Do You Need Biologics For Your Psoriasis?
Posted on: 9 October 2019
There are several conservative treatments that your doctor may recommend to respond to your psoriatic arthritis. However, when these treatments are not found to be effective enough, your doctor may eventually turn to biologics. The goal of biologics is to slow or stop joint damage.
What Are Biologics?
You will receive biologics through an IV infusion or an injection. The biologics are living cells that were cultured in a laboratory. They are becoming more viable as a way to treat arthritis as new techniques have been developed. They are designed to boost specific parts of the immune system rather than affecting the entire immune system. They are designed to stop an immune cell known as a T-cell. They can also block proteins in the immune system.
How Are Biologics Administered?
The biologic is injected in to the legs, arms, or abdomen. They are only prescribed if you are suffering from moderate or severe psoriasis. In some cases, your body simply doesn't respond to other treatments. In other cases, the other treatments might cause severe side effects, and biologics are the best option. However, they are not the first choice for doctors because they can increase the risk of an infection. If you begin coughing or if you begin experiencing the symptoms of flu or the cold, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.
How Severe Is Your Psoriasis?
Whether your psoriasis is moderate or severe is based on how much of your body is affected. If 2-10% of your body is affected, you have moderate psoriasis. If more than 10% of your body is affected, you have severe psoriasis. Both cases make you a candidate for biologics.
If you're not sure what percentage of your body is affected, keep in mind that your hand usually makes up about 1% of your body. So imagine how many of your hands would cover the areas where you experience the symptoms of psoriasis to gauge how severe it is.
When your plaques and scales are thick, itchy, red, and scaly, this is another sign that you have severe psoriasis. You may notice that your psoriasis is chronically irritated. Tell a doctor, like those at Sarasota Arthritis Center, everything about your symptoms. The information you provide is indispensable when helping him or her come to with the right treatment plan. Talk about how the condition affects your daily life, your relationships, and the emotions you feel throughout the day.
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