Traditional medical treatment for psoriasis is costly considering that psoriasis is a chronic skin condition. That means a rather inexpensive small jar of your favorite psoriasis cream will add up in time. For those who are using ultra-violet treatment, the cost can easily go six figures in a few years.
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Would you believe that elephant dung works better than your most trusted psoriasis ointment? Apparently, that’s what helped ‘cure’ Peter Dickinson’s psoriasis back in the 80s. Ok, it’s not exactly a cure but a treatment. There’s no real cure for psoriasis, anyways.
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Bee Clear psoriasis ointment is an all natural healing cream for skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. It helps reduce inflammation which in turn reduces and thins the plaques. This prosiasis ointment also helps in removing scales safely without damaging the skin and without bleeding. Most importantly, Bee Clear cream is an all natural product – no chemicals, no steroids, no tar.
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February 5, 2009 — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved calcitriol ointment 3 μg/g (Vectical, Galderma Laboratories, LP), a first-of-its-kind, topical ointment, using a naturally occurring active form of vitamin D3 to treat psoriasis.
For treatment of mild-to-moderate psoriasis plaque in adults aged 18 years and older, calcitriol ointment has been proven safe, even for use in sensitive skin areas, and well-tolerated for continuous use up to 1 year. Calcitriol ointment, which is believed to help regulate excessive skin cell production by binding to the vitamin D receptors on keratinocytes (skin cells), is the only vitamin D3 ointment of its kind available in the United States.
“Because psoriasis is a chronic disease, topical products that are safe for extended use must fit within overall, long-term treatment regimens,” Mark Lebwohl, MD, from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, said in a news release. “The [ointment]…has been proven safe and well-tolerated throughout 52 weeks of continuous use in treating mild-to-moderate disease. A safe, effective long-term therapy is critical to improve overall outcomes for these patients.”
FDA approval was based on findings from two 8-week studies of more than 800 patients comparing twice-daily doses of calcitriol ointment with vehicle. Improvements in mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis severity in the first study were first apparent at week 2, and these benefits were sustained during the 8-week treatment period.
Treatment success, defined as a global severity score of clear/minimal, was achieved by study end in 34% of patients treated with calcitriol ointment vs 22% of those treated with vehicle. At 8 weeks, 23% of patients achieved treatment success and also had a 2-grade improvement in disease severity. Efficacy results were similar in the second study.
The calcitriol ointment and vehicle groups had similar treatment-related adverse events. The most common adverse events (reported in more than 3%) were laboratory test abnormality, urine abnormality, psoriasis, hypercalciuria, pruritus, and skin discomfort.
A long-term, 52-week safety study showed that adverse events were similar to those reported in the 8-week studies. Although the 8-week studies showed some transient increases in plasma calcium levels, calcitriol ointment was not associated with any significant clinical effects on calcium homeostasis when used continuously during the 52-week study.
Psoriasis, a chronic skin disorder affecting 2% to 3% of the US population (about 7.5 million people) is characterized by thick, red, dry, scaly patches of skin and is caused by an abnormally high growth rate of skin cells that form plaques. Physical symptoms include inflammation, infection, soreness, and burning.
Patients with psoriasis may also have diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Other available prescription options for psoriasis include corticosteroids, which are not typically used long term.
“The approval of Vectical Ointment is a welcome addition to the arsenal of topical treatments for mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis that will help patients manage their condition both safely and effectively over the long-term,” said Randy Beranek, president and chief executive officer of the National Psoriasis Foundation.
The maximum recommended dose is not more than 200 g per week. Calcitriol ointment should be used with caution in patients who have known or suspected disturbances in calcium homeostasis, who take calcium or vitamin D supplements, or who use thiazide diuretics or other medications known to increase serum calcium levels. If abnormalities of calcium metabolism occur during treatment, calcitriol ointment should be withheld until these normalize.
Patients should avoid excessive exposure to natural or artificial sunlight after applying calcitriol ointment, discontinue use if severe irritation occurs, and avoid contact with eyes, lips, and face. Calcitriol ointment has not been studied in pregnant or nursing women.
