Psoriasis is an immune system disorder that appears as a disease of the skin. The disease is a result of uncontrolled inflammation in the body.
Inflammation, which is your body’s natural defense mechanism against foreign invaders, becomes quite overactive in the case of psoriasis, leading to plaques on your skin.
If you’re seeking to treat psoriasis, then you must probably consider the biologic treatment plan. Biologics treatment has been approved by the Food and Drugs Administration of the USA for use since 2003 and it may be logical for you to look at it.
How Biologics Work against Psoriasis
Biologics are a class of medications that are created by using living cells whose functionalities are similar to molecules in the immune system. They work within the body at targeted inflammation and psoriasis plaque sources.
Unlike rivaling traditional systemic therapies – medications that generally suppress the immune system, biologics target specific molecules linked to causing psoriasis.
Also, according to experts, biologics treat psoriasis by getting to the root of the source and blocking the inflammatory process even before it starts.
Essential facts to know about biologics
There are 11 biologic medications for psoriasis.
Biologic treatments available for managing psoriasis come in 11 different types. These different medications target different pathways thought to cause the disease. And so this may be a reason why you may need to try multiple types of biologics before finding what works best for you.
These drugs are,
- IL-12/23 inhibitor: ustekinumab
- IL-17 inhibitors: brodalumab, ixekizumab, and secukinumab
- TNF-alpha inhibitors: adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, and infliximab
- IL-23 inhibitors: guselkumab, risankizumab and tildrakizumab
Biologics are administered by infusion or injection.
You must take note that different biologics are taken in different ways, although they all involve a needle. Some biologics are given by intravenous (IV) infusion while others could be administered at the comfort of your home, using an auto-injector to give yourself a shot under the skin.
Biologics may help prevent related health conditions.
Although psoriasis plaques affect the skin, we know it stems from a systemic inflammatory condition. Hence, it can be associated with other conditions like arthritis – which in that case will generate psoriatic arthritis.
Other people who suffer from psoriasis are also, in many cases, predisposed to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and Crohn’s disease.
Hence, experts say treating inflammation in the skin also reduces inflammation in the rest of the body, which in turn reduces the possibility of developing other inflammatory diseases.
Biologics may present certain side effects
While using biologics, be cautious that it could trigger certain adverse effects. The known side effects of biologics are pain and skin reactions at the site of the injection and allergic reactions that lead to a rash, itchiness, shortness of breath, or dizziness.
The medication can also increase your susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections since it works by suppressing immune cells and products.