in a few months. I am very nervous about using dovobet and reading the side effects of acitretin scares me too! 
I know I am getting on a bit and maybe shouldn't be so vain, but one of the side effects was hair loss or thinning and as if psoriasis isn't bad enough already losing my hair would be devastating. Any thoughts??

This study suggests MicroRNAs gene expression regulators are altered in psoriasis.

Quote:

---

Background:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) gene expression regulators are altered in psoriasis suggesting their role in the pathogenesis.

Objective:
To study expression changes of inflammation and toll-like receptor (TLR)-related miRNAs, miRNA-155, let-7i, miRNA-21, miRNA-146a and miRNA-223 in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and miRNA-21, miRNA-146a and miRNA-223 in plasma, from chronic plaque-type psoriasis patients who were treatment-naive or had undergone a washout period (n = 11). MiRNAs were evaluated at baseline and after 11 (9–12) months [median (25th–75th percentile range)] of methotrexate (MTX) or topical (betamethasone plus calcipotriene) treatment.

Methods:
MiRNA expression was analysed with quantitative real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Matched controls were studied.

Results:
Psoriasis patients presented, at baseline, increased expression of miRNA-155, let-7i, miRNA-146a, miRNA-21 and miRNA-223 in PBMCs, plus miRNA-21, miRNA-146a and miRNA-223 in plasma. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and area under the curve (AUC) showed that expression of these miRNAs have the potential to distinguish between psoriasis and controls. At baseline, miRNA-155 expression in PBMCs correlated with Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) [12 (8–14)] (Spearman r: 0.7140, P < 0.05) suggesting a role in psoriasis. After MTX or topical treatment, reduction in PASI was observed [87.5% (75–100)]; miRNA-155 expression in PBMCs decreased; plasma miRNA-21, miRNA-146a and miRNA-223 were down-regulated. ROC analysis showed that miRNA-155 expression in PBMCs from psoriasis patients have the potential to distinguish between patients' samples at baseline and after treatment (AUC: 0.942, sensitivity: 0.91; specificity: 0.91 values; maximum likelihood ratio =10). After treatment, miRNA-146a expression in PBMCs increased; miRNA-155/miRNA-146a ratio decreased, suggestive of a regulatory feedback; let-7i expression decreased; miRNA-21 and miRNA-223 remained elevated.

Conclusion:
In this exploratory study, psoriasis patients presented increased expression of miRNA-155 in PBMCs that correlated with PASI and decreased with disease remission. MiRNA-21, miRNA-146a and miRNA-223 in PBMCs and plasma were increased at baseline and differentially modulated, underscoring different roles of TLR-related miRNAs in psoriasis.

This study compared calcipotriol/betamethasone foam against the gel and suggests that the foam is better than the gel.

Quote:

---

Background:
Fixed combination calcipotriol 50 μg/g (Cal) plus betamethasone 0.5 mg/g (BD) foam has been developed as a new treatment option for patients with psoriasis.

Methods:
The randomized, parallel-group, investigator-blinded Phase III, 12-week PSO-ABLE study compared the efficacy and safety of Cal/BD foam with Cal/BD gel. Patients aged ≥18 years with mild-to-severe psoriasis were randomized 4:4:1:1 to once-daily Cal/BD foam, Cal/BD gel, foam vehicle or gel vehicle (NCT02132936). The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who were clear/almost clear with a ≥ 2 grade improvement according to the physician's global assessment of disease severity (i.e. treatment success) at week 4 for Cal/BD foam vs. week 8 for Cal/BD gel. Secondary efficacy endpoints included: proportion of patients achieving at least a 75% reduction in modified psoriasis area and severity index (mPASI75), and time to treatment success (TTTS). Safety was monitored throughout.

Results:
A total of 463 patients were randomized: Cal/BD foam (n = 185), Cal/BD gel (n = 188), foam vehicle (n = 47), gel vehicle (n = 43); overall completion rate was 90%. Cal/BD foam achieved higher treatment success rates (38% vs. 22%; P < 0.001) and mPASI75 (52% vs. 35%; P < 0.001) by week 4 than Cal/BD gel by week 8. Median TTTS with Cal/BD foam was 6 weeks; this could not be determined for Cal/BD gel as 50% treatment success was not achieved (P < 0.001). Adverse drug reactions were reported in 14 (7.6%) Cal/BD aerosol foam patients and 7 (3.7%) Cal/BD gel patients; all were single events except for itch with Cal/BD aerosol foam (n = 5; 2.7%) and worsening psoriasis with Cal/BD gel (n = 3; 1.6%).

