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About Psoriasis

What Is Psoriasis? Get the Facts Here.

Psoriasis is a lifelong skin disease affecting as many as 7.5 million Americans. Psoriasis is NOT contagious.

There are several different types of psoriasis, but the most common type is called plaque psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis causes red, raised lesions (patches) that produce dead, flaky skin cells (scale).

Psoriasis can affect any part of the body. Areas commonly affected include:

  • Knees
  • Elbows
  • Lower back
  • Scalp
  • And others

Psoriasis can cause irritating, embarrassing skin symptoms, but effective treatments are available. The type of treatment depends on the location and severity of your psoriasis. Be sure to talk to your doctor to determine which treatment might be right for you.

What Causes Psoriasis?

While the exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, researchers believe the protein TNF (tumor necrosis factor), or TNF, is involved. We all have TNF in our bodies, but in people with psoriasis, too much TNF is produced. This contributes to the inflammation and overproduction of skin cells leading to the formation of skin lesions.

Instead of maturing and falling off the body within about a month, like normal skin cells, psoriatic skin cells take only 3-4 days to mature and surface. Instead of falling off, the skin cells accumulate and form red, itchy, flaking skin patches (lesions).

Learn how biologic treatments, like HUMIRA, can help block TNF, decreasing inflammation and improving skin symptoms.

HUMIRA is used to treat moderate to severe chronic (lasting a long time) plaque psoriasis in adults who are under the ongoing care of a physician, have the condition in many areas of their body, and who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills). When considering HUMIRA, your physician will determine if other systemic therapies are medically less appropriate. HUMIRA is taken by injection and is available by prescription only.

Serious infections have happened in patients taking HUMIRA. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some patients have died from these infections. HUMIRA may increase the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers. HUMIRA can cause serious side effects including allergic reactions, hepatitis B virus reactivation, nervous system problems, blood problems, heart failure, certain immune reactions (including a lupus-like syndrome), and new or worsening psoriasis. Please click here for additional Important Safety Information you should know about HUMIRA and discuss it with your doctor.

The Link Between Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

Up to 30% of people with psoriasis also get joint pain and stiffness. If you’re experiencing stiffness and joint pain—as well as the skin symptoms of psoriasis—it could mean you have a condition known as psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

PsA can cause progressive joint damage in addition to the red, flaky skin lesions of psoriasis. But HUMIRA can treat the joint pain and stiffness as well as the skin symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

HUMIRA is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis in adults, may prevent further damage to your bones and joints, and may help your ability to perform daily activities. HUMIRA can be used alone or with certain other medicines.

If you suffer from both skin and joint symptoms, discuss this with your dermatologist. Learn more about how HUMIRA can help treat PsA.

Beneath the Skin

You’ve learned about what psoriasis can do to the skin. Talk to your healthcare professional about how you’re feeling, and consider joining a psoriasis support group to connect with people who know what it’s like to live with psoriasis.

Learn More

Important Safety Information About HUMIRA® (adalimumab)

What is the most important information I should know about HUMIRA?

You should discuss the potential benefits and risks of HUMIRA with your doctor. HUMIRA is a TNF-blocker medicine that can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. You should not start taking HUMIRA if you have any kind of infection.

  • Serious infections have happened in patients taking HUMIRA. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some patients have died from these infections. Your doctor should test you for TB before starting HUMIRA, and monitor you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with HUMIRA. If your doctor feels you are at risk, you may be treated with medicine for TB.
  • Certain types of Cancer. There have been cases of unusual cancers in children and teenagers using TNF-blocker medicines. For children and adults taking TNF-blocker medicines, including HUMIRA, the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. Some patients have developed non-melanoma skin cancer; tell your doctor if you have a bump or open sore that doesn’t heal.

What should I tell my doctor BEFORE starting HUMIRA?

