Psoriasis
Is There Science to Support Alternative Treatmen…
Psoriasis sucks. It is a condition that causes red, dry, scaly, itchy skin patches. There is no cure. The causes are mysterious. Scientists believe that an overactive immune system is the culprit. For…
Side Effects of TNF Blockers: Enbrel, Humira, Re…
Most drugs are double-edged swords. In other words, they have the potential both to help and to harm. But some medications have sharper blades than others. TNF blockers are great examples of this deal…
Does Air Pollution Increase Your Chance of Parki…
Parkinson disease is the world’s fastest growing brain disease. There’s evidence that exposure to environmental chemicals might increase your chance of Parkinson disease (PD). These include compou…
Show 1358: Upsides and Downsides of Immune-Modif…
This week’s radio show features one of our favorite guests, Dr. Robynne Chutkan. She is a gastroenterologist in Washington, DC and is a brilliant communicator. You may want to listen to it through y…
TNF Blockers and Your Immune System: Beware IMID…
Your body is constantly seeking balance. Think of it as a finely tuned seesaw. This is especially true for your immune system and a key player called tumor necrosis factor or TNF. Some of the most luc…
What Can You Use for Psoriasis If You Can’…
Although no one knows precisely what causes psoriasis, most experts believe this skin condition gets worse when the immune system is especially stressed. Skin cell growth goes into overdrive, and cell…
Drug Price Gouging Is Immoral
Are you angry about the ever-escalating cost of medicine? Here are some examples you may not be aware of. Humira (adalimumab) is highly advertised on TV. It is used to treat Crohn’s disease, ulcerat…
How to Soothe Psoriasis with Cilantro
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition in which skin cells turn over far more quickly than usual. The plaques that form in places like elbows and knees can be red and unsightly and may be covered…
Show 1300: How Vitamin D and Omega-3s Help Your …
In our nationally syndicated radio show this week, we consider the benefits of two dietary supplements against autoimmune diseases. Although health care providers are sometimes skeptical about the val…
Preventing Autoimmune Diseases with Vitamin D an…
Autoimmune conditions can be hard to treat. They include disorders such as polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, thyroid disease, lupus and inflammatory bowel disease. These illness…
New Nasty Warnings for RA Drugs Rinvoq and Xelja…
What’s wrong with the FDA? On the one hand, the agency just issued scary new warnings for two popular rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs. On the other hand, it allows commercials for these drugs that m…
Scary Side Effects of Immune-Modulating Drugs
Immune-modulating drugs have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and several other hard-to-treat conditions. Examples include: Actemra, Cimzia, …
Green Tea Calmed Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an often uncomfortable condition in which the immune system attacks the skin. As cells turn over more quickly, they may stack up on the skin as itchy silvery plaques over tender reddish a…
Show 1270: How Your Microbiome Shapes Your Immun…
In the middle of a pandemic, you probably want to know how well your immune system is functioning. Even more important, what if anything can you do to support it? Scientists have found that the microb…
Will a Mediterranean Diet Help Your Psoriasis?
Following a Mediterranean style diet with lots of vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil, whole grains and fruit is good for your heart and your metabolism. A French study suggested this way of eating mig…
Will Flaxseed Save Nails Damaged from Psoriasis?
Many people assume that ugly nails indicate a fungal infection of the nail bed. While this is frequently a reasonable conclusion, psoriasis can also cause nails to become discolored, crumble or separa…
FDA Boss Infuriates Patients with Drug Safety Tw…
Dr. Scott Gottlieb is the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. That means he is the top cop when it comes to all our medications. Dr. Gottlieb stirred up a lot of excitement on Valentineâ…
Does Work Email Bother You at Home?
Does your boss expect you to respond promptly to email or Slack messages outside of working hours? Did you know that before you took the job? Why Answering Email from Home Could Harm Your Health: A ne…
Should You Smear Chili Oil on Your Psoriasis?
Every once in a while, a reader comes up with a home remedy that surprises us. Although we have often written about capsaicin, the essence of hot chili peppers, we've never imagined using chili oil an…
Humira Side Effects, Complications and Interacti…
Humira (adalimumab) is the best selling drug (in dollars) in the U.S. (and around the world). Sales were listed between $13 and $16 billion in 2016. That is an unbelievable amount of money for a singl…
High Drug Prices Shielded by Soaring Lobbying Bu…
Wonder what's behind high drug prices? Have you ever heard the crude expression: "Money talks and bulls**t walks." We apologize for the obscenity. But nowhere is that crude phrase clearer than on Capi…
Will Supplements Help Clear Psoriasis Plaques?
