Treating Psoriasis Comes with Other Benefits

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by scaly, itchy patches of skin. It can be very painful and uncomfortable, even when it is under control. This is the visible portion of the disease. It can also be accompanied by psoriatic arthritis, a type of arthritis that can be treated to a degree, but cannot be cured. Psoriasis alone is not a catastrophic illness, but it can cause some life changes, especially if it is found in elderly individuals. However, it is not uncommon for those suffering from one autoimmune disease to also suffer from another. For example, those with psoriasis often find that they have other illnesses, such as Celiac disease. The combination of two or more disease of this sort can be extremely difficult to keep under control.

 

There are treatments for psoriasis available, but because of the nature of the illness, they are not used with frequency. Psoriasis occurs when the immune system begins attacking your own body, and treatments usually involve weakening the immune system. While this can cause a reduction of symptoms, it also can leave an individual susceptible to infections, illnesses, and even increase the risk of cancer. In elderly folk, this is obviously something that should be avoided as much as necessary.

 

Senior care may be needed for those with psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases.

 

But that doesn’t mean that psoriasis medications are bad. They can do a lot of good for those that are suffering because of psoriasis symptoms. Also, researchers are finding that a drug used to treat psoriasis also has other positive benefits, especially for the elderly population. A drug called ustekinumab has recently been shown to reduce aortic inflammation. This drug is also used for Crohn’s disease, too. The benefits that it has for those suffering from cardiovascular disease are not a surprise. Ustekinumab has many of the same pathways that other atherosclerosis drugs use, and psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are both characterized by inflammation. For those that have inflamed arteries because of cardiovascular disease, this drug may provide a much needed relief, especially if other methods have not been helpful.

 

For this study, psoriasis patients were split into two groups. One group was a placebo group and the other received treatment. The group that received the treatment saw aortic inflammation reduced by an average of 6.6 percent over the course of 12 weeks. Those patients that were receiving the placebo actually saw their aortic inflammation increase by about 12 percent. According to the authors of the study, that means that the drug was responsible for about a 19 percent overall decrease in inflammation during this time. That’s encouraging news.

 

Having a loved one that is suffering, whether because of psoriatic symptoms or for another reason, is difficult. In many cases, senior care is needed to help our families live a higher quality of life. If you have questions on how senior care can help you to give a loved one more support, get in touch with us at Paradise In-Home Care today to see if our services can meet your needs.

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