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People suffering with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have come one step closer to a cure with the release of the first National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank DNA samples for use in research at the University of Michigan Health System.

The research hopes to uncover the unknowns about the genetics of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

"Because we will be studying many thousands of genes, and because the genetic differences that predispose people to psoriasis can be subtle, this type of research requires thousands of cases and controls to yield statistically significant results. That's why the large number of Biobank samples is so important," said Dr. James T. Elder.

In the past few years, new discoveries into the hereditary factors of psoriasis have been unveiled.

The National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank is a collection of DNA samples and clinical information used by scientists to advance the field of psoriasis genetics-to fill the gap between what is known about psoriasis genetics and what's not.

The researchers received the first 1,250 BioBank DNA samples today.

They will use the samples to identify new genes that increase a person's risk factor for developing psoriasis, and examine the connection between psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Additional BioBank DNA samples will be given to Elder in the coming months.

"It's also very important that the diagnosis of psoriasis is definite, especially when it comes to psoriatic arthritis. The Biobank patients have all been carefully examined by dermatologists and rheumatologists, and provide an outstanding clinical resource," added Elder.

The National Psoriasis Victor Henschel BioBank is a collection of DNA samples and clinical information used by scientists to advance the field of psoriasis genetics.

Once completed, it will be the largest single collection of psoriasis DNA samples in the world.

"The BioBank is a critical resource for bringing us one step closer to a cure for psoriasis, and we are honoured to partner with Dr. Elder and his team on this landmark project. This endeavour would not be possible without the hundreds of people with and without psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis who donated DNA over the past four years, and we thank all of them for their huge contribution to psoriasis research," said Rick Seiden, chair of the National Psoriasis Foundation Board of Trustees. (ANI)

Each August, the National Psoriasis Foundation sponsors Psoriasis Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness, educating the public and dispelling myths about psoriasis.

Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the U.S., affecting as many as 7.5 million Americans.

So what exactly is psoriasis?  In the simplest terms, psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that is characterized by rough, flaky skin and severe dry patches, with symptoms often worsening in harsh winter climates. It occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals resulting in red, scaly patches on the skin that bleed and itch. Psoriasis is not contagious.

Psoria-sis frequently occurs with a range of other health concerns including Crohn’s disease, diabetes, hypertension, heart attack, depression and liver disease. 

Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, swelling and stiffness around the joints. People with mild psoriasis are just as likely to develop psoriatic arthritis as those with moderate or severe forms of the disease.

Psoriasis flare-ups are more common during colder, dryer winter months, but also during times of emotional stress or other illness, such as a cold or the flu. Though psoriasis is not contagious, it can often take an emotional toll on sufferers if the psoriasis patches are noticeable — especially for children and teens.

Psoriasis ranges in severity from the mildest form, with just very small patches of irritation to raw, disfiguring patches across large portions of the body. In more extreme cases, psoriasis can also cause joint pain and tenderness, called psoriatic arthritis. Though the exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, current treatments are effective at controlling the length and severity of flare-ups.

In most cases, your doctor can properly diagnose psoriasis by just looking at the affected area. They may want to do a skin test, however, to rule out a fungal infection. If your psoriasis is moderate to severe, or inhibits your lifestyle, your doctor may prescribe medication to help prevent or lessen the severity of flare-ups. 

The information in this article was provided courtesy of the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Women who drink regular beer—but not light beer or other types of alcohol—are more likely to develop psoriasis, according to a new study.

Psoriasis is a common immune-mediated skin disease.

To evaluate the association between different types of alcohol and psoriasis risk, Abrar A. Qureshi, of Brigham Womans Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, assessed data from 82,869 women who were aged 27 to 44 years in 1991.

The women, participants in the Nurses'' Health Study II, reported the amount and type of alcohol they consumed on biennial questionnaires. They also reported whether they had received a diagnosis of psoriasis.

Through 2005, 1,150 cases of psoriasis developed, 1,069 of which were used for analysis. Compared with women who did not drink alcohol, the risk of psoriasis was 72 percent greater among women who had an average of 2.3 drinks per week or more.

When beverages were assessed by type, there was an association between non-light beer drinking and psoriasis, such that women who drank five or more beers per week had a risk for the condition that was 1.8 times higher. Light beer, red wine, white wine and liquor were not associated with psoriasis risk.

When only confirmed psoriasis cases—those in which women provided more details about their condition on a seven-item self-assessment—were considered, the risk for psoriasis was 2.3 times higher for women who drank five or more beers per week than women who did not drink beer.

"Non-light beer was the only alcoholic beverage that increased the risk for psoriasis, suggesting that certain non-alcoholic components of beer, which are not found in wine or liquor, may play an important role in new-onset psoriasis," the authors said.

"One of these components may be the starch source used in making beer. Beer is one of the few non-distilled alcoholic beverages that use a starch source for fermentation, which is commonly barley," they added.

