Genetics and Genetic Disorders

Don't Miss

Genetics and Genetic Disorders

Many Americans Unaware of Promise of Targeted, ‘Personalized’ Medicine: Poll

Medical science has made tremendous advances in “personalized medicine” — drugs that fight cancer and other...
Like Coffee? You May Be Genetically Wired That Way

Coffee’s bitter taste shouldn’t be a selling point. But a genetic variant explains why so many...
Home Health-Care Tests: Proceed With Caution

Home pregnancy tests are commonplace, but that doesn’t mean that every type of self-test for health...

More Genetics and Genetic Disorders News

Smartphones, Summer Birth Could Raise Kids’ Odds for Nearsightedness
Kids with summer birthdays, especially those who spend long hours playing on smartphones and...
- Posted November 7, 2018
- 12
Does Stroke Run in Your Family? Healthy Living Lowers the Risk
Has stroke hit your family particularly hard? A healthy lifestyle may be your best...
- Posted October 25, 2018
- 7
A Labrador’s Color Might Determine Its Life Span
In some bad news for chocolate Labrador Retriever lovers everywhere, new research shows that...
- Posted October 22, 2018
- 0
Number of Autism Genes Now Tops 100
The number of genes known to be associated with autism now stands at 102,...
- Posted October 17, 2018
- 1
Health Tip: Considering Genetic Testing For Cancer?
(HealthDay News) — Of all cases of cancer, only 5 to 10 percent are...
- Posted October 16, 2018
- 15
Could Impotence Be in Your Genes?
Scientists report they have uncovered the first evidence that erectile dysfunction may have genetic...
- Posted October 9, 2018
- 1
Many Americans Curious, But Wary, About Gene Testing
Only a small percentage of Americans have had their DNA analyzed — but many...
- Posted October 2, 2018
- 4
Most People Don’t Know if They Have Genetic Risk for Cancer
Most people carrying genes that put them at risk for cancer don’t realize it,...
- Posted September 26, 2018
- 13
Vaping Can Damage DNA, But Will It Cause Cancer?
E-cigarettes produce chemicals that can damage a person’s DNA, the first step on a...
- Posted August 20, 2018
- 12
Research Links Long-Banned Insecticide DDT to Autism
High levels of exposure to the insecticide DDT in women seems to more than...
- Posted August 16, 2018
- 15
More Alzheimer’s Gene Links Found
U.S. researchers say they’ve identified more genes that may be associated with Alzheimer’s disease....
- Posted August 14, 2018
- 8

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.