NATIONAL PSORIASIS FOUNDATION, INC.
PORTLAND, OR

There are no special blood tests or tools to diagnose psoriasis. A dermatologist (doctor who specializes in skin diseases) or other health care provider usually examines the affected skin and determines if it is psoriasis. There are five types of psoriasis. Learning more about your type of psoriasis will help you determine the best treatment for you. Stress can cause psoriasis to flare for the first time or aggravate existing psoriasis. Relaxation and stress reduction may help prevent stress from impacting psoriasis. is the world's first, personalized support center for psoriatic disease. Our Patient Navigators can answer your questions about flare-ups, help you better manage your symptoms and support your journey to a healthy life with psoriasis.  . Systemic treatment for psoriatic disease can help with some of the symptoms, but uveitis usually requires specific treatment. We recommend that you speak with an eye doctor if you have symptoms of uveitis. This may be an ophthalmologist or provider that specializes in uveitis, including an ocular immunologist or other uveitis specialist.  The biologics are taken by injection or by IV infusion. Cimzia, Cosentyx, Enbrel, Humira, Simponi and Taltz are injected in the legs, abdomen or arms, typically by the individual with psoriatic disease or a family member. Stelara is administered as a subcutaneous injection by a health care provider. Remicade is given through IV infusion in a doctor’s office or infusion center. Orencia can be taken as an injection or by IV infusion. Biologics are prescribed for individuals with moderate to severe cases of plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. They are a viable option for those who have not responded to or have experienced harmful side effects from other treatments. Studies show that TNF-alpha blockers help reduce the progression of joint damage in psoriatic arthritis. can answer your questions about biologics, including understanding their side effects and helping assess potential risks. Although these have been approved by the FDA, your health care provider may not be able to prescribe these treatments yet. There are other biosimilars currently being developed and tested. These may be approved and available in the future. The risks and side effects of biosimilars are the same as those associated with their biologic reference product. Anyone considering taking a biosimilar should talk with their health care provider about the short- and long-term side effects and risks. It is important to weigh the risks against the benefits. Biologics and biosimilars act on cytokines, which are specific proteins released by the immune system that can cause inflammation. Biologics suppress (lower) the function of the overactive immune system. When on a biologic or biosimilar, you may have a higher risk of infection. If you develop any signs of an infection, contact your health care provider right away. Otezla can be used with other treatments such as phototherapy or topicals. It has been shown to be safe and effective when taken with methotrexate. Talk to your health care provider about whether using any other treatments with Otezla is right for you.  of National Psoriasis Foundation. The National Psoriasis Foundation does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the content of external websites. The National Psoriasis Foundation does not endorse any specific treatments or medications for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. There are two types of UVB treatment, broad band and narrow band. The major difference between them is that narrow band UVB light bulbs release a smaller range of ultraviolet light. Narrow-band UVB is similar to broad-band UVB in many ways. Several studies indicate that narrow-band UVB clears psoriasis faster and produces longer remissions than broad-band UVB. It also may be effective with fewer treatments per week than broad-band UVB. UVB can be combined with other topical and/or systemic agents to enhance efficacy, but some of these may increase photosensitivity and burning, or shorten remission. Combining UVB with systemic therapies may increase efficacy dramatically and allow for lower doses of the systemic medication to be used. It is critical when doing phototherapy at home to follow a doctor's instructions and continue with regular check-ups. Home phototherapy is a medical treatment that requires monitoring by a health care professional. . Vendors of home phototherapy equipment often will assist you in working with your insurance company to purchase a unit. Topical treatments—medications applied to the skin—are usually the first line of defense in treating psoriasis. Topicals slow down or normalize excessive cell reproduction and reduce psoriasis inflammation. OTC topicals come in many different forms. Two active ingredients, salicylic acid and coal tar, are approved by the FDA for the treatment of psoriasis. There are other products that contain substances such as aloe vera, jojoba, zinc pyrithione and capsaicin, which are used to moisturize, soothe, remove scale or relieve itching. Need help sorting through alternative treatments? Naturopathic physicians use diet, exercise, lifestyle changes and natural therapies to promote wellness in their patients’ lives and help with disease management or minimize side effects from other therapies. Delivering a baby if you have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis sometimes requires special accommodations. We provide tips for planning ahead. People with psoriatic disease are more likely to feel depressed than the rest of the population. Learn the signs of depression and get the latest info on which psoriatic disease treatments can help your disease and possibly help with depression. Genital psoriasis is a reality for an estimated 50 percent of people with psoriasis. Our booklet covers the best ways to treat psoriasis in this sensitive area as well as real-life advice for making sure it doesn’t interfere with your sex life. Likewise, it is possible to have gout along with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. If you have an excruciatingly painful attack in a joint, particularly in the big toe, you may want to have a test for gout. Your health care provider will want to examine fluid drawn from the affected joint for elevated serum uric acid levels, which would indicate gout.