About Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is a lifelong disease of the immune system that causes red, scaly
patches to appear on the skin. There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse,
pustular and erythrodermic. Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. Approximately
1.5 million Americans suffer from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
Plaque psoriasis is a disease of the immune system
While plaque psoriasis may look like just a skin condition, it is in fact a disease of the immune system.
The immune system protects the body from infections and diseases. In patients with plaque psoriasis,
certain immune cells are activated and produce too much of a protein called tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
This protein can cause skin cells to grow too quickly. The skin cells build up and form raised, red
patches often with a silvery scale, known as plaques. These plaques may itch, be painful, and can bleed.
Knowing how plaque psoriasis develops—from inside the body—can help you understand how some treatments,
like ENBREL, can help. Get a closer look at how ENBREL works.
What does a plaque look like?
This is an example of what plaques look like. Plaques are raised, red patches, often with a silvery scale.
Example of one skin area.
Symptoms of plaque psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis causes raised red patches with a silvery scale to appear on the skin.
They can appear anywhere on the body, but are most commonly found on the elbows, knees,
scalp, and lower back. People with plaque psoriasis may notice that there are times when
their skin worsens, then gets better. Factors that cause these "flare-ups" can include:
- emotional stress
- injury to the skin
- some types of infections
- reactions to certain drugs
How plaque psoriasis can be treated
There is no cure for plaque psoriasis, but there are a variety of treatments
that can help clear the skin. Some therapies work on the surface of the skin.
Biologics work inside your body to treat psoriasis at the source. ENBREL is a prescription medicine that is self-injected. ENBREL, a biologic, blocks the activity of excess TNF that is associated with plaque psoriasis. This helps slow the growth of skin cells before they
cause plaques to appear on the skin. Learn more about results with ENBREL. Because ENBREL works on your immune system, it can lower your ability to fight
infections and may raise other safety concerns. If you have any sign of an infection including a fever, cough, flu-like
symptoms, or have any open sores on your body, call your doctor.
Please see Full Prescribing Information, Important Safety Information, and Medication Guide for complete details about ENBREL.