Aureus, a Meijer Specialty Pharmacy, makes it easier for patients living with Dermatological diseases to access the medications they need.
Managing psoriasis and other dermatological issues can be overwhelming for patients. Your Aureus Clinical Care Team works directly with you and with your doctor’s office to help you access the medication you need, seek out any required insurance approvals, and then investigate financial assistance programs to bring down out-of-pocket costs if possible.
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that speeds up the growth cycle of skin cells. It’s easy to think of psoriasis as just a “skin condition.” But psoriasis actually starts underneath the skin. It is a long lasting disease of the immune system that can range from mild to severe. Like most chronic illnesses, psoriasis may be associated with other health conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Psoriasis causes patches of thick red skin and silvery scales. Patches are typically found on the elbows, knees, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of feet, but can affect other places (fingernails, toenails, and mouth). The most common type of psoriasis is called plaque psoriasis.
What Is Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)?
Psoriatic Arthritis is an inflammatory type of arthritis that eventually occurs in 10% to 20% of people with psoriasis. It is different from more common types of arthritis (such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis) and is thought to be related to the underlying problem of psoriasis. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are sometimes considered together as psoriatic disease.
PsA Affects Nearly 38 million People Worldwide
PsA is a chronic (long-lasting) inflammatory disease characterized by pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints and occurs in up to 30% of people with psoriasis. In most cases, psoriasis ( a skin disease that causes itchy, scaly rashes and crumbling nails) occurs before PsA (joint disease). Although rare, PsA may occur before or without psoriasis.
The symptoms of PsA often resemble other forms of arthritis such as ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, or arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (i.e. Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis). Common symptoms of PsA include:
- Painful, swollen joints
- Morning stiffness and tiredness
- Reduced range of motion
PsA often occurs with psoriasis so skin symptoms include thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white scaly patches. Nails may become pitted or infected-looking, and may even lift from the nail bed entirely. These symptoms are unique to psoriasis and PsA actually helps to confirm a diagnosis.
Causes and Risk Factors
PsA can develop at any time; however, it most commonly appears between the ages of 30 and 50. Unlike many autoimmune diseases, men and women are equally at risk for developing PsA. Though not everyone who has psoriasis will develop PsA, up to 30% of patients with psoriasis will eventually develop joint disease (PsA).
The exact cause of PsA is unknown, however, genetics, the immune system, and environmental factors are all believed to play a role in the onset of the disease. About 40% of people who are diagnosed with PsA and psoriasis have family members affected by the disease. PsA is not considered infectious but researchers believe it may be triggered by a strep throat or extreme stress/injury to the immune system in those who are genetically susceptible.
What is Atopic dermatitis?
According to the National Institutes of Health, Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a non-contagious inflammatory skin condition. It is a chronic disease characterized by dry, itchy skin that can weep clear fluid when scratched. People with eczema also may be particularly susceptible to bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections.
Causes & Prevention
A combination of genetic and environmental factors appears to be involved in the development of eczema. Children whose parents have asthma and allergies are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis than children of parents without allergic diseases. Approximately 30 percent of children with atopic dermatitis have food allergies, and many develop asthma or respiratory allergies. People who live in cities or drier climates also appear more likely to develop the disease.
Skin Care at Home
You and your doctor should discuss the best treatment plan and medications for your atopic dermatitis. But taking care of your skin at home may reduce the need for prescription medications. Some recommendations include:
- Avoid scratching the rash or skin.
- Relieve the itch by using a moisturizer or topical steroids. Take antihistamines to reduce severe itching.
- Keep your fingernails cut short. Consider light gloves if nighttime scratching is a problem.
- Lubricate or moisturize the skin two to three times a day using ointments such as petroleum jelly. Moisturizers should be free of alcohol, scents, dyes, fragrances, and other skin-irritating chemicals. A humidifier in the home also can help.
Avoid anything that worsens symptoms, including:
- Irritants such as wool and lanolin (an oily substance derived from sheep wool used in some moisturizers and cosmetics)
- Strong soaps or detergents
- Sudden changes in body temperature and stress, which may cause sweating
When washing or bathing:
- Keep water contact as brief as possible and use gentle body washes and cleansers instead of regular soaps. Lukewarm baths are better than long, hot baths.
- Do not scrub or dry the skin too hard or for too long.
- After bathing, apply lubricating ointments to damp skin. This will help trap moisture in the skin.
A Personalized Approach to the Patient Experience:
We review all of the medications our patients are taking. Then we dive deep into their medical history to provide complete medication therapy management. This comprehensive standard of care means higher adherence levels and healthier patients.
- Reducing and/or Delaying Disease Progression
- Enhancing Patient’s Quality of Life and Satisfaction
- Keeping Patients in the Workforce and/or School Longer
- Decreasing Healthcare Costs
- Monitor Medication Adherence
- Managing Medication Side Effects
- Recognizing and Responding to Suboptimal Responses to Therapy