Tell your doctor about all of your health conditions, including if you:

  • Have an infection, are being treated for infection, or have signs of an infection
  • Get a lot of infections or have infections that keep coming back
  • Have any open cuts or sores on your body
  • Have diabetes
  • Have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB, or were born in, lived in, or traveled where there is more risk for getting TB
  • Live or have lived in an area (such as the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys) where there is an increased risk for getting certain kinds of fungal infections, such as histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, or blastomycosis
  • Have or have had hepatitis B
  • Are scheduled for major surgery
  • Have numbness or tingling or have a disease that affects your nervous system such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
  • Have heart failure or other heart conditions
  • Have recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine. Patients receiving HUMIRA should not receive live vaccines
  • Are allergic to rubber or latex, or any ingredients of HUMIRA
  • Are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding

Also tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, especially Kineret (anakinra). Some medicines that suppress the immune system may increase your risk of serious infections.

What should I watch for AFTER starting HUMIRA?

HUMIRA can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Serious infections. These include TB and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria. Symptoms related to TB include cough, low-grade fever, weight loss, or loss of body fat and muscle.
  • Allergic reactions. Signs of a serious allergic reaction include skin rash, a swollen face, or trouble breathing.
  • Hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients that carry the virus in their blood. Symptoms include feeling unwell, poor appetite, tiredness, fever, rash, or joint pain.
  • Nervous system problems. Signs and symptoms include numbness or tingling, problems with your vision, weakness in your arms or legs, and dizziness.
  • Blood problems. Symptoms include a fever that does not go away, bruising or bleeding very easily, or looking very pale.
  • New heart failure or worsening of heart failure you already have. Symptoms include shortness of breath or swelling of your ankles or feet, or sudden weight gain.
  • Immune reactions including a lupus-like syndrome. Symptoms include chest discomfort or pain that does not go away, shortness of breath, joint pain, or rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sun.
  • Psoriasis (new or worsening). Symptoms include red scaly patches or raised bumps that are filled with pus.

Call your doctor or get medical care right away if you develop any of the above symptoms.

Common side effects of HUMIRA include injection site reactions (redness, rash, swelling, itching, or bruising), upper respiratory infections (sinus infections), headaches, rash, and nausea. These are not all of the possible side effects with HUMIRA. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Remember, call your doctor right away if you have an infection or any signs of an infection, including:

  • A fever
  • Feeling very tired
  • A cough
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Warm, red, or painful skin
  • Open cuts or sores on your body

This is the most important information to know about HUMIRA. For more information, talk to your health care provider.

Information You Should Know About HUMIRA® (adalimumab)

HUMIRA is a medicine called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker. HUMIRA is taken by injection and is available by prescription only.

HUMIRA is used to:

  • Reduce the signs and symptoms of:
    • moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults. HUMIRA can be used alone or with methotrexate or with certain other medicines. HUMIRA may prevent further damage to your bones and joints and may help your ability to perform daily activities.
    • moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children 4 years of age and older. HUMIRA can be used alone or with methotrexate or with certain other medicines.
    • psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adults. HUMIRA can be used alone or with certain other medicines. HUMIRA may prevent further damage to your bones and joints and may help your ability to perform daily activities.
    • ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adults.
    • moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) in adults who have not responded well to conventional treatments. HUMIRA is also for these adults who have lost response to or are unable to tolerate infliximab.
  • Treat moderate to severe chronic (lasting a long time) plaque psoriasis (Ps) in adults who are under the ongoing care of a physician, have the condition in many areas of their body, and who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills). When considering HUMIRA, your physician will determine if other systemic therapies are medically less appropriate.

Please see the full prescribing information, including the Medication Guide, for HUMIRA.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

If you cannot afford your medication, contact: www.pparx.org or call the toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) for assistance.

Legal Notices/Privacy Policy. Copyright 2009, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, U.S.A. If you have any questions about Abbott's HUMIRA.com Web site that have not been answered click here. This website and the information contained herein is intended for use by US residents only, is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace a discussion with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider and consider the unique characteristics of each patient.

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