Conclusion:
Cal/BD aerosol foam showed significantly greater efficacy after 4 weeks, than 8 weeks of treatment with Cal/BD gel, with similar tolerability.

Sorry to be indelicate, but I think my P has spread to my lady bits. I can be incredibly itchy, which then makes it sore, and it just becomes a vicious circle of scratch, itch, etc. am I safe in using my prescribed steroids (Dovobet and Elocon) or can someone recommend a more natural remedy? I currently suffer from palmar-plantar P but I also have it on my scalp and the odd spot here and there on my body. Thank you.

would like to say a big thanks for the support I have received n new friends I have met  I don't feel so alone anymore

Hi 
I have been taking 25mg a day now for 2 weeks , so far no side affects  . Have had blood test done and all is well ,Doctor says  will need to test blood weekly for about a month and then fortnightly , good thing i don't mind needles .I will update as we go along this journey . Hope every body at PC is well Cheers

if I ask my consultant to lower my dose from 25mg to 10mg will this help my hair loss or will I start breaking out again. not been this clear for 20yrs

hello to each of u..... i M 30 YO......please help me  i m fighting with psoriasis since last 3 months which suddenly appeared on my whole body & on medicine Methotrexzate & topical cream bees wax  but last week i changed my doctor  he diagonsis dat I have " ERYTHODERMA Psoriasis"    ...   plz  any any one knows about this  type of psoriasis &  how it cure from it??????

hello ive been on acetretin 25mg since april 2016. my psoriasis was very severe. I'm now clear but I'm losing my hair every day my lips and nose are really dry and sore. being a lady I don't want to go bald but I don't want to be that sore again I get so down. what do I do?

Hello,

I'm new to the online psoriasis club but a senior member of the life psoriasis club! I was diagnosed when I was 15 years old and I am now 39 and I although feel fortunate not to suffer as badly as others do I still deal with patches in um..shall we say, delicate places.

My question for my fellow sufferers is do you deal with dry skin in general or just on the affected areas?

My skin is dry and sensitive all over but particularly on my face. I'm wondering that despite there not being many visible patches on my person, my entire epidermis is affected by psoriasis and should be treated as so.
I've had a look online and not been able to come up with much more extensive information than the usual psoriasis blurbs, so if anyone can send me in the right direction I would much appreciate it!

Many thanks
Hannah

This study looked at the Efficacy and safety of Humira (adalimumab) in Chinese patients with psoriasis.

Quote:

---

Background:
This phase 3 trial is the first to evaluate the efficacy and safety of treatment with the systemic TNF-α inhibitor, adalimumab, for Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Methods:
In the 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled Period A, patients were randomized 4 : 1 to receive adalimumab 40 mg every-other-week (following a single 80 mg dose), or placebo every-other-week. In the subsequent 12-week, open-label, Period B, all patients received adalimumab 40 mg every-other-week starting at week 13, following a single, blinded dose at week 12 of adalimumab 80 mg or matching placebo (for patients receiving placebo or adalimumab in Period A respectively). In Period A, efficacy was analysed for all randomized patients and safety for all patients receiving ≥1 dose of the study drug.

Results:
For the 425 patients in this study (87 placebo; 338 adalimumab), a higher percentage randomized to adalimumab achieved the primary endpoint of ≥75% improvement from baseline in PASI score (PASI 75) at week 12: placebo 11.5% (10/87); adalimumab 77.8% (263/338; P < 0.001). Physician's Global Assessment of clear to minimal was achieved at week 12 by 14.9% placebo (13/87) and 80.5% adalimumab (272/338; P < 0.001). For patients who received adalimumab at any time during the study (All-adalimumab Population), treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs) were reported by 63.4%; the most common was upper respiratory infection (16.1%). Serious AEs were reported by 3.5% of the All-adalimumab Population, and serious infectious AEs by 1.2%, which include lung infection, pneumonia and tuberculosis [2 (0.5%) patients each]. There was one death (chronic heart failure).

Conclusion:
In these Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, a significantly greater percentage treated with adalimumab compared with placebo achieved efficacy endpoints at week 12 and efficacy was sustained to week 24. Safety results were consistent with the known adalimumab safety profile; no new safety signals were identified in the 24 weeks of treatment.

Here's an interesting study that looks at the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in Greek patients. It may be a cliché and I apologise to the Greek people if it is, but I thought they had a type of diet along with sun and sea which we are told is good for us, yet the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis is high.

