Category Archives: Psoriasis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic condition that occurs in people with psoriasis. Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and nails and can also affect the joints. Finger PsA may cause pain and swelling in one or more finger joints.

In most cases, psoriasis occurs in early adulthood, with one-third of people going on to develop PsA after the age of 30. A milder form of psoriasis can also develop later in life, but typically, this form does not cause arthritis.

Once PsA develops, it can start to damage the bones after a few months, so it is important to seek medical advice and treatment for the condition.

In this article, we will look at PsA in the fingers, including the symptoms, treatment, and management.

It is common for PsA to affect smaller joints, such as those in the fingers. Often, the condition affects the joint closest to the nails.

People who develop PsA in the fingers may experience:

PsA typically affects joints asymmetrically, which means it may develop in one hand and not the other. The symptoms can range from mild to severe and may progress, decrease, or remain the same for long periods of time.

The condition often affects the area of the hands closest to the nails, causing swelling that resembles gout.

In the later stages of PsA, the spaces between joints may narrow or completely disappear due to a loss of cartilage.

Yes, people can have PsA symptoms in just one finger, or just in one hand, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

PsA affects everyone differently. Doctors are not sure what causes it or why some people with psoriasis develop joint problems where others do not.

However, it is likely that a combination of genetic and environmental factors plays a role.

Trigger finger, also known as tenosynovitis, occurs when a pulley in the hand becomes inflamed. Each finger has a sheath, or tunnel, of tissue that acts like a pulley, holding tendons in place as they move. If this part of the finger thickens, the finger will become stuck in a bent position.

Tenosynovitis can occur in many places around the body, but it most frequently occurs in the hands, wrists, and feet.

A 2018 study suggests that in people with PsA, these pulleys are thickened, which could result in PsA-related trigger finger.

However, trigger finger does have other causes, including infections. Sometimes, infections that cause the condition are serious and spread quickly.

That is why it is important to seek guidance from a doctor if a person develops trigger finger, especially if redness and swelling are present.

When diagnosing PsA in the fingers, doctors will begin by taking a medical history.

If an individual already has psoriasis or if their family has a history of the condition, this may help determine the cause of finger pain and swelling.

Next, doctors may examine the hand. They will look for:

Doctors may also order imaging tests, such as radiography, ultrasonography, and MRI scans.

Treatment for PsA may entail:

Doctors choose treatments based on the severity of a persons symptoms. Some people may only need NSAIDs or to take medications during flare-ups, while those with more advanced PsA may need more intensive treatment.

In some cases, surgery may be necessary to address damage.

Not all of these drugs are suitable for everyone. That is why doctors will take into account any other medical conditions a person has, any medications they are taking, their individual response to different treatments, and risk of side effects.

Living with PsA can be challenging, particularly if it inhibits movement in the hands.

People can look after the health of their joints and manage the symptoms of PsA by trying:

It is important to look after the health of other joints in the body, even if they have not become affected by pain and swelling. Regular low-impact exercise, such as walking or swimming, can improve health without placing strain on the joints.

It is also advisable to protect the skin if a person has psoriasis on the affected joint. People can do this by:

If a person struggles to move their finger much or if PsA affects multiple joints, they may benefit from consulting an occupational therapist. These are medical professionals who can help a person adapt their home and learn how to use assistive devices so that everyday tasks become easier.

Learn more about occupational therapy here.

There are other conditions that can cause symptoms similar to those of PsA. If a person does not have psoriasis, the cause of finger swelling may be something else.

Some examples of conditions that could result in finger joint inflammation include:

If a person suspects they have psoriasis or PsA, they should contact a doctor for diagnosis and treatment as soon as they can.

Without treatment, the symptoms may continue or get worse over time. PsA can also cause damage to bones, which is irreversible.

Additionally, people should seek guidance from a doctor if they have any other unexplained symptoms, such as:

These could be signs of other conditions that resemble PsA.

Finger PsA causes pain and swelling in the finger joints. It can affect just one finger or one hand. While PsA occurs in people with psoriasis, doctors do not know the exact cause of the condition.

Doctors can diagnose PsA with the help of physical examination and diagnostic and medical imaging tests.

Treatment can depend on how severe the symptoms are but may include a combination of medications and diet or lifestyle changes.

Read more from the original source:
Finger psoriatic arthritis: Symptoms, pictures, and coping tips - Medical News Today

Living with psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disease, is a roller coaster, Tikeyah, a 30-year-old woman with psoriasis, told Glamour. The unpredictable skin condition causes inflammation in the body that sometimes shows up as red patches with silvery scales on topfrequently on the knees, elbows, and scalp, though they can appear anywhere.

But Tikeyah has found ways to feel confident while living with psoriasisand so have millions of women like her, no matter what their skin looks and feels like on any given day. Scroll down for their tips.

