Gastrointestinal Problems

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Diet Change Cured One Woman’s Rare Leg Ulcers

For people who have livedoid vasculopathy, which causes painful ulcers on the feet and lower legs,...
You’ve Got Tens of Thousands of Virus Species Living in Your Gut

Researchers have identified more than 140,000 viruses that live in the human gut, including half that...
Chronic Heartburn Raises Odds for Cancers of Larynx, Esophagus

People with chronic heartburn may face increased risks of several rare types of cancer, a large...

More Gastrointestinal Problems News

Know the Signs of Rare But Deadly Gall Bladder, Bile Duct Cancers
Most people aren’t aware of the signs of gallbladder or bile duct cancer, but...
- Posted February 16, 2021
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Abnormal Stool Test Result? Don’t Delay Your Colonoscopy
Getting a colonoscopy as soon as possible after an abnormal stool test could reduce...
- Posted February 11, 2021
- 8
Neanderthal Poop Provides Clues to Modern Humans’ ‘Microbiome’
What can poop from ancient Neanderthals tell us? It turns out that it harbors...
- Posted February 9, 2021
- 6
Cancer Screening Fell Sharply Early in Pandemic, But Has Rebounded
As clinics closed for non-essential care and patients’ COVID-19 fears kept them from check-ups,...
- Posted January 14, 2021
- 12
Stuck at Home, Suffering With COVID? Experts Offer Guidance on Care
Most folks infected with COVID-19 will only have mild or moderate illness — but...
- Posted January 13, 2021
- 17
Many Older Americans Getting Cancer Screens They Don’t Need: Study
Contrary to recommendations set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, many Americans are...
- Posted August 6, 2020
- 11
Colon Cancer Tests by Mail Might Boost Screening
Want to boost colon cancer screening rates? Mail testing kits to patients’ homes, a...
- Posted July 20, 2020
- 12
Does Medical Marijuana Help or Harm Kids With Cancer?
Parents are increasingly interested in whether medical marijuana can help their children with problems...
- Posted July 13, 2020
- 10
Vaccine Might Guard Against Bacteria That Cause Diarrhea in Kids
An experimental vaccine helps protect monkeys against bacteria that cause diarrhea in millions of...
- Posted June 24, 2020
- 10
Could Crohn’s, Colitis Raise Dementia Risk?
People with inflammatory bowel disease might be vulnerable to developing dementia, a new study...
- Posted June 24, 2020
- 1
Are Your Symptoms From COVID-19 or Seasonal Allergies?
In the thick of the coronavirus pandemic, it might be hard to tell if...
- Posted June 4, 2020
- 6

Are You Living with Psoriasis?

A growing knowledge of the skin disease called psoriasis is leading to greater treatment choices, including personalized therapies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports.

Psoriasis is an immune system disorder that causes overproduction of skin cells, resulting in scaling, pain, swelling, redness and heat. The condition affects about 7.5 million Americans.

“As we better understand the disease, researchers know more about what specific factors to target in order to develop effective treatments,” FDA dermatologist Dr. Melinda McCord said in an agency news release.

There is no cure for psoriasis, so the main goals of treatments are to stop skin cell overproduction and reduce inflammation. Current therapies include medicines applied to the skin (topical), light treatment (phototherapy), or drugs taken by mouth or given by injection.

Doctors used to take a step-by-step approach, starting patients with mild to moderate psoriasis on topical therapy. If that was ineffective, doctors moved on to phototherapy or drug treatment.