Scalp psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp can be hard to differentiate. Both are common skin disorders that often affect the scalp. They share some similar symptoms — such as itchy, red, scaly skin. Fortunately, they also share some similar treatments, including daily use of an over-the-counter medicated shampoo, containing:
Ketoconazole
Tar
Pyrithione zinc
Selenium sulfide
Salicylic acid
There is no single test to confirm a diagnosis of psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. These skin disorders typically are diagnosed with a visual exam of the affected skin. Sometimes, however, a skin biopsy may be used to help differentiate between the two disorders.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Psoriasis Grants Awarded
The National Psoriasis Foundation has awarded four different university researchers $30,000 each in grant money to further their work into the disease and to provide data to the National Institutes of Health.
The Psoriasis Foundation's seed grant program emphasizes innovative psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis research projects in genetics, immunology or clinical research focused on understanding the mechanism of the disease. The program is designed to provide researchers with funding to generate preliminary data that can be used in grant applications to the National Institutes of Health.
"Funding these types of research projects is an integral part of our research and advocacy strategies," said Gail Zimmerman, president and CEO of the Psoriasis Foundation. "These grants will help promising researchers further understand the underlying causes of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and help us come closer to a cure."
The grant recipients are Dr Andrew Blauvelt, a professor at Oregon Health & Science University; Dr Kristina Callis, an instructor at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center; Dr Shane Curran, a post-doctoral fellow at Columbia University; and Dr Carl Edwards, an associate professor at the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center.
The research projects undertaken by these academics include work on discovering how the molecule Il-23 is involved in the development and maintenance of psoriasis; study into the disease genetics; research into understanding the environment of joints in psoriatic arthritis; and investigations on how specific molecules and cells work together to produce inflammation in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
The Psoriasis Foundation's seed grant program emphasizes innovative psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis research projects in genetics, immunology or clinical research focused on understanding the mechanism of the disease. The program is designed to provide researchers with funding to generate preliminary data that can be used in grant applications to the National Institutes of Health.
"Funding these types of research projects is an integral part of our research and advocacy strategies," said Gail Zimmerman, president and CEO of the Psoriasis Foundation. "These grants will help promising researchers further understand the underlying causes of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and help us come closer to a cure."
The grant recipients are Dr Andrew Blauvelt, a professor at Oregon Health & Science University; Dr Kristina Callis, an instructor at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center; Dr Shane Curran, a post-doctoral fellow at Columbia University; and Dr Carl Edwards, an associate professor at the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center.
The research projects undertaken by these academics include work on discovering how the molecule Il-23 is involved in the development and maintenance of psoriasis; study into the disease genetics; research into understanding the environment of joints in psoriatic arthritis; and investigations on how specific molecules and cells work together to produce inflammation in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Common Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. It is characterized by raised, inflamed (red) lesions covered with a silvery white scale. The scale is actually a buildup of dead skin cells. The technical name for plaque psoriasis is psoriasis vulgaris (vulgaris means common). Plaque psoriasis may appear on any skin surface, though the knees, elbows, scalp, and trunk are the most common locations. Sometimes the patches of infected skin are large, extending over much of the body. The patches, known as plaques or lesions, can wax and wane but tend to be chronic. These can be very itchy and if scratched or scraped they may bleed easily. The plaques usually have a well-defined edge and, while they can appear anywhere on the body, the most commonly affected areas are the scalp, knees and elbows. However, if the scalp is involved, you may develop psoriasis on the hairline and forehead. The actual appearance of the plaques can depend on where they are found on the body. Plaques found on the palms and soles can be scaly, however they may not be very red in color. This is due to the thickness of the skin at these sites. If the plaques are in moist areas, such as in the creases of the armpits or between the buttocks, there is usually little or no scaling. The patches are red and have a well-defined border. Chronic (or common) plaque psoriasis affects over 90% of sufferers. It appears usually on the scalp, lower back, elbows, arms, legs, knees and shoulders. It is very much an adult condition.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
A variant of a single immune system gene boosts the risk for psoriasis, researchers report.
A team from the University of Michigan looked for the gene -- called PSORS1 -- in more than 2,700 people from 678 families in which at least one family member had psoriasis.
According to the researchers, PSORS1 is the first genetic determinant of psoriasis to be definitively identified in a large clinical trial. The finding may help in the development of new, more effective treatments for the disfiguring inflammatory skin disease.
To develop psoriasis, people must inherit several disease-related genes and also be exposed to one or more environmental triggers, such as a strep infection, the researchers noted.
"For every individual with psoriasis who carries the PSORS1 gene, there are 10 other people with the gene who don't get psoriasis," study director Dr. James T. Elder, a professor of dermatology and of radiation oncology, said in a prepared statement.
The PSORS1 gene is actually one of more than 20 different varieties of a gene called HLA-C, one of several genes that regulate how the immune system fights off infection.
While Elder and his colleagues have identified the PSORS1 gene -- which they believe is the major gene involved in psoriasis susceptibility -- they said that much more research is needed to identify other genes involved in the development of psoriasis.
The findings appear in the May issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.
A team from the University of Michigan looked for the gene -- called PSORS1 -- in more than 2,700 people from 678 families in which at least one family member had psoriasis.