Psoriasis can feel debilitating at times. To make myself more comfortable, I try to wear loose-fitting cotton clothes whenever Im home, and I opt out of wearing underwear whenever possible. When nothing is rubbing against my inflamed skin, I feel more confident and relaxed, and I can spend more quality time with my family. Masha, 30, California

From my experience, most people react negatively to my skin condition because theyre afraid its contagious. I wont go around telling everyone that I have psoriasis. But when my flare-ups are visible at work, I let my company know. It may sound weird, but getting it out of the way up front usually saves me a lot of troubleand a lot of worried side glances or carefully crafted questionslater on. It may be frustrating, but I remind myself that people are hardwired to shrink away from things that they arent familiar with. Jill, 50, British Columbia

Take your experience and make the best of it. I dont mean to come off as blas: I understand the struggleboth internally and externallythat people go through with psoriasis. But when you get through the muck of it, take time to be kind to yourself. No matter what you look like or feel like, this is your bodyand its your only one. Learn to love yourself. Find ways to reach deep down and build that relationship with yourself. If you feel negatively, its okay to get help. I did and still do. Its a constant struggle but its very worth loving yourself. Brittany, 35, New York

One of the frequent, potentially embarrassing situations I used to run into was hair appointments. I would always cringe when I first sat down in the chair because I have dry, flaky patches on my scalp. Now I tell anyone who is going to come into contact with my scalpwhether for a scalp massage or shampooingthat I have this condition, I was born with it, and it wont harm them in any way. I think the more we can own who we are, the better we can feel about ourselves. Sarah, 37, California

For special occasions, I like to splurge on a professional spray tan. There is something about golden, sun-kissed skin that brings on that extra boost of confidence for summer weddings and celebrations. Bianca, 34, California

Living with psoriasis is a roller coaster. But you can build confidence by taking control however you canwhether thats picking outfits that make you feel pretty, or changing your hairstyle if you have scalp psoriasis. Whatever it is, do it. Psoriasis is an unpredictable autoimmune disease, so its easy to feel like its controlling your every move. But finding ways to take control of what parts of my skin I choose to show has proven to be so helpful for me. Tikeyah, 27, Georgia

If you have a job interview or a social occasion that calls for an outfit that will reveal a flare-up, try using a natural concealer without fragrances or alcohol to minimize any redness. I like to use concealers that have jojoba seed oil to reduce inflammation and redness on my legs. Kristin, 40, New York

Find a personal mantra that supports how youd like to feel, then practice it until you find peace and feel confident. I write my mantra on my bathroom mirror so I can see it. You begin to love the skin youre in by accepting yourself in a positive light. Patrice, 34, North Carolina

Recently my family moved to the beach permanently, and its taken some getting used tomy psoriasis gets in the way of me feeling comfortable. Teeny bikinis are on trend, but theyre not for me. Buy a bathing suit that you feel most comfortable in. Its important to feel your best when you are at the beach, and a less-revealing bathing suit makes me feel more confident. Caitlyn, 20, North Carolina

I avoid black shirts. I have psoriasis on my scalp, so flakes are going to stand out on a black shirt. I stick to bright colors and patterns, and fabrics like satin or silk, where you can just flick off any flakes that fall down. Erin, 27, Ohio

*Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.

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10 Women Living With Psoriasis Share Their Confidence-Boosting Tips - Glamour

Psoriasis is a skin condition that has no cure, but with the correct knowledge, can be treated.

Psoriasis is a noncommunicable skin condition characterised by the appearance of red, flaky, crusty patches of skin that are covered with silvery scales.

In some cases these patches can be itchy and painful. Although psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body, the patches are most usually found on the elbows, knees, lower back and/or scalp.

Research suggests that psoriasis-causing changes in the skin originate from the immune system, whereby certain immune cells known as T cells are triggered and become overactive.

Debunking common myths on skin cancer

These cells begin reacting as they would if they were fighting an infection or healing a wound. This leads to the production of inflammatory chemicals in the body that, in turn, accelerate the growth of skin cells which causes these psoriatic patches or plaques to form.

This is why psoriasis is often described as an auto-immune disease. The exact trigger that offsets the immune system to react in this way remains unknown. While family history can be a reason for some, it is not the case for all.

Psoriasis flare-ups can be triggered by a number of external factors such as stress, hormonal changes, skin injuries, infections or certain medications.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), psoriasis affects people of all ages worldwide. At least 100 million people are affected globally, with prevalence ranging from 0.09 and 11.43% depending on the country.

Read also: World Breastfeeding Week: the benefits for mum

Psoriasis can have a number of triggers and is often associated with significant comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome, and depression.

In order to diagnose psoriasis, the examining physician may ask questions about your health, your scalp, skin and nails. The doctor may also take a sample of skin (biopsy) to examine under the microscope to help determine the exact type of psoriasis and rule out other disorders.

Although there is no cure for psoriasis, there are treatments that can help to ease the symptoms. These treatments aim to stop the skin cells from growing quickly and remove scales. Different options for treatment include creams, ointments, light therapy (phototherapy), and oral or injected medications.

At times, you will have to try different drugs, or a combination of the different treatments to find out exactly what works for you and your case. What you are prescribed depends on the severity of the psoriasis, and how responsive it has been to treatments in the past.

Psoriasis Awareness Month (PAM) aims to unite people all over the world who are living with the condition during the month of August to support each other, raise public awareness, and encourage the goal of finding a cure.

PAM provides the opportunity for individuals living with psoriasis to share their personal stories about their journey and hear about the experiences of others living with the condition.

Awareness is especially important as misconceptions about psoriasis, like other diseases, can lead to social stigma. For example, some people believe that psoriasis is contagious, and can be passed on through contact with the affected individual.