Barley and other starches contain gluten, to which some individuals with psoriasis show a sensitivity. Lower amounts of grain are used to make light beer as compared with non-light beer, potentially explaining why light beer is not associated with psoriasis risk, they note.

"Women with a high risk of psoriasis may consider avoiding a higher intake of non-light beer. We suggest conducting further investigations into the potential mechanisms of non-light beer inducing new-onset psoriasis," the authors concluded.

The study will be published in the December print issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Phil Mickelson revealed on Tuesday 10th August 2010 that he had been battling the potentially debilitating condition, psoriatic arthritis since the Sunday before the United States Open in June.

He has been getting the painful effects under control within the past two weeks with weekly injections of a drug prescribed by doctors at the Mayo Clinic.

Mickelson said he first experienced pain near his ankle that made it difficult to walk, and his left index finger and right wrist felt as if they were sprained.

He treated those ailments with ibuprofen, but he grew concerned when the condition began to worsen and spread to his hips, ankle, elbows and shoulders.

“Usually, that kind of stuff comes and goes,” he said. “And it progressively got worse through the Open as well as after it in my two weeks off.”

He had doctors examine him during a trip to Hawaii after the Open.

“Every joint in my body started to hurt to where I couldn’t move,” he said. “I would just lay down and couldn’t roll over.”

Mickelson, who gives himself weekly injections said he was now “100 percent” and surprised at how quickly the condition stabilized.

Psoriasis symptoms are varied, and many by themselves can lead to a positive diagnosis of the disease. Amongst the most common symptoms that affect a person who is suffering an outbreak of psoriasis are evident on the surface of the skin, in the form of scaly rashes, red lesions and pus to mention a few. All the symptoms of psoriasis can be used to positively diagnose the disease, although they do vary according to which type of psoriasis is present. Whatever type of psoriasis a sufferer may have, the treatments prescribed by doctor’s can vary widely depending on the severity of the outbreaks, and there is no known cure for psoriasis.

Followers of alternative medicine have a natural approach to dealing with the problem, and also have many different methods to try. A natural psoriasis remedy is often beneficial to those who are sensitive to prescription drugs, or those who have not seen any improvement in their condition after trying conventional medicine.

There are a few distinct psoriasis types that have different symptoms, and some of these symptoms may be shared by two or more of the psoriasis types. Some of the more common symptoms that are evident in different types of the disease are red rashes and lesions, often affecting the joints like the knees and elbows. These red coloured lesions are often the first of the many psoriasis symptoms that will appear on a person’s skin, and they will often indicate that a person has this kind of disease.

The second most common of all psoriasis symptoms may be the appearance of scales or flakes that cover these red splotches on a person’s skin. These scales or flakes are similar to dandruff, and can start to appear a while after the onset of psoriasis. These flakes do peel of over time, and afterwards the skin beneath tends to be very raw and red, and can easily crack and start to bleed.

Another symptom that can help determine the particular type of psoriasis present is the appearance of pus in the lesions and bumps on the surface of the skin. These pus filled lesions are symptomatic of the psoriasis known as pustular psoriasis. Pustular psoriasis is one of the more rare variants of the disease compared to the others, although people who do suffer from it tend to have difficulty dealing with the effects of it.

Another kind of psoriasis that can be easily identified by one of its manifestations is the one called guttate psoriasis. This kind of psoriasis is represented by bumps and lesions that are shaped like drops, with a tapered end and a rounded bottom. It is also easily diagnosed since this one often happens after a person has a strep throat infection.

In order to discover if you really are suffering from an outbreak of psoriasis, rather than just a simple rash perhaps caused by an allergic reaction, then consulting with a medical practitioner should be your next course of action. Early diagnosis can help you get the treatment you need to become psoriasis free for life as soon as possible, enabling the sufferer to take action in coming to terms with and treating the symptoms of the disease.

Presently genetic psoriasis theory is one of the most reliable psoriasis theories.

But genetic predisposition alone is not enough for the development of psoriasis. There has to be some kind of a trigger to start the mechanisms of psoriasis.

Let’s discuss what stress is, and what stress may cause in the genetically predisposed to psoriasis people.

Stress is usually a strong negative (rarely – positive) mental or physical experience, which causes various negative chemical reactions in our body.

These chemical reactions are capable of deteriorating the internal organs of our body, and causing various physical disorders as well as various disorders of the nervous system. Most of these disorders would never have surfaced, had they not been triggered by stress.

In the same way stress may eventually also trigger the pathological mechanisms of psoriasis disease.

Various studies have shown that stress is one of the most often psoriasis triggers in the genetically predisposed to psoriasis people — about 50% of the cases. Stress is also a major factor for the flare up of psoriasis — about 40% of the cases.

Therefore, it would be a prudent thing to do to try to avoid getting stressed, or to learn to relieve your everyday stress.

