Plaque psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes thick, scaly, itchy patches—the eponymous plaques—to form on the skin, affects more than 7.5 million adults in the United States. Yet no two experiences with it are exactly the same.
“There’s huge variety in how the condition presents,” says Omar Noor, MD, a dermatologist based in New York City and New Jersey. “It commonly shows up on elbows, knees, scalp, and groin, but it can also be in the underarms, on your nails, or under the breasts. It can be anywhere.”
And beyond the physical symptoms, plaque psoriasis also frequently has negative effects on mental health and alters the lifestyle of those living with it. Here are five ways that this skin condition is anything but surface-level—and some guidance on finding a treatment if you’re living with it.
Reason 1: The Symptoms Can Be Debilitating
The root cause of plaque psoriasis is an autoimmune response creating inflammation in the skin—and the physical symptoms of the condition can be significantly more debilitating than normal rashes and hives. “If you polled a thousand psoriasis patients, the number one complaint they would have about their condition is that it’s itchy,” says Dr. Noor. “But it can also burn and sting.” Not only can the constant urge to scratch make it difficult to sleep, it can also affect waking hours: “It affects your ability to focus. You might have trouble with your daily life activities—going to school, working, going to the grocery store, all those things.”
People living with plaque psoriasis are also at increased risk for developing psoriatic arthritis; this condition, which can irreversibly deform joints and damage bones, may occur in approximately one-third of people with plaque psoriasis. “Once the joint destruction of psoriatic arthritis is done, you can’t reverse it,” cautions Dr. Noor.
Reason 2: It Challenges Your Mental Health
Psoriasis is more than a skin disease. In addition to the recognized skin symptoms, there is evidence that living with chronic inflammation can impact your mood and increase the risk of depression. Additionally, studies have shown that people who live with psoriasis are 1.5 times more likely to experience depression than those without it. With the potential for flaking skin, bleeding, and open sores, “it can impact your willingness to carry on regular activities,” says Dr. Noor. Even activities that are commonly recommended for self-care, like taking a long, hot bath, exercising, or burning scented candles, can trigger the itch, making things even worse.
Reason 3: It Can Affect Your Relationships
More than 90% of people with moderate-to-severe psoriasis say the condition deeply impacts their overall quality of life. In fact, it can make personal interactions challenging. Beyond the physical discomfort of the condition, which often makes it difficult to maintain a social life and spend time with others, plaque psoriasis can also lead to feelings of insecurity and embarrassment. Those affected may pull back from friendships out of anxiety about being in social situations, feel hesitant about potential relationships, or feel insecure about being intimate with their partners.
Reason 4: You Encounter Many Misconceptions
Many incorrect assumptions exist surrounding plaque psoriasis, including that it’s contagious or caused by poor hygiene. “It used to be that a majority of my patients would come in thinking that their psoriasis was contagious,” says Dr. Noor. “That was maybe a decade ago. I’m seeing this improve, but we have more work to do in terms of awareness.”
Reason 5: Finding A Treatment Is A Journey
Just as there is no single way psoriasis appears on the body, there is no single treatment that is best for everyone. Most people go through a period of trial and error on their path to figuring out which treatment is best for them. “There are multiple treatment options available, and it’s important for doctors and patients to work together as a team to get better,” says Dr. Noor.
However, as science has evolved and more is understood about psoriasis, treatments have too. “As our understanding of the disease advances, medicines are becoming available that focus on more than one part of the immune system that’s dysregulated, making them even better at reducing inflammation,” he continues. One such treatment is BIMZELX® (bimekizumab-bkzx), the first and only IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor approved for the treatment of adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. And it’s something doctors are very excited about. “After just four weeks* patients are seeing approximately 75% percent improvement in their psoriasis or more,” says Dr. Noor. “If my patients aren’t where they want to be with their psoriasis, BIMZELX can be a great option for them.”
Dr. Noor adds that “it’s important before starting any new treatment for patients to talk to their doctors, review their full medical history together including any previous infections, and get their liver enzymes tested. Serious side effects have occurred in some BIMZELX patients, including suicidal thoughts and behavior, and it may not work for everyone so it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about the option that is best for you.”
*The recommended dosage of BIMZELX® is 320 mg (given as 2 subcutaneous injections of 160 mg each) at Weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16, then every 8 weeks thereafter. For patients weighing ≥ 120 kg, consider a dosage of 320 mg every 4 weeks after Week 16
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know about BIMZELX® (bimekizumab-bkzx)?
