In the world’s Awareness Day;
Psoriasis affecting approximately 14 million people across Europe!

What is Psoriasis? How does psoriasis affect the quality of life?
Psoriasis is often itchy and embarrassing. Psoriasis triggers the development of patches of thick, red, inflamed skin covered with silvery scales known as plaques. Patients with psoriasis are also more likely to develop comorbid diseases, including psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and osteoporosis.

For many suffering from psoriasis, their physical discomfort is compounded by a psychological burden. This is because the symptoms of psoriasis do not manifest in a consistent manner. Therefore, even when their condition seems to improve, the knowledge that the symptoms could return at any time causes many patients considerable anxiety. Further to this, many individuals face social exclusion, discrimination, and stigma because of their disease and appearance.

Psoriasis occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, speeding up skin cell production. In this process, certain cells (T cells) in the immune system are triggered by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. These T cells become overactive, producing inflammatory chemicals (e.g. interleukins) that lead to the rapid growth of skin cells, ultimately causing psoriatic plaques to form.

How to Treat Psoriasis?
Treatment options include topical ointments and creams containing corticosteroids or coal tar, which are usually used as first-line therapy to manage mild to moderate cases. Other treatment methods include UV light, biological therapies (subcutaneous injection and intravenous infusion), and systemic medications such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, and fumarates.

Luckily, there is a promising new treatment that has been approved by U.S. Food & Drug, The administration that utilizes IL23 inhibitors. IL23 is a protein that helps initiate the immune system’s inflammatory response to infection. Higher levels of IL-23 can contribute greatly to psoriasis by triggering an unnecessarily large immune system response. IL23 inhibitors prevent this phenomenon, thus offering patients both effective and long-lasting control of this debilitating disease. Indeed, evidence shows IL23 inhibitors’ superior efficacy when compared to the
current standard of care. IL23 inhibitors offer people the chance of better and more sustained control of their psoriasis.

Note: This report is part of the Emirates Dermatology Society’s (EDS) Awareness Campaign