Infectious Disease

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Health Tip: Understanding the Tetanus Shot

(HealthDay News) — A tetanus vaccine is important for people of all ages, says the U.S....
Why a Knee Replacement Can Go Bad

British researchers have pinpointed which factors put knee replacement patients at high risk for severe infection...
Pre-Cut Melons at Kroger, Walmart, Other Stores May Carry Salmonella

Pre-cut, packaged melon distributed by major grocery chains across 16 states have been tied to an...

More Infectious Disease News

Young Athletes Need to Be Sidelined After Bout of Mono
Young sports buffs recovering from mononucleosis may be itching to return to the game...
- Posted April 14, 2019
- 15
Hospital Privacy Curtains Could Be Breeding Ground for Germs
Privacy curtains in hospital rooms might offer patients some personal dignity, but they can...
- Posted April 12, 2019
- 11
Why the HPV Vaccine Is More Important Than Ever
HPV, the human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United...
- Posted April 12, 2019
- 14
Still No Source as E. Coli Outbreak Grows to 96 Cases Across 5 States: CDC
U.S. health officials say an outbreak of E. coli illness from an unknown source...
- Posted April 10, 2019
- 3
Health Tip: Thermometer Options
(HealthDay News) — Three primary types of thermometers are on the market for consumers....
- Posted April 10, 2019
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Health Tip: Treating an Infant’s Fever
(HealthDay News) — A baby’s first fever can be scary for parents. However, most...
- Posted April 10, 2019
- 7
More Evidence HPV Vaccine Cuts Cervical Cancer Rate
Scotland is already seeing a payoff for vaccinating adolescent girls for human papillomavirus (HPV)....
- Posted April 8, 2019
- 16
Microbes on International Space Station Are Familiar From Earth
Scientists have been cataloging bacteria and fungi inside the International Space Station (ISS), and...
- Posted April 8, 2019
- 10
CDC Investigates Mystery E. Coli Outbreak Affecting 5 States
U.S. health officials say they are investigating an outbreak of E. coli gastrointestinal illness...
- Posted April 5, 2019
- 9
Let Your Lawn Grow: It’s Good for Bees, Won’t Attract Ticks, Study Finds
You now have an excuse to skip cutting the grass every weekend — it’s...
- Posted April 5, 2019
- 11
Fish Slime Could Hold Key to Beating ‘Superbug’ Infections
Scientists are looking to an unexpected source in the battle against drug-resistant bacteria: fish...
- Posted April 1, 2019
- 4

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.