BIMZELX is a medicine that affects your immune system. BIMZELX may increase your risk of having serious side effects, including:
- Suicidal thoughts and behavior have happened in some people treated with BIMZELX. Get medical help right away or call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 if you, your caregiver, or your family members notice in you any of the following symptoms:
- new or worsening depression or anxiety
- thoughts of suicide, dying, or hurting yourself
- changes in behavior or mood
- acting on dangerous impulses
- attempt to commit suicide
- Infections. BIMZELX is a medicine that may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections.
- Your healthcare provider should check you for infections and tuberculosis (TB) before starting treatment with BIMZELX.
- If your healthcare provider feels you are at risk for TB, you may be treated with medicine for TB before you begin treatment with BIMZELX and during your treatment.
- Your doctor should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during and after treatment with BIMZELX. Do not take BIMZELX if you have an active TB infection.
Before starting BIMZELX, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- are being treated for an infection
- have an infection that does not go away or that keeps coming back
- have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB
- think you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection such as:
- fever, sweats, or chills
- weight loss
- muscle aches
- warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body different from your psoriasis
- cough
- diarrhea or stomach pain
- shortness of breath
- burning when you urinate or urinating more often than normal
- blood in your phlegm
After starting BIMZELX, call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the signs of infection listed above. Do not use BIMZELX if you have any signs of infection unless you are instructed to by your healthcare provider. See “What are the possible side effects of BIMZELX?” for more information about side effects.
What is BIMZELX?
BIMZELX is a prescription medicine used to treat:
- adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills (phototherapy)
- adults with active psoriatic arthritis
- adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation
- adults with active ankylosing spondylitis
It is not known if BIMZELX is safe and effective in children.
Before using BIMZELX, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have any of the conditions or symptoms listed in the section “What is the most important information I should know about BIMZELX?”
- have a history of depression, or suicidal thoughts or behavior
- have liver problems
- have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
- have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). You should avoid receiving live vaccines during treatment with BIMZELX.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if BIMZELX can harm your unborn baby.
- If you become pregnant while taking BIMZELX, you are encouraged to enroll in the Pregnancy Registry, which is used to collect information about the health of you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider or call 1-877-311-8972 to enroll in this registry or visit http://mothertobaby.org/pregnancy-studies/.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if BIMZELX passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with BIMZELX.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What are the possible side effects of BIMZELX?
BIMZELX may cause serious side effects. See “What is important information I should know about BIMZELX?”
- Elevated liver enzyme levels. Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your liver enzyme levels before starting treatment and during treatment with BIMZELX. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or permanently stop your treatment with BIMZELX if you develop liver problems. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of liver problems, including:
- pain on the right side of your stomach area
- feeling very tired
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- itching
- dark urine
- light-colored stool
- yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
- Inflammatory bowel disease. New cases of inflammatory bowel disease or “flare-ups” have happened with BIMZELX. If you have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), tell your healthcare provider if you have worsening disease symptoms during treatment with BIMZELX or develop new or worsening signs of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
The most common side effects of BIMZELX in people treated for psoriasis include: upper respiratory tract infections, headache, Herpes Simplex infections (cold sores in or around the mouth), small red bumps on your skin, feeling tired, fungal infections (oral thrush or infection in the mouth, throat, skin, nails, feet, or genitals), pain, redness or swelling at injection site, stomach flu (gastroenteritis), and acne.
The most common side effects of BIMZELX in people treated for psoriatic arthritis include: upper respiratory tract infections, headache, urinary tract infections, oral thrush or infections in the mouth, and diarrhea.
The most common side effects of BIMZELX in people treated for non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis include: upper respiratory tract infections, headache, cough, joint pain, tonsilitis, urinary tract infections, oral thrush or infections in the mouth, diarrhea, feeling tired, muscle aches, and an increase in liver enzyme levels.
The most common side effects of BIMZELX in people treated for ankylosing spondylitis include: upper respiratory tract infections, headache, pain at injection site, vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush or infections in the mouth, diarrhea, and rash.
These are not all of the possible side effects of BIMZELX. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
Use BIMZELX exactly as your doctor tells you to use it.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
US-DA-2400532
Date of preparation: October 2024
BIMZELX® is a registered trademark of the UCB Group of Companies.
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