This can instil fear and encourage the avoidance of people who have the condition. Therefore, sharing the facts and debunking the myths surrounding the condition helps to create a more inclusive environment for those living with the chronic condition.

Read also: The truth and mistruths about ADHD

PAM also provides the opportunity to support scientific research efforts for psoriasis. Additional research can help reveal more about the skin disorder and help us move forward in our journey to finding a cure.

If you would like to get involved, you can play your part and help spread the word on psoriasis by sharing a personal story or verified facts and resources on your social media platforms using the following hashtags: #PsoriasisAwareness, #PsoriasisAwarenessMonth, #PsoriasisActionMonth.

Maha El Akoum, MPH, is a public health professional currently working as Head of Content at World Innovation Summit for Health [WISH].

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What is psoriasis and what are its triggers? - Doha News

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that affects 2% of people in the UK and 73,000 people in Ireland. The skin disorder manifests as red, dry, and flaky patches of skin, which can appear anywhere, although the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back are hotspots. The patches can also feel sore and itchy.

The scaly patches occur when skin cells are produced and shed abnormally fast. Usually, skin proliferation the process of skin cells reproducing and maturing takes 28 days.

However, with psoriasis, skin-cell proliferation has rapidly sped up and only takes three to seven days. This causes a build-up of dead cells on the surface of the skin, which results in the red, raised patches of skin, otherwise called plaque.

Its still unclear how big of a role genetics play in psoriasis, but youre more likely to suffer from the skin condition if one of your parents has it even more so if both of your parents do.

In fact, you have a 41% chance of developing psoriasis if both of your parents have it.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition. Its believed that the bodys immune system is involved in the development of psoriasis and its consequent flare-ups.

Put simply, its the immune systems job to defend us from infection and disease, but with psoriasis, the immune system accidentally attacks healthy skin cells.

Emotional stress, an infection, or certain medication can stimulate an abnormal immune response and the overproduction of skin cells, which results in dry, scaly patches.

Many sufferers find flare-ups of the skin condition emotionally debilitating, but targeted treatments can ease symptoms. The treatments cannot cure psoriasis, because its chronic, which means that it persists long-term or recurs frequently.

However, they can reduce inflammation and the appearance of dry patches.

Basic tips

Lets start with basic skincare tips. First off, try to be very gentle with your skin: That means refraining from scrubbing it, showering and bathing in warm water thats not boiling, and tapping your skin dry with a towel, instead of rubbing it.

Plus, skin can feel a little dry after showering, because of the humidity and warm water, so be sure to moisturise regularly to lock in hydration and keep any itchiness at bay.

Where treatments are concerned, your doctor might prescribe a topical cream or ointment that contains vitamin D analogues. Vitamin D diminishes dry patches by slowing down the rate that skin cells are being produced, which, in turn, reduces the amount of dead skin cells building up and patches from forming on the skin.

Corticosteroids are another type of topical treatment: Theyre steroids applied directly to the skin, which help to bring down inflammation and irritation.

The steroids come in four strengths, with the strongest formulation only available by prescription.

If topical treatments dont seem to work or if your condition is more severe, phototherapy can be used. The treatment involves exposing your skin to certain types of ultraviolet light.

The skin is an organ and should be treated as such. If you suspect youre suffering from psoriasis, I advise that you book an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms.

Nerdie Pick

Theres no denying that clay masks feel like the ultimate pampering skincare product. This Environ Focus Care Comfort+ Anti-Pollution Masque is formulated to absorb the pollutant particles that can cause damage to the skin when left unattended.

It contains Japanese charcoal and kaolin clay to draw debris out of the skin, a potent antioxidant to protect the skin from free radical damage caused by pollution, and shea butter to hydrate the skin.

Use the mask one to three times a week for the best results. I like to apply a cherry-sized amount and leave it on for 20 minutes it's particularly great for oily-skinned people.

Environ Focus Care Comfort+ Anti-Pollution Masque (52, theskinnerd.com).

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The Skin Nerd: What exactly is psoriasis? - Irish Examiner

BRUSSELS, Belgium and ATLANTA, Aug. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, announced today new interim data from BE BRIGHT, an open-label extension (OLE) trial to assess the long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of bimekizumab, an investigational IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor, in adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.1,2These results were presented today during a platform presentation at the 2021 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Summer Meeting, Tampa, Florida, U.S.

Data presented showed that the majority of patients who achieved complete or near complete skin clearance after 16 weeks of bimekizumab treatment maintained these responses through to two years with continuous maintenance dosing, every four weeks (Q4W) or every eight weeks (Q8W).1The efficacy and safety of bimekizumab have not been established and it is not approved by any regulatory authority worldwide.

"These interim results from the BE BRIGHT study highlight the potential of bimekizumab to provide lasting skin clearance to adults living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis," said Mark Lebwohl, MD, Dean for Clinical Therapeutics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Chairman emeritus, Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatologyand Presenting Author of the data at the AAD Summer Meeting. "These data are meaningful for the dermatology community and further add to the clinical evidence we have from the bimekizumab Phase 3 clinical program."

"Given the chronic nature of psoriasis, physicians and patients value treatment options that can offer long-term disease control," said Emmanuel Caeymaex, Executive Vice President, Immunology Solutions and Head of U.S., UCB. "We are pleased to share the first presentation of bimekizumab data from the BE BRIGHT study highlighting the potential of bimekizumab to provide complete skin clearance that can last through to two years in adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis."

