Biologic Advancements for Psoraisis

Biologic agents over the past 15 years have offered new freedom to people living with psoriasis. These protein molecules administered under the skin decrease the inflammatory response that is created in the skin and cause psoriasis.

Written by Dr. Jerry Bagel

Two treatments in particular Humira and Stelara can improve an individual's psoriasis by75%, 75% of the time.  Furthermore it can improve psoriasis 90%.  Half of the time Humira is administered every other week at home by the patient, whereas Stelara is administered every 12 weeks in the office. 

The most common risk associated with the administration of biologic agents is a 1-2 % increase in infections requiring antibiotic therapy.  Although there has been fear that biologic agents increase the frequency of cancer, both short and long term safety data do not reveal an increase in cancer when biologic agents are used.  

If you are interested in learning more about biologic agents, how they work and what type might be best for you call our office at 609-443-4500.

Localized Psoriasis and How to Treat It

 

Psoriasis affects 2% of the U.S. population. This translates to about 7.5 million Americans, the most common chronic inflammatory disease.

Psoriasis seems to be in some way related to a hyper activity in the immune system. In particular in the dermis there is an increase in T cells which produce excessive proteins that induce the epidermis to grow to rapidly and hence into the red, scaly,thickened plaques that are hallmarks of psoriasis.

 

About two thirds of people affected with psoriasis have it localized such as elbows, knees, and scalp. However, the remaining third plaques can be quite excessive involving over 10% of the body and may or may not include the palms, soles, axillary, and genital areas.

 

Common treatments for localized psoriasis include topical steroids.Topical steroids however require caution because prolonged use especially in sensitive areas is face, neck, axillae, infra-mammary, groin can result in skin thinning, in some cases causing irreversible stretch marks.

 

Localized phototherapy has also been utilized effectively in the treatment of localized psoriasis.

 

 

By: Dr. Jerry Bagel

 



Healthy Skin Starts With You

By Dr. Brian Keegan

As the cooler fall weather sets in and winter weather approaches, Windsor Dermatology encourages our patients to be mindful of changes in their skin during this time. The cold, dry weather can aggravate certain skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Changes in the weather also means it’s a perfect time to schedule a skin screening with your dermatologist to ensure your skin stays healthy, especially as the holiday season approaches. In honor of National Healthy Skin Month, consider these five skin care tips:

• Wear sunscreen. Even though it’s cold out, UV rays are present year round. Your skin can absorb reflective light during outdoor winter activities such as skiing or snowboarding, which makes the sun just as intense. Even though it’s not hot outside, you should still think about wearing sunscreen. 
• Moisturize. Skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis are more common during this time of year due to the colder weather and the decrease of humidity in the air. Moisturize your skin consistently to ensure it stays hydrated. 
• Reduce stress. The holiday season can be stressful and stress can exacerbate people’s underlying skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Try to limit the unnecessary holiday stress to help keep your skin under control and reaction-free. 
• Eat healthy. Everyone likes to indulge during the holidays, but this type of behavior can lead to a skin outbreak. Drinking alcohol and straying from a healthy diet can leave the skin swollen and create bags under the eyes. Eating healthy foods will leave your skin happy and healthy for the holiday season. 
• Quit smoking. Smoking damages your skin by causing wrinkles, premature skin aging and staining of the fingers and nails. With the new year approaching, make a resolution to quit smoking. Seek help from your primary care physician if you don’t think you can do this on your own.

These five skin care tips will help you maintain healthy skin while setting you up for success as the weather changes and the holidays get closer.

To schedule an appointment with a dermatologist at Windsor Dermatology, call +1-609-443-4500 or visit Windsor Dermatology.

Maintaining Healthy Skin – The Importance of Annual Check-ups

By Dr. Brian Keegan

Many patients schedule a visit with their dermatologist when they have a concern or issue with their skin, but at Windsor Dermatology, we believe it’s equally important to schedule an annual “skin check-up” with your dermatologist the same way you schedule an annual visit with your primary care physician. The skin is the most visible organ on the body and when there are sudden or unusual changes in its appearance, it can indicate an underlying medical issue that needs to be addressed. Here are some other reasons why annual check-ups are important:

1.     To quickly diagnose and treat other medical conditions.

For instance, stains on the legs can indicate poor circulation that could potentially lead to cardiac issues. Certain types of coloration on the neck could be indicative of hormonal abnormalities. Cholesterol deposits around the eyes could indicate high cholesterol within the blood.

2.     To screen for melanoma.  

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), skin cancer affects 1 in 5 Americans, and more than 3.5 million new skin cancer cases in 2 million people are diagnosed each year in the United States. Even with the progress that has been made over the years in prevention and treatment, the number of melanoma cases are still rising in the U.S., so it’s important to have a skin exam to help increase the chance of accurately diagnosing this skin condition.

3.     To proactively prevent flare-ups of acne, eczema or psoriasis.

Skin conditions such as acne, eczema or psoriasis can flare-up during certain times of the year and in response to changes to the weather. Regular check-ups are an important preventative treatment that can help avoid any discomfort. 

As you can see, scheduling regular check-ups with your dermatologist is a key way to maintain healthy skin and good health all year long. 

To schedule an appointment, visit www.windsordermatology.com or call 609-443-4500.