Psoriasis Psoriasis Treatment

New Treatment for Psoriasis: Are We Finally on the Right Track?

Erica Heilman

There is new hope for over 6 million people in the United States living with psoriasis, a condition that causes an overproduction of skin cells. Once thought of as just a skin condition, doctors now know that psoriasis is a disorder of the immune system. Most people suffer with only mild forms of the disease, and manage symptoms with topical skin medications. But for 1/3 of those living with moderate to severe psoriasis, between 2 and 10% of the body is covered in flaky, itchy patches of skin. Psoriasis is often painful and emotionally taxing, and those with the condition often endure time consuming and inconvenient treatments, which, though effective, can have a widespread impact on the body. But a new treatment option is now offering patients a badly needed alternative.

In January 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug alefacept (brand name Amevive) for the treatment of moderate to severe forms of psoriasis. Alefacept is part of a class of drugs called "biologics," medicines that harness the immune system to change the course of the disease. Below, psoriasis expert and dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Gordon explains how biologics work, and how they stand to improve the lives of people living with serious psoriasis.