Results shared today report on the maintenance of the Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) of Clear or Almost Clear skin (IGA 0/1), Body Surface Area (BSA) 1%, and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 100 through to two years of bimekizumab treatment.1Analyses included patients randomized to bimekizumab 320 mg Q4W who exhibited a response at week 16 in one of the pivotal Phase 3 studies (BE READY, BE VIVID, BE SURE), received bimekizumab 320 mg Q4W or Q8W maintenance dosing from week 16, and continued with the same maintenance dosing in the open-label BE BRIGHT study, i.e., Q4W/Q4W/Q4W or Q4W/Q8W/Q8W.1

Initially, 989 patients were randomized to bimekizumab Q4W. At week 16, 87.5 percent achieved IGA 0/1, 74.9 percent achieved BSA 1% and 62.7 percent achieved PASI 100. Among week 16 IGA 0/1 responders, over nine out of 10 patients maintained IGA 0/1 to week 48 in the OLE trial (94.4 and 96.2 percent with continuous Q4W and Q8W maintenance dosing, respectively).1Similarly, among week 16 BSA 1% responders, over nine out of 10 patients maintained BSA 1% to week 48 in the OLE trial (90.7 and 92.5 percent with continuous Q4W and Q8W maintenance dosing, respectively). Over eight out of 10 patients who achieved complete skin clearance (PASI 100) at week 16 maintained response to week 48 in the OLE trial (80.7 and 86.1 percent with continuous Q4W and Q8W maintenance dosing, respectively).1

In BE READY, BE VIVID and BE SURE, the most frequently reported treatment-emergent adverse events in bimekizumab-treated patients were nasopharyngitis, oral candidiasis, and upper respiratory tract infection.3,4,5,6

Bimekizumab is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. On June 25th, 2021, the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion recommending granting a marketing authorization for bimekizumab for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy. The final decision of the European Commission on marketing authorization is expected within approximately two months of the CHMP opinion.

About BE BRIGHT2BE BRIGHT (NCT03598790) is an ongoing, multicentre, open-label extension study assessing the long-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of bimekizumab in adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Patients who completed one of three bimekizumab Phase 3 studies, BE READY, BE VIVID and BE SURE, were eligible to enroll in the BE BRIGHT study. More details can be found at ClinicalTrials.gov.

About bimekizumab Bimekizumab is an investigational humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that is designed to selectively and directly inhibit both IL-17A and IL-17F, two key cytokines driving inflammatory processes.4,5,6 Selective inhibition of IL-17F in addition to IL-17A has been shown to suppress inflammation to a greater extent than IL-17A inhibition alone.4,5,6

The efficacy and safety of bimekizumab have not been established and it is not approved by any regulatory authority worldwide.

AboutPsoriasisPsoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease with primary involvement of the skin.7This skin condition affects men and women of all ages and ethnicities.7Psoriasis signs and symptoms can vary but may include red patches of skin covered with silvery scales; dry, cracked skin that may bleed; and thickened, pitted or ridged nails.8Psoriasis also has a considerable psychological and quality-of-life impact, potentially affecting work, recreation, relationships, sexual functioning, family and social life.9

Unmet needs remain in the treatment of psoriasis. A population-based survey identified that approximately one in three psoriasis patients reported that their primary goals of therapy, including keeping symptoms under control, reducing itching and decreasing flaking, were not met with their current treatment.10

About UCB UCB, Brussels, Belgium (www.ucb.com) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases of the immune system or of the central nervous system. With approximately 8,400 people in nearly 40 countries, the company generated revenue of 5.3 billion in 2020. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). Follow us on Twitter: @UCB_news.

Forward looking statements UCB This press release may contain forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "seeks", "estimates", "may", "will", "continue" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and beliefs of management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial information, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices and other such estimates and results. By their nature, such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions which might cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of UCB, or industry results, to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Important factors that could result in such differences include: the global spread and impact of COVID-19, changes in general economic, business and competitive conditions, the inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or to obtain them on acceptable terms or within expected timing, costs associated with research and development, changes in the prospects for products in the pipeline or under development by UCB, effects of future judicial decisions or governmental investigations, safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, product liability claims, challenges to patent protection for products or product candidates, competition from other products including biosimilars, changes in laws or regulations, exchange rate fluctuations, changes or uncertainties in tax laws or the administration of such laws, and hiring and retention of its employees. There is no guarantee that new product candidates will be discovered or identified in the pipeline, will progress to product approval or that new indications for existing products will be developed and approved. Movement from concept to commercial product is uncertain; preclinical results do not guarantee safety and efficacy of product candidates in humans. So far, the complexity of the human body cannot be reproduced in computer models, cell culture systems or animal models. The length of the timing to complete clinical trials and to get regulatory approval for product marketing has varied in the past and UCB expects similar unpredictability going forward. Products or potential products which are the subject of partnerships, joint ventures or licensing collaborations may be subject to differences disputes between the partners or may prove to be not as safe, effective or commercially successful as UCB may have believed at the start of such partnership. UCB' efforts to acquire other products or companies and to integrate the operations of such acquired companies may not be as successful as UCB may have believed at the moment of acquisition. Also, UCB or others could discover safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with its products and/or devices after they are marketed. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of UCB's products that implicate an entire class of products may have a material adverse effect on sales of the entire class of affected products. Moreover, sales may be impacted by international and domestic trends toward managed care and health care cost containment, including pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, and the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers as well as legislation affecting biopharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement activities and outcomes. Finally, a breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of UCB's data and systems.

Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any of such forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labelling in any market, or at any particular time, nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be or will continue to be commercially successful in the future.

UCB is providing this information, including forward-looking statements, only as of the date of this press release and it does not reflect any potential impact from the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, unless indicated otherwise. UCB is following the worldwide developments diligently to assess the financial significance of this pandemic to UCB. UCB expressly disclaims any duty to update any information contained in this press release, either to confirm the actual results or to report or reflect any change in its forward-looking statements with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless such statement is required pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.

Additionally, information contained in this document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

For further information, contact UCB:

Corporate Communications

Laurent Schots,

Media Relations, UCB

T +32.2.559.92.64

[emailprotected]

Investor Relations

Antje Witte,

Investor Relations, UCB

T +32.2.559.94.14

[emailprotected]

Brand Communications

Eimear O'Brien,

Brand Communications, UCB

T +32.2.559.92.71

[emailprotected]

Allyson FunkU.S. Communications, UCBT +1 770 970 8338[emailprotected]

References

1

Strober B, Asahina A, Mrowietz U, et al. Bimekizumab response maintenance through two years of treatment in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who responded after 16 weeks: Interim results from the BE BRIGHT open-label extension trial. Abstract presented at AAD Summer 2021

2

ClinicalTrials.gov. Available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03598790Last accessed: August 2021.

3

UCB Data on File, July 2021.

4

Reich K, Papp KA, Blauvelt A, et al. Bimekizumab versus ustekinumab for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (BE VIVID): efficacy and safety from a 52-week, multicentre, double-blind, active comparator and placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet.2021;397(10273):487-498.

5

Gordon KB, Foley P, Krueger JG, et al. Bimekizumab efficacy and safety in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (BE READY): a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised withdrawal phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2021;397(10273):475-486.

6

Warren RB, Blauvelt A, Bagel J, et al. Bimekizumab versus Adalimumab in Plaque Psoriasis. N Engl J Med. 2021;385(2):130-141.

7

National Psoriasis Foundation. About Psoriasis. Available at: https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/. Last accessed: August2021.

8

International Federation of Psoriasis Associations. Available at: https://ifpa-pso.com/our-cause.Last accessed: August2021.

9

Moon HS, Mizara A, McBride SR. Psoriasis and psycho-dermatology. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2013;3(2):117-130.

10

Lebwohl MG, Kavanaugh A, Armstrong AW, et al. US Perspectives in the Management of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: Patient and Physician Results from the Population-Based Multinational Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (MAPP) Survey. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2016;17(1):87-97.

SOURCE UCB

http://www.ucb.com

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New Two-Year Data Showed Bimekizumab Maintained High Levels of Skin Clearance in Patients with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis - PRNewswire

New research from a Taiwanese insurance database suggests that some commonly used therapies against psoriasis may increase the risk of herpes zoster, although 2 other therapies lowered the risk.

Although biologic agents are frequently prescribed for patients with psoriasis, the resulting suppression of cell-mediated immunity can increase the risks of bacterial and viral infections, according to the research published in Scientific Reports. These potential links have been unproven, however, despite earlier study findings that patients with psoriasis face higher risks of herpes zoster infection.

To investigate this question, researchers identified 92,374 patients in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database who were diagnosed with psoriasis between 2001 and 2013. They followed these patients for a median of 6.8 years and noted anti-psoriasis therapeutics as well as herpes zoster infection diagnoses.

According to their findings, etanercept, adalimumab, and methotrexate plus azathioprine were all associated with an increased risk of herpes zoster infection. The investigators also studied ustekinumab and found that none of these patients were diagnosed with herpes zoster. However, they said this could be because ustekinumab was not approved for use in Taiwan until 2011, so there was a limited amount of follow-up time for these patients.

In total, 5.2% of the patients were diagnosed with herpes zoster during the follow-up period. Older age, female sex, hypertension, dyslipidemia, psoriatic arthritis, and a high Charleston comorbidity index score were all associated with an increased risk of herpes zoster diagnosis. Concurrent exposures to steroids and statins were also linked with a higher risk.

Similar to previous studies on general population or on diabetic patients, the use of statin is associated with higher risk of [herpes zoster], the authors wrote. The actual mechanisms of these associations have not [been] fully understood, but may involve the effect of statin on T cell function.

Notably, however, the 3 anti-psoriasis therapies identified as increasing risk of herpes zoster were each associated with a more than quadrupled risk of infection. Etanercept had a hazard ratio of 4.78; adalimumab had a hazard ratio of 5.52; and methotrexate plus azathioprine had a hazard ratio of 4.17.

In addition to finding that methotrexate in combination with azathioprine increased the risk of herpes zoster, the researchers added that methotrexate combined with any biologic agent increased the risk, although not to a statistically significant level.

Two other treatmentsphototherapy and acitretinwere associated with a lower risk of psoriasis, with hazard ratios of 0.76 and 0.39, respectively. The lower risk associated with acitretin could be attributable to the lower level of immunosuppression associated with this monotherapy. Similarly, the benefit associated with phototherapy could be caused by the increased level of vitamin D associated with UV exposure. Earlier research has suggested that vitamin D therapy could lower the risk of herpes zoster, the authors said.