Authors and Disclosures
Author(s)
Laurie Barclay, MD is a freelance reviewer and writer for Medscape.
One of the most dreaded social impact of having psoriasis is its effects on a person’s sex life. A lot of people are terrified with the idea that they get genetal psoriasis and have their sex life go down the drain. It’s a valid concern considering the experience of people who had it. Though most partners are understanding, the pain and irritation that comes with this skin disorder often affects a person’s sexual drive. In effect, sexual acts grounds to a halt.
According to the study published by the International Journal of Dermatology, about 40 percent of participants reported that their sex life worsened after the symptoms of psoriasis began. Physical symptoms like pain and irritation is very common. These leads to an individual to inhibit from any sex sessions especially if psoriasis affects the genital area.
Some people with genital psoriasis reveals that sexual penetration is too painful, it takes a week for them to recover from one sex session to another. Although some gynecologist prescribes steroid creams, they are most recommended for use sparingly. Even then, only low-strength steroid creams should be used in genitals.
In the end, having genital psoriasis is a valid concern but it definitely doesn’t mean that if you have psoriasis, you’ll also contract genital psoriasis. On the same note, having psoriasis elsewhere in your body should not affect your sex life. It goes down to the fact that you and your partner must talk about it openly so as not to make wrong conclusions and expectations. There is no doubt that psoriasis may affect our sex lives but it’s an individual’s responsibility that it does not get in the way of our sex life.
The TriDerma® Psoriasis Ointment fast healing cream contains specific healing ingredients clinically proven to help alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis. It quickly relieves redness, scaly white skin cell buildup, extreme dryness and burning. Daily use helps prevent flare-ups and helps restore and maintain healthy skin. AP4 Genuine Virgin Aloe, Barbadensis, Salicylic Acid, Zinc PCA, Urea, Vitamin A,B,D,E and other advanced healing ingredients help promote fast tissue repair. Powerful, yet gentle enough to use on any sensitive skin area, including the scalp. Psoriasis Power Ointment 4 oz. jar Triderma Psoriasis Ointment Features:Clinically proven to help alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis.Quickly relieves redness, scaly white skin cell buildup, extreme dryness and burning.Helps prevent flare-ups and helps restore and maintain healthy skin. Triderma Psoriasis Ointment Specifications:Contains AP4 Genuine Virgin Aloe, Barbadensis, Salicylic Acid, Zinc PCA, Urea, Vitamin A,B,D,E
Some people are claiming that you can beat psoriasis by following some kind of Psoriasis Diet and taking Barney Vitamins. The diet is actually a shake of veggies and fruits. So it’s all natural. According to some users at psoriasis-help.org.uk, the diet program is very successful for them and they even provided pictures and videos of their progress.
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Psoriasin Ointment offers muti-symptom relief in a deep moisturizing, leave-on topical treatment that gets to work quickly to help eliminate the itching, flaking, redness, scaling and discomforts often associated with psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Psoriasin Ointment is each to apply and is absorbed thoroughly. Unlike other products that may cause excessive dryness, Psoriasin keep skin supple, flexible and feeling more comfortable by locking in moisture and creating a barrier against irritant that may aggravate sensitive areas.
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In the United States, there as been a comprehensive study to examine the social and emotional effects of psoriasis. In a unique collaboration of health providers, advocates, National Psoriasis Foundation and the Dermatology Nurses Association, they found out that the effect of psoriasis to people carrying them is profound. It affects every aspect of a person’s life from sex and relation to performance on the job and day to day social interactions. People suffering from various levels of psoriasis experience crisis in self-confidence so severe that their lives changed and “heartbreak of psoriasis” is fairly common. The study illustrates the need for public education and a support program for people afflicted with psoriasis.
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Listed below are the symptoms and signs of Psoriasis gathered from various sources. Take note that psoriasis symptoms are similar to other skin disorders. Only a doctor with the help of some tests can confirm if a person indeed has psoriasis.
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