According to the researchers, PSORS1 is the first genetic determinant of psoriasis to be definitively identified in a large clinical trial. The finding may help in the development of new, more effective treatments for the disfiguring inflammatory skin disease.
To develop psoriasis, people must inherit several disease-related genes and also be exposed to one or more environmental triggers, such as a strep infection, the researchers noted.
"For every individual with psoriasis who carries the PSORS1 gene, there are 10 other people with the gene who don't get psoriasis," study director Dr. James T. Elder, a professor of dermatology and of radiation oncology, said in a prepared statement.
The PSORS1 gene is actually one of more than 20 different varieties of a gene called HLA-C, one of several genes that regulate how the immune system fights off infection.
While Elder and his colleagues have identified the PSORS1 gene -- which they believe is the major gene involved in psoriasis susceptibility -- they said that much more research is needed to identify other genes involved in the development of psoriasis.
The findings appear in the May issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics.
FDA Approves Taclonex For Use In Treating Psoriasis Vulgaris
Warner Chilcott and LEO Pharma announced today that Taclonex® (calcipotriene 0.005% and betamethasone dipropionate 0.064%), a once-daily topical ointment for the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris in adults, is now available for prescription in the United States. Available outside the U.S. as Dovobet® or Daivobet®, Taclonex® was cleared for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January. Psoriasis is a lifelong skin disease affecting more than five million adults in the United States.
"The availability of Taclonex® is significant because it makes the treatment of psoriasis easy for patients," said Dr. Mark Lebwohl, Chair, Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York. "It only needs to be applied once a day and is rapidly effective. In clinical studies, most patients saw improvement within the first week of use. Additionally, the two-compound ointment is more effective than either of its components alone, and also appears to be more tolerable than the components alone based on a lower percentage of total adverse events reported in clinical studies."
"At Warner Chilcott, we are continually striving to improve treatment and quality of life for people suffering from diseases of the skin," said Roger Boissonneault, CEO of Warner Chilcott. "We recognize that psoriasis can be a disabling condition that alters a person's life, both physically and emotionally, and we are pleased to provide Taclonex® as a new tool in managing its symptoms. Based on the efficacy and rapid action it has demonstrated in clinical studies, we are confident that Taclonex® will be an important new therapy for the topical treatment of psoriasis."
Taclonex® Clinical Trials
The efficacy and safety of Taclonex® have been demonstrated in seven large, multicenter clinical trials, which enrolled approximately 7,000 psoriasis patients (more than 3,000 of whom were treated with Taclonex®) amenable to topical therapy, with lesions affecting at least 10% of one or more body regions. Patients treated with Taclonex® had significantly greater and more rapid improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) than patients treated with either calcipotriene or betamethasone dipropionate alone. In addition, Taclonex® was safe and well tolerated.
In one randomized, multicenter, double-blind trial, investigators enrolled 1,603 patients to compare the mean change in PASI from baseline to four weeks. They compared Taclonex® with calcipotriene, betamethasone dipropionate, or vehicle (placebo), all used once daily. The study demonstrated that the mean percentage change in PASI from baseline was significantly greater for patients treated with Taclonex® than for those receiving once-daily betamethasone, calcipotriene, or placebo at week 1 (-39.2% vs. -33.3% vs. -23.4% vs. -18.1%, p<0.001)
"The availability of Taclonex® is significant because it makes the treatment of psoriasis easy for patients," said Dr. Mark Lebwohl, Chair, Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York. "It only needs to be applied once a day and is rapidly effective. In clinical studies, most patients saw improvement within the first week of use. Additionally, the two-compound ointment is more effective than either of its components alone, and also appears to be more tolerable than the components alone based on a lower percentage of total adverse events reported in clinical studies."
"At Warner Chilcott, we are continually striving to improve treatment and quality of life for people suffering from diseases of the skin," said Roger Boissonneault, CEO of Warner Chilcott. "We recognize that psoriasis can be a disabling condition that alters a person's life, both physically and emotionally, and we are pleased to provide Taclonex® as a new tool in managing its symptoms. Based on the efficacy and rapid action it has demonstrated in clinical studies, we are confident that Taclonex® will be an important new therapy for the topical treatment of psoriasis."
Taclonex® Clinical Trials
The efficacy and safety of Taclonex® have been demonstrated in seven large, multicenter clinical trials, which enrolled approximately 7,000 psoriasis patients (more than 3,000 of whom were treated with Taclonex®) amenable to topical therapy, with lesions affecting at least 10% of one or more body regions. Patients treated with Taclonex® had significantly greater and more rapid improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) than patients treated with either calcipotriene or betamethasone dipropionate alone. In addition, Taclonex® was safe and well tolerated.
In one randomized, multicenter, double-blind trial, investigators enrolled 1,603 patients to compare the mean change in PASI from baseline to four weeks. They compared Taclonex® with calcipotriene, betamethasone dipropionate, or vehicle (placebo), all used once daily. The study demonstrated that the mean percentage change in PASI from baseline was significantly greater for patients treated with Taclonex® than for those receiving once-daily betamethasone, calcipotriene, or placebo at week 1 (-39.2% vs. -33.3% vs. -23.4% vs. -18.1%, p<0.001)
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