From the Popular Press: What Your Patients are Reading:

Psoriasis, a genetic condition that attacks the immune system and causes inflamed, scaly patches of skin on patients’ bodies, affects an estimated 7.5 million Americans. The disease causes skin cells to mature rapidly, but instead of shedding these skin cells, patients develop lesions on their skin of piled-up cells. Psoriasis patients often develop psoriatic arthritis as well, which causes pain and swelling of the joints. Those who suffer from psoriasis are also at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and other systemic health problems. Traditionally, psoriasis has been treated with topical creams or UV light treatments that dealt only with the outward symptoms of the disease, but did not address underlying immune system problems. Now a new form of treatment, known as biologics, aims to treat psoriasis at the root of the problem, by targeting overactive immune responses that cause the rapid maturation of skin cells and the resulting skin lesions. Biologics are made from human or animal proteins, and are based on natural processes within the body. The US FDA has already approved 5 biologics for use in the treatment of psoriasis. The treatment is self-administered by injection, and is considerably less expensive and time-consuming than UV light therapy. Patients using biologics should remain under the supervision of a dermatologist and be periodically checked for infection and potential cancers.

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