Although the effect of UV light on the skin is mainly anti-inflammatory, this may not imply an overt immunosuppressive effect, the authors wrote. Upon exposure to UV light, the human skin generates vitamin D, a vital nutrient for skeletal health and a well-known immunoregulator.

Based on these findings, the investigators concluded that patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who are prescribed certain biologic agents may have a higher risk of herpes zoster infection. This risk should be considered, and other treatments may mitigate this risk while allowing for effective anti-psoriasis treatment.

REFERENCE

Ting SW, Ting SY, Lin YS, Lin MS, Kuo G. Risk of herpes zoster in psoriasis patients receiving systemic therapies: a nationwide population-based cohort study. Scientific Reports. June 3, 2021. Accessed June 30, 2021. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-91356-3

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Study: Some Systemic Anti-Psoriasis Therapies Increase Risks of Herpes Zoster - Pharmacy Times

Patients on kidney dialysis who also have psoriasis are at increased risk of infection, and psoriasis treatment can reduce both the risk of infection and death, investigators report.

They looked at data on nearly 9,000 patients with both conditions in the United States Renal Data System, which has information on essentially all patients in the country on dialysis, says Dr. Wendy B. Bollag, cell physiologist in the Medical College of Georgia Department of Physiology and the studys corresponding author.

What they found indicates psoriasis treatment, which likely helps restore the natural frontline barrier protection of the skin, reduces infection rates and improves survival, indicating its potentially important role in better managing kidney failure, corresponding author Bollag and colleagues at MCG and the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta write.

Prospective studies are needed to further examine these associations, they note in The American Journal of the Medical Sciences.

We looked at all causes of mortality in this study and also the effect of treatment, says Dr. Stephanie L. Baer, infectious disease physician in the MCG Department of Medicine and chief of Infection Control and Epidemiology at the Charlie Norwood VA. The most important thing in this paper is that treatment helped.

They recommend that physicians taking care of patients who have both conditions be aware of their increased infection risk, and ensure psoriasis treatment as well as vaccination for herpes zoster.

Both psoriasis and kidney failure are known to increase the risk of infection with herpes zoster, the virus that causes shingles and chickenpox, infecting nerves where it can lie dormant for years. The investigators already had shown the virus presence is associated with increased death rates in patients in kidney failure. This time they found that this infection actually surfaced more frequently in the face of psoriasis treatment, which supports current recommendations that kidney failure patients get a herpes zoster vaccine, they say.

They suspect the increased risk of infection by herpes zoster and other invaders results from the common, compounding denominator of chronic inflammation caused by both conditions, and the subsequent wear and tear on the vascular and immune systems.

Patients on dialysis are known to be at increased risk of infection because of their typically multiple, weekly visits to a dialysis center and permanent intravenous access lines needed for dialysis, Bollag says, and the loss of barrier protection caused by psoriasis compounds that risk.

They also knew that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients on dialysis, that kidney disease is a downstream effect of vascular disease and they suspected psoriasis could further complicate the scenario.

We know that psoriasis is a proinflammatory syndrome, and we knew that it could increase cardiovascular complications in the general population, says co-author Baer.

The U.S. Renal Data System is a good system for exploring these kinds of associations, Bollag says, so they decided to find out.

In addition to herpes zoster, they focused on eight other infections common in patients on dialysis, and found psoriasis likely increased their risk of most of them.

They looked for problems like bacteremia, a common bacterial infection in the bloodstream that can result from even a slight injury like vigorous tooth brushing or medical procedures; septicemia, or blood poisoning, the more serious, body-wide illness resulting from significant bacterial infections; conjunctivitis, or pink eye; and cellulitis, a common but potentially significant bacterial skin infection that can occur in inflamed skin.

The most common infections they found were septicemia and cellulitis, which occurred in about half of kidney failure patients with psoriasis, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome, or SIRS, an overwhelming, body-wide inflammatory response to something like a severe bacterial infection or trauma, in 42%.

They also looked at three categories of treatment patients received, which have procedure codes so they could search for them in the huge national database. These include treatments with a body-wide, or systemic, impact like biologics, therapies made from living material like the RNA vaccines in use against COVID-19, or in the case of psoriasis, drugs that specifically block drivers of the immune response called T cells or block proteins immune cells produce like tumor necrosis factor alpha, which promote inflammation. Other treatments included were localized ones like corticosteroid injections directly into a psoriasis lesion, and light-based therapy like ultraviolet therapy that inhibits the immune response in the skin.

The investigators noted that information was not included in the database for all treatments, like self-administered topical creams, and it has been reported that overall a significant percentage of even moderate to severe psoriasis is undertreated or untreated, and that inadequate treatment can worsen the disease.

In this case, they found the therapies that work to suppress the effect of an overzealous immune response were effective at reducing both infection and death.

Now the investigators are pursuing associations between psoriasis and stroke as well as heart attack.

Baer notes that psoriasis may seem like a more chronic, secondary problem in the face of kidney failure, but the reality is both conditions put patients at increased risk for infections and have inflammation and vascular damage as major factors.