Psoriasis is a common skin condition in which the immune system drives skin cells to divide and develop far too rapidly. As a result, silvery scaly patches, or psoriasis plaques, appear over reddened …
Will an Exotic Vacation Clear Up Your Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition in which skin cells turn over too quickly. As a result, people develop itchy red patches of skin, often covered in silvery scales. These can be unsightly, but…
Will Bathing in the Dead Sea Soothe Psoriasis?
The skin condition called psoriasis is an autoimmune reaction to triggers such as infection, injury or stress. Genes play a role, so people with family members who have psoriasis are more susceptible…
Can You Ease Psoriasis with Natural Remedies?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition in which the skin cells end up turning over far more rapidly than normal. As a result, red itchy patches with silvery scales (clumps of cells that moved too q…
Should You Take Biotin and Resveratrol for Your …
Psoriasis is a chronic skin problem in which the immune system makes skin cells turn over much faster than normal. The result is frequently red, itchy patches on elbows, knees, scalp or other areas of…
Did Vacation Soothe Psoriasis Because It Relieve…
Quite a few serious medical conditions get worse when a person is under stress. Sometimes this connection seems so obvious that we forget to comment on it. One reader called this link to our attentio…
Snorkeling in Hawaii Was Unique Remedy for Psori…
Psoriasis is a chronic condition that occurs when the immune system attacks the skin. Skin cells turn over far more quickly than usual and create red patches on the skin with slivery scales. While th…
Will Eating Cilantro Banish Psoriasis Plaques?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition in which skin cells turn over much faster than normal, forming reddish itchy plaques on the skin, often covered with silvery scales. There is no cure, although th…
Vitamin D Works Magic Against Psoriasis
Q. I have been taking 5000 IUs of vitamin D3, and my psoriasis has seriously improved as a result. If only I had known about this 15 years ago, it would have saved me so much anguish. I can't understa…
Aspirin Helps Control Plantar Psoriasis
Q. I was diagnosed with plantar psoriasis more than a year ago. The palms of my hands and bottoms of my feet developed very dry skin that cracked and bled. They looked like they had dry glue all over …
Glycerin Offers Relief from Itchy Scalp Psoriasi…
Q. I have scalp psoriasis. The tea tree shampoo I use helps with the itching, but my scalp is left very dry after using the shampoo on a daily basis. Someone wrote you and said to try rubbing the scal…
Cilantro Controlled Embarrassing Rash on Chin Wi…
Q. A home remedy from your column really worked for me. I developed a spot on my chin that my son noticed. When I checked it in the mirror, it appeared red and scaly, though it did not hurt or itch. I…
Simple Inexpensive Solution Soothes Psoriasis Pl…
Q. I was diagnosed with psoriasis several years ago. My dermatologist prescribed a number of medications including steroid creams but I did not get much relief. My doctor started talking about adding …
Pico de Gallo Salsa Helped Soothe Psoriasis
Q. I have been afflicted with hand psoriasis for several years. My dermatologist has prescribed a $1000 UV light that is less than effective. She has also given me a prescription steroid ointment that…
V8 Smoothie with Cilantro Plus Apple Cider Vineg…
Q. I just read in one of your emails that someone used "Organic Apple Cider Vinegar" for their scalp psoriasis. I owe that person big time for writing in!!! Do I dare say that it is the best thing I h…
Vitamin D Zaps Psoriasis
Q. I have had psoriasis for more than 35 years. A few years ago, my doctor suggested vitamin D, as my blood level was low. Much to my surprise, my psoriasis began to disappear almost immediately. Seve…
Accidental Discovery Eases Psoriasis
Some of our most important drugs were discovered partly by accident. Penicillin was developed after Alexander Fleming found a mold devouring the bacteria he was growing in a petri dish. A class of val…
Turmeric Eases Suffering From Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition that produces red, scaly, itchy patches on the skin, particularly on areas like elbows or knees. In mild cases, it can be treated with sunshine or controlle…
Turmeric Against Psoriasis
Turmeric is the yellow spice in curry powder and yellow mustard. It has been used for thousands of years in India both to flavor food and for its medicinal properties. Several years ago we heard from …