Comments for consumers
This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
Australian Prescriber is unable to comment on individual cases or give second opinions.
Australian Prescriber Vol. 32 No. 1 2009
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin disease. It causes red scaly patches of skin but can also affect the nails and joints. Psoriasis is not infectious, but can be severe.
Many patients can be treated with skin creams. In severe cases the patients may need to take medicine or have injections.
Severe psoriasis can be treated with medicines that work on the immune system. While this improves the psoriasis it makes the patient more likely to get an infection. Patients therefore need regular check-ups during treatment.
It is important that patients taking medicines for severe psoriasis have a healthy lifestyle. This means not getting fat, exercising regularly and not smoking.
As the medicine could be harmful to an unborn baby, women must not become pregnant during treatment. Some medicines stay in the body for years, so the woman may have to wait before she can safely get pregnant.