Anyway on to the study.

Quote:

---

Objectives:
To evaluate the prevalence and its clinical characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in a specialized psoriasis clinic of a University Hospital.

Methods:
In this retrospective study, 278 patients with psoriasis were evaluated between 2011 and 2013.

Results:
The study included 278 patients with psoriasis: 144 (52%) were male and 134 (48%) female. Their median age was 51.41 with median psoriasis presenting age of 34.52 years. Referring to the type of psoriasis, 86% presented with plaque psoriasis, 5% guttate, 2% palms and soles, 2% inverse, 1% pustular and 4% with psoriasis of more than one type. Nail disease appeared in 121 patients (43.5%) and scalp disease in 175 (63%). Of these patients, 85 (30%) had PsA, whereas 51% of patients with PsA had psoriatic nail disease. With reference to the PsA type, 43 (51%) patients presented with polyarthritis, 10 (12%) with oligoarthritis, 7 (8%) with axial arthritis, whereas the rest 25 of them (31%) had PsA of more than one type. The subgroup of patients with PsA had significantly higher rates of comorbidities including arterial hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia compared to non-PsA patients with 41% vs. 17% (P = 0.001), 20% vs. 8% (P = 0.021) and 41% vs. 19% (P = 0.004), respectively.

Conclusion:
The prevalence of PsA among patients with psoriasis was relatively higher in Greece compared to other ethnic-based studies. Comorbidities related to life expectancy were more frequent. As there is a high percentage of undiagnosed cases with active arthritis among patients with psoriasis, dermatologists should be aware of PsA clinical signs in order to recognize it earlier and provide successful treatment.

Hi everyone 
Wonder if anyone can offer any advice ?
I started with methotrexate 2 weeks ago for psoriasis ( 5mg a week followed by 2 folic acid the day after , I have no idea why my derm started with such a low dose but hey Ho ) 
I'm getting a few side effects and just wonder if they are normal such as constant heartburn and the feeling my food isn't going down after eating . I used to get this quite a while ago but since starting methotrexate it is constant ! I also got quite bad upper stomach pain yesterday which did ease off but am just wondering if all this is normal ?
I'm feeling a little nausea , headaches , aching and just generally feeling worn out but have read these are normal ?
Thanks in advance ?

Hi my name is Bob , user name comes from my boss thats what she calls me so now every one at work is now calling me that .I am 57 years young and have had P since i was 22 years old . Same story as most have tried most treatments including methotrexate [ not sure on spelling ] about 15 years ago , Met made me sick but took pain out of hands was on it for about 4 months . last 15 years been on just herbal stuff mainly ,the last 2 years it has gotten worse , big on torso and arms and legs . I have worked all over Australia and it seems to me that climate does not affect it a hole lot ,Australia has a varied climate from Dry , Cold to Tropical . I have just Started Acitretin Actavis 25mg per day ,  whilst researching i found this sight . I have found after a quick look at some threads it has eased my mind in regards to this drug and i am hoping  to add some  input as i go through this process  

Cheers Bob 

I started with psoriasis in 1974 and had it in most parts of the body since, including neck, round the eyes, ears and scalp which I always find the most distressing.  I am lucky whilst my psoriasis has been extensive in attacking parts of my body it has taken many areas in turn.   In 2013 I started with Fumaderm and used it for 18 months and became symptom free, my tablets were 3-4.  My lymphocytes count was never brilliant before taking Fumaderm but did drop and stabalise at around 0.6.  Suddenly they started to drop and I had a call from the hospital asking me to stop as they my count was 0.2.

As a result of the low lymphocytes I was referred to a immunologist who I saw 3 times in 18 months and wanted to monitor the return of my count to acceptable levels, in my case 0.8-1.0.  I had no treatment except a pneumonia injection and recommendation for a flu jab.

In my case the return of psoriasis was very slow, in fact it was around 18 months before I felt the need to use any treatment.  Unfortunately I now have it on the soles of my feet and one nail is heavily infected with it.  My GP referred me to a consultant and I asked to return to Fumaderm and he agreed if my blood count was OK.  Which it was and I have gone onto 120 mg immediately.  Within hours I had the bloating, heating (which I had almost forgotten) and diarrhoea (which I hadn't forgotten)....................it brought a smile to my face as it felt as if it had started working.   I am lucky I can stay round the house most of the next few weeks, I am hoping that the Fumaderm will work fairly quickly and that I can go on a very low dosage or even once it has cleared stop the medication for a time and then go back on it.

