Business Insight Psoriasis Flares Almost all patients with psoriasis know that colder weather and winter bring more flares and more symptoms. First of all, it is much colder outside, but it is also much drier indoors because we turn on the heat. With these two components, all skin conditions tend to act up. Itching increases and, in some more sever cases, cracking of skin can occur every day. As usual, early intervention is the best solution. Do not wait until the symptoms are so bad that they take away your sleep. Act quickly and with home solutions first: more water and more moisturizer. Every day and even several times a day, apply a good and heavy moisturizer to all affected areas but also the rest of skin. Refill your prescription for low level topical steroids like hydrocortisone. And finally, schedule your follow up appointment to be prepared for winter now. Every year, we have some novel and better treatments for psoriasis. For limited areas under 5% of body surface, there are new great non-steroidal treatments. When your psoriasis covers more than 5% of the body or if it is located on the scalp where you cannot really apply creams, systemic treatments are much better of an option. Systemic treatments mean oral or injectable agents. Your psoriasis must be assessed by a doctor who will also evaluate your other medical conditions to make sure you are a suitable candidate for the systemic treatment. We have multiple options of injections of biologic medications that act well and fast, we have oral pills options that may take a tiny longer but equally effective, and we can enroll you in clinical research studies that continue evaluating and investigating both options. presented by Arlington Dermatology What is the difference among all those agents? We could take a long time to discuss it. Simplifying, all of them work to block your psoriasis related immune system cells from overworking. However, the mechanism of action of those medicines might differ. There is an attempt to select and identify which treatment would be the optimal one for each person, but the studies to prove the methods of selection are not concluding yet. We may be able to do it soon. For now, we assess the disease, lifestyle, medical history, and we decide on the safest and most efficacious medication. We also need to get patient with time- nothing will work overnight. But it is not uncommon to see quite good improvement within 4-8 weeks. Some patients, especially those with prior use of other biologics, may need to wait longer. Many of the psoriasis medications work also for psoriatic arthritis. This painful inflammatory disease is characteristic only for patients with psoriasis, but can be quite debilitating, with joint swelling and pain, and limitations of movement. It is estimate that about 30% of psoriasis patients develop psoriatic arthritis as well. Psoriasis is an immune system disease so working directly and only on your skin symptoms will not be a long-term solution. Like many other immune system disorders, you will live with it indefinitely. It can go away for a period of time but will come back more than likely. But you can control it with the discoveries of modern medicine. Many of our patients have 100% clear skin and do not even remember how psoriasis felt. That is great news. What is not so great for many is that you must become really disciplined about your treatment and become regular with the doctors' office. Like any other treatments for chronic diseases, psoriasis will require your follow up with some bloodwork and physical examination from time to time to make sure the treatment is not only. optimal for the looks of the skin but also the safety of your body. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight Psoriasis Flares Almost all patients with psoriasis know that colder weather and winter bring more flares and more symptoms . First of all , it is much colder outside , but it is also much drier indoors because we turn on the heat . With these two components , all skin conditions tend to act up . Itching increases and , in some more sever cases , cracking of skin can occur every day . As usual , early intervention is the best solution . Do not wait until the symptoms are so bad that they take away your sleep . Act quickly and with home solutions first : more water and more moisturizer . Every day and even several times a day , apply a good and heavy moisturizer to all affected areas but also the rest of skin . Refill your prescription for low level topical steroids like hydrocortisone . And finally , schedule your follow up appointment to be prepared for winter now . Every year , we have some novel and better treatments for psoriasis . For limited areas under 5 % of body surface , there are new great non - steroidal treatments . When your psoriasis covers more than 5 % of the body or if it is located on the scalp where you cannot really apply creams , systemic treatments are much better of an option . Systemic treatments mean oral or injectable agents . Your psoriasis must be assessed by a doctor who will also evaluate your other medical conditions to make sure you are a suitable candidate for the systemic treatment . We have multiple options of injections of biologic medications that act well and fast , we have oral pills options that may take a tiny longer but equally effective , and we can enroll you in clinical research studies that continue evaluating and investigating both options . presented by Arlington Dermatology What is the difference among all those agents ? We could take a long time to discuss it . Simplifying , all of them work to block your psoriasis related immune system cells from overworking . However , the mechanism of action of those medicines might differ . There is an attempt to select and identify which treatment would be the optimal one for each person , but the studies to prove the methods of selection are not concluding yet . We may be able to do it soon . For now , we assess the disease , lifestyle , medical history , and we decide on the safest and most efficacious medication . We also need to get patient with time nothing will work overnight . But it is not uncommon to see quite good improvement within 4-8 weeks . Some patients , especially those with prior use of other biologics , may need to wait longer . Many of the psoriasis medications work also for psoriatic arthritis . This painful inflammatory disease is characteristic only for patients with psoriasis , but can be quite debilitating , with joint swelling and pain , and limitations of movement . It is estimate that about 30 % of psoriasis patients develop psoriatic arthritis as well . Psoriasis is an immune system disease so working directly and only on your skin symptoms will not be a long - term solution . Like many other immune system disorders , you will live with it indefinitely . It can go away for a period of time but will come back more than likely . But you can control it with the discoveries of modern medicine . Many of our patients have 100 % clear skin and do not even remember how psoriasis felt . That is great news . What is not so great for many is that you must become really disciplined about your treatment and become regular with the doctors ' office . Like any other treatments for chronic diseases , psoriasis will require your follow up with some bloodwork and physical examination from time to time to make sure the treatment is not only . optimal for the looks of the skin but also the safety of your body . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net