Mental stress may be often caused by losing your loved ones, losing your job, getting divorced etc…

Physical stress may be often caused by freezing, getting into a car accident, undergoing a major surgery etc…

Stress may also be caused by a positive experience, such as getting married or giving birth to a child.

In order to try to prevent psoriasis in the predisposed to psoriasis adults and children, or to better manage the existing psoriasis, it is advisable to screen your life or your child’s life for any possible causes of stress.

It is easier for an adult to find the possible causes of stress but it may be harder to do that for a child.

Here is the list of things you may want to look for in your child’s life:
-Skipping meals;
-Dressing improperly;
-Having a conflict at school or in preschool;
-Insufficient sleep or not enough rest;
-Uncomfortable clothes or footwear.

By trying to eliminate stress, we may as well succeed in preventing psoriasis or improving the developed psoriasis. It is definitely worth a try.

Here are the most often symptoms of stress, both in the adults and in children:
-Feeling down;
-Headaches;
-Fast heartbeat;
-Nervousness;
-Insomnia.

Thus, if you find anything that may be stressing you (or your child) you should try to eliminate it, especially if this turns out to have been a prolonged stress.

There are also various relaxation techniques, which may help you in your stress management.

Beloved “Project Runway” mentor Tim Gunn is performing fashion makeovers on five women suffering from moderate to severe psoriasis. (His sister has the painful autoimmune disorder.) He claimes, “It really affects how sufferers present themselves to the world,” Also Gunn notes, that sufferers tend to avoid wool and dark clothing because of telltale flaking. “One of the season 8 designers also has psoriasis,” he says.

THURSDAY, June 24 (Health Day News) -- In the United States,a third of people with psoriasis do not receive adequate treatment for their condition because they lack adequate health care coverage or are unable to meet the copays for treatment, according to results of a survey conducted by the National Psoriasis Foundation.

The foundation surveyed 422 people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by phone and online in November 2009 to determine the impact of their health insurance status on their ability to receive adequate treatment for their condition.

Although 59 percent of the respondents had third-party health insurance, 22 percent had Medicare, and 4 percent had Medicaid, 44 percent reported going without adequate treatment due to financial concerns. A third of those surveyed went without due to insurance related concerns: 12 percent went without treatment due to having no health insurance, 11 percent went without prescribed treatments because of high copayments, and another 11 percent went without needed treatment because their insurance plan did not cover it.

"Though it offers many positive changes, the new health care law does not prevent insurance companies from limiting the types of treatment they will cover for people with psoriasis and other chronic diseases, and it does not limit the co-payments insurance companies can require," Randy Beranek, president and CEO of the National Psoriasis Foundation, said in a statement. "The Psoriasis Foundation and our advocates will continue to monitor the new law and work on our population's behalf to ensure their needs are met."

The manifestation of psoriasis can occur in multiple ways. Two people who have psoriasis may have completely different symptoms. Psoriasis comes in many types: plaque, flexural, pustular, and guttate psoriasis.

Plaque psoriasis is the most prevalent type as it makes up approximately 80-90% of cases involving psoriasis. This form is characterized as white rashes covering skin that is swollen and raised, which are referred to as plaques.

Flexural Psoriasis

Flexural psoriasis can be described as patches of skin that are soft and swollen, found often in skin folds. Usually, the genital area, below heavy stomach folds, breasts, and armpits are the areas where this type forms. Abrasion and sweat can cause the condition to get worse while also being more inclined to fungal infections.

Pustular psoriasis

Pustular psoriasis are characterized as tiny, puss filled boils. These boils are known as pustules. Surrounding the pustules is skin that is very reddish and sensitive. While pustular psoriasis can only appear on hands and feet, it can also spread to all parts of the body as big patches. When only the hands and feet are affected, it's referred to as palmoplantar pustular psoriasis.

Guttate Psoriasis

Guttate psoriasis are present on the skin in the form of flaky lesions that are tear shaped, red, and small. Most of these patches appear on the stomach, but typically they can be found in many different areas of the body. The legs, hands, and scalp are other known areas.

Nail Psoriasis

When nails on the feet and hands take on a drastic change, this type is known as nail psoriasis. The changes could include nail pitting, discolored nails, loose nails, crumbling nails, and cracked nails. Another sign is when the skin below the nails becomes abnormally thick. The condition where the nail begins to break loose from the root of the finger is known as onycholysis.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis can occur as a result of psoriasis. Joint and connective tissue swelling is what leads to this condition. While psoriastic arthritis is predominantly seen in the toe and finger joints, all the bodies joints can be affected, including the spinal cord, knee, and hip.

While there are many variations of psoriasis, some of them do share some similar symptoms. Because these symptoms can be clearly identified, psoriasis stands out from all other diseases no matter which part of the body it affects.

The National Psoriasis Foundation is holding a series of walks in cities all around the US.  See below to find one near you, or call:

Contact: (877) 825 - WALK (9255), walk@psoriasis.org.

Forthcoming Walks:

Hope to see you there!