Hello,

I am a new member here.  I actually dont have psoriasis but my girlfriend of 3 years was recentlu diagnosed with a moderate case of psoriasis at the age of 31.  

A bit of background on me, like i said i dont have psoriasis but have struggled with eczema when i was younger and seborriheic dermatitis more recently, and therefore know a little bit (and identify a lot!) with the frustration, embarrassment, and overall helplessness that skin disorders like this can cause.  I had some great experiences and learned a lot through boards like this one, so i thought i would sign up here on her behalf (again, shes very shy and not likely to do this on her own) and see if we can find a way to get her condition under control.

About her condition: she never had symptoms until recently. She has small lesions all over her body, but more concentrated on her legs and scalp.  At first we thought it was just dandruff, as her scalp issues manifested first, but as it persisted, worsened and spread to other areas we went to her primary care physician.  She prescribed her a steroid cream, which immediately made me concerned because i have heard horror stories about prolonged use of such creams as well as a development of tolerance and the necessity of increased potency, etc.  However her doctor pretty much dismissed my concerns and continued to prescribe her the steroid.  The cream itself is an oily substance that she is expected to rub into her scalp.  It does seem to help her body but not only is it a huge pain to apply it in her hair but i dont think it is working well because it is not penetrating to all areas on her head.  I had good results with a foam medication when i was suffering from seborriheic dermatitis, and asked her doctor about something like that but she said she didnt think it was necessary.  

Anyhow, she has been using the steroid but she recently ran out and her symtoms flared up (big surprise) worse than before.  She has a dr appointment this week, and i have been urging her to ask to be referred to a specialist.

My question to you folks: 

What are some suggestions with regards to medications? What has worked for you? Are steroid creams pretty much unavoidable for this condition, and/or are there some good "steroid-sparing" meds that could help control the condition so the steroids could be used only for managing flare-ups? Do you have a good recommendation for a topical foam or liquid that works well for the scalp / hairy areas?  Also she has naturally dark skin and dislikes sun exposure (she doesnt like being "too dark", and despite my urging her to get more sun she wont try it out to see if it would help (i hear it would help).  Also she is using neutragena t-gel shampoo with moderate success (another suggestion of mine).

Thanks for your time & support, ill update with more info about her specific prescriptions after our next dr visit.

Thanks,  kc3i

This Danish study gives a bit of good news as it suggests there is no increased risk of self-harm and nonfatal suicide in patients with psoriasis.

Quote:

---

Background:
Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease, and inflammation may affect suicidal behaviour. Current data on the incidence and risk of suicidal behaviour in patients with psoriasis are scarce.

Objectives:
We investigated the association between psoriasis and the risk of self-harm and suicide attempts and suicides.

Methods:
All Danish patients aged ≥ 18 years with mild or severe psoriasis (cases) from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2011 were matched on age, sex and calendar time 1 : 5 with healthy controls. The outcome was a diagnosis of self-harm or a nonfatal suicide attempt, or completed suicide. Incidence rates per 10 000 person-years were calculated, and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by Poisson regression models.

Results:
The study cohort comprised 408 663 individuals, including 57 502 and 11 009 patients with mild and severe psoriasis, respectively. In total 280 cases of self-harm or suicide attempts, and 574 suicides occurred during follow-up. There was no increased risk of self-harm or suicide attempts in patients with mild psoriasis (IRR 1·01, 95% CI 0·17–2·01), but this risk was significantly increased in severe psoriasis (IRR 1·69, 95% CI 1·00–2·84). There was no increased risk of suicides in mild (IRR 1·05, 95% CI 0·84–1·32) or severe psoriasis (IRR 0·78, 95% CI 0·45–1·36). Similar results were found when suicides were confirmed by official forensic investigations, and when psoriasis was compared with atopic dermatitis.

Conclusions:
We found limited evidence to suggest an increased risk of self-harm and nonfatal suicide attempts in patients with psoriasis. Importantly, after adjustment for psoriatic arthritis this risk was no longer significantly increased. The risk of completed suicide was also not increased, regardless of psoriasis severity.

Hello to you all, I'm a new member to this fantastic site - what a find!  I have plaque psoriasis covering my arms, legs, bum, hands, scalp and I have had my first Cosentyx injection five days ago.  I can report I am 50% clearer already and can't wait for my next injection on Saturday!