[ noun ] a chronic skin disease characterized by dry red patches covered with scales; occurs especially on the scalp and ears and genitalia and the skin over bony prominences <noun.state>
Psoriasis \Pso*ri"a*sis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? psora.] (Med.) (a) The state of being affected with psora. [Obs.] (b) A cutaneous disease, characterized by imbricated silvery scales, affecting only the superficial layers of the skin.
The biomedical concern said the research initially will target immune-based skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema, which afflict about four million Americans.
Many people with psoriasis say they feel isolated.
A new drug for psoriasis is closely related to the acne drug Accutane, and is probably even more likely to produce birth defects when taken by pregnant women, according to a published report.
FK-506 has already reversed the effects of psoriasis, a skin disease that creates unsightly lesions, in all six patients who took it, Starzl said.
Sponges, algae and other ocean creatures are yielding new substances that hold promise as medicines against cancer, psoriasis, parasites and infectious diseases such as AIDS, scientists say.
The study, scheduled for publication today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows nerve fibers in the skin release a protein that triggers inflammation, such as in psoriasis or acne.
A New York dermatologist reported instances of some patients being relieved of psoriasis, a chronic and severely disturbing skin disease, when treated with methotrexate.
The lipoxygenase pathway is generally responsible for inflammatory disorders and is known to be involved in inflammation, whether it is inflammatory bowel, asthma, allergic rhinitis, psoriasis and arthritis.
But there also have been some reports that it helps various skin disorders, including psoriasis, a chronic, itchy scaling of the skin.