Three Simple Tips To Help You Beat Psoriasis
(NUI) - Just imagine ... one day you notice a small patch of scaly skin on your stomach. Your doctor prescribes messy prescription creams. But the spots keep spreading to your neck, arms and legs. Despite the summer heat, you're so embarrassed you try to hide it by wearing turtlenecks and long dresses that stick to what are now blisters.
Suddenly, you have a reaction to the medicine and blisters cover 98 percent of your body. You're admitted to the hospital where, finally, you are diagnosed with psoriasis.
This is the story of Kathy, a legal executive and mother of three from California, who finally was prescribed a once-daily pill which cleared her skin. Kathy's treatment, a convenient oral prescription medication approved for severe psoriasis in adults for both initial and maintenance therapy, is the only oral drug for severe psoriasis that doesn't suppress the immune system.
If you, like Kathy, are one of the 4.5 million psoriasis sufferers in the United States, there may be hope. More and more doctors are prescribing oral medications in an effort to help their patients get faster and longer-lasting control of this disease.
Psoriasis, often misperceived as a mere skin rash, is a chronic and often painful disorder of the skin that can cause intense itching and burning throughout the body. Psoriasis affects men and women and usually first appears between the ages of 15 and 35. The disease can be very frustrating and greatly affect your lifestyle, emotional well-being, social life and ability to work.
By taking these simple steps, you can take control of your psoriasis:
- Make an appointment with a dermatologist. It's an important step in taking charge of your disease.
- Ask your dermatologist about different treatment options. There may be treatment options you have not tried.
- Get more information. Many resources provide educational materials and advice about the disease. Psoria-Sense is a free, award-winning education program sponsored by Roche. To enroll, visit www.psoria-sense.com.