The federally funded U.S. Renal Data System collects, analyzes and makes available information on patients who require dialysis because of chronic kidney disease or end stage renal disease. MCG and VA investigators looked specifically at all patients in the database ages 18 and older starting dialysis between 2004-11 a total of 8,911 individuals who also had a diagnosis of psoriasis.

About 1% of the patients in kidney failure also had psoriasis and they tended to be older, white, tobacco users and had higher rates of all nine infections the investigators looked at. The investigators noted that its highly likely more patients in the database have psoriasis but that diagnosis was not noted.

Other recent population database studies have indicated that having psoriasis increases the risk of kidney disease.

About 7.5 million Americans are living with psoriasis, and 10-20% of patients will also develop psoriatic arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The typically cyclical, but chronic condition causes patches of thick, red, flaky, sometimes painful skin, most often in places like the elbows, knees and face, but can even surface inside the mouth and on the face, lips and soles of the feet.

Psoriasis is characterized as an immune-mediated disease, in which an overactive immune response dramatically accelerates skin cell growth, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. While skin cells turn over comparatively rapidly, they go from being produced and shed in about a month to just a few days, which causes the raised pileup that looks distinctive from the rest of the skin.

More than half of patients report the disease to be a major problem in everyday life, the foundation says, and patients are known to be at increased risk for problems like heart attack, stroke and diabetes, in which inflammation also is a major factor.

The research was supported in part by a VA Merit Award (#CX001357).

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Psoriasis treatment reduces infections, death in patients on dialysis with the skin condition - Jagwire Augusta

HIGH POINT, N.C., June 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- vTv Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: VTVT) a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of orally administered treatments for type 1 diabetes and psoriasis, today announced that it will be presenting data from the clinical development of HPP737 as a treatment for psoriasis in a poster presentation at the 6th World Psoriasis & Psoriatic Arthritis Conference held virtually June 30 July 3, 2021 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Poster Details:

Poster Title: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of the Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) Inhibitor HPP737 Following Single-dose Oral Administration in Healthy Subjects

Presenting author: Aaron Burstein, PharmD

ID: 35201

Topic: 4. Current and new therapeutic modalities

The poster will be added to vTvs website following the presentation and will be available at: https://vtvtherapeutics.com/pipeline/hpp737/.

About HPP737

HPP737 is a novel, potent, orally administered PDE4 inhibitor discovered by vTv Therapeutics. PDE4 is a validated therapeutic target for the treatment of a variety of disorders including psoriasis. In the phase 1 single ascending dose study presented here and a subsequent multiple-ascending dose study, HPP737 was well tolerated, with little or no gastrointestinal adverse events, such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, across the range of doses tested. HPP737 has evidence supporting target engagement from an ex vivo LPS stimulation TNF-alpha production assay and has demonstrated very potent activity in the Th17 skin resident immune cell activation (sRICA) assay, in which HPP737 was 10-100 fold more potent than apremilast in inhibiting the generation of cytokines/chemokines, depending upon the analyte. HPP737 is currently being tested in an on-going multiple ascending dose phase 1 study that is expected to complete during the third quarter.

About vTv TherapeuticsvTv Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oral, small molecule drug candidates. vTv has a pipeline of clinical drug candidates led by programs for the treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and psoriasis. vTvs development partners are pursuing additional indications in type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), renal disease, and primary mitochondrial myopathy.

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For more information, please visit http://www.vtvtherapeutics.com or follow us on Twitter: @vTvTherapeutics.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms anticipate, believe, could, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, project, should, target, will, would and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including statements regarding the timing of our clinical trials, our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our results to vary from expectations include those described under the heading Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this release and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or review publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, merger, dispositions, joint ventures or investments we may undertake. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

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Source: vTv Therapeutics Inc.

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vTv Therapeutics to Participate at the 6th World Psoriasis & Psoriatic Arthritis Conference with Poster Presentation on HPP737 - Yahoo Finance

People can have dry skin anywhere on their body, including the scalp. Although dry scalp and dandruff have similar symptoms, they have different causes and treatments.

This article will describe what a dry scalp is and how it differs from dandruff. It will also look at some of the common causes of dry scalp, some available treatments, and a few prevention strategies.

People can have dry skin anywhere on the body, including the scalp. Dry skin occurs when the skin loses water too quickly.

A person with dry skin on the scalp may notice:

There are many potential causes of dry skin, such as low humidity or indoor heating. In fact, the American Skin Association notes that dry skin is not usually anything to worry about.

Sometimes, however, an underlying skin condition might be the cause of a dry scalp. When this is the case, a person might need medical treatment.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says that some people are more at risk of dry skin than others. These people include:

Lots of different things can lead to dry skin and a dry scalp. Some examples include:

Sometimes, underlying health conditions can also lead to a dry scalp. These might include the following.

Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema.

In children, atopic dermatitis causes dry, itchy rashes anywhere on the body. In adults, rashes are less common, and a person may have skin that is extremely dry and easily irritated.

Contact dermatitis, which is another form of eczema, happens when the skin has an allergic reaction to something it comes into contact with.

On the scalp, hair care products, hair dye, and hair accessories can all lead to contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis can cause itching and burning or blistering of the skin.

Around 50% of people with psoriasis experience flare-ups on the scalp. A person may also experience:

Learn more about scalp psoriasis here.

The best treatment for a dry scalp will depend on what is causing it.

In many cases, making healthy lifestyle choices will help. Some examples include:

Other causes may need additional treatment. If contact dermatitis is the cause, a person may require corticosteroids.

Treatments for other medical conditions that can cause a dry scalp include the following.

Doctors recommend that people with atopic dermatitis avoid triggers, or things that make the condition worse. Triggers are different for everyone, but some common ones include:

Sometimes, people may need medical treatment. Doctors might recommend special shampoos or biologic medications that help control the immune system.

Learn more about how to treat atopic dermatitis here.

Over-the-counter products can sometimes help treat scalp psoriasis.

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, people should try to look for shampoos that contain salicylic acid or coal tar.

In more severe cases, doctors might recommend phototherapy, which uses UV light to slow skin cell growth, or biologic drugs, which help control the inflammation.

Dandruff is a common skin condition. It causes gray or white flakes of skin to appear on the scalp and in the hair.

Dandruff only affects the scalp, but people with a dry scalp tend to experience dry skin on other parts of the body as well.

According to the AAD, researchers are unsure of the exact cause of dandruff. However, it may be the result of other skin conditions, such as:

The above conditions can also lead to dry skin on the scalp.

Learn more about the difference between dry scalp and dandruff here.

A person can use medicated shampoos to treat dandruff.

Learn more about how to treat dandruff here.

There are lots of things that people can do to help prevent developing dry skin on the scalp. These include:

Anyone who suspects that they have an underlying skin condition should talk with a doctor. This is especially true if the symptoms are interfering with their everyday life.

The doctor will assess the persons skin and recommend the best treatment or course of action for them.

A person with a dry scalp may experience itching and flaking skin. Although it may look like dandruff, a dry scalp is different. The two conditions have different causes and different treatments.

Many dry scalp cases resolve on their own with a few lifestyle changes. These changes include drinking plenty of water and avoiding harsh shampoos and hair care products.

Sometimes, a dry scalp may be a symptom of an underlying skin condition. When this is the case, a person can talk with a doctor. They will be able to assess the skin and recommend the best course of action.

Link:
Dry scalp: Causes and treatment options - Medical News Today

A new study has found that eating a diet high in sugar and fat can increase your risk of developing autoimmune disorders like psoriasis. Read on to know if it can be reversed.

Written by Arushi Bidhuri | Published : June 30, 2021 6:22 PM IST

Food is one of the most modifiable factors that help regulate gut microbiota where a population of bacteria live in the intestines. And what you eat is important to maintain a healthy gut and keep diseases at bay. Studies have shown that eating too much sugar or foods rich in fat can be bad for your health. This is what experts have termed a Western diet. A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology has found that eating a diet high in sugar and fat causes an imbalance in the gut's microbial flora, which can lead to inflammatory skin disorders like psoriasis.

Sam T. Hwang, professor and chair of dermatology at UC Davis and senior author on the study said that previous research has shown that a Western diet rich in sugar and fat can cause substantial skin inflammation and psoriasis flare-ups. He further added, "Despite having powerful anti-inflammatory drugs for the skin condition, our study indicates that simple changes in diet may also have significant effects on psoriasis."

Psoriasis is a skin disorder in which cells accumulate on the surface of the skin, resulting in itchy, dry, and painful red areas. It occurs when the immune cells mistakenly attack healthy cells and cause skin inflammation and the formation of scaly and red patches on the skin.

The microbial population and functions of the gut can alter quickly when you eat a Western diet. Dysbiosis, or a change in microbial equilibrium, contributes to gut inflammation. Since bacteria in the stomach may play a major role in determining inflammation, the researchers sought to see if intestinal dysbiosis impacts skin and joint inflammation.

For the study, the researchers investigated the effects of food on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis using a mouse model. Interleukin-23 (IL-23) minicircle DNA was delivered into mice to produce a reaction that mimicked psoriasis-like skin and joint disorders. As per the study, many inflammatory autoimmune responses, such as psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease, are caused by the protein IL-23, which is produced by immune cells (IBD). They found that eating a Western diet for the short term is enough to create microbial imbalance and increase vulnerability to IL 23-meditated psoriasis-like skin inflammation. "There is a clear link between skin inflammation and changes in the gut microbiome due to food intake," Hwang said. "The bacterial balance in the gut disrupted shortly after starting a Western diet, and worsened psoriatic skin and joint inflammation."

Despite the presence of IL-23 inflammatory proteins, the researchers sought to see if moving to a balanced diet might help restore the gut flora. They gave mice a Western diet for six weeks before generating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis symptoms with an IL-23-producing chemical. The mice were then randomly separated into two groups: one that ate a Western diet for another four weeks, and another that ate a balanced diet for the same amount of time.

Their research found that mice that ate a high-sugar, high-fat diet for 10 weeks were prone to skin and joint inflammation. Mice that were shifted to a balanced diet had less skin scaling and thinner ears than mice who were on a Western diet. The reduction in skin inflammation in mice fed a Western diet suggests that the Western diet has a short-term effect on skin inflammation. This implies that dietary modifications might partially restore the proinflammatory effects of the Western diet as well as the altering of gut flora.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Limit Your Sugar And Fat Intake Before It Takes A Toll On Your Skin And Lead To Psoriasis - TheHealthSite