Here is a narrative of a woman's experience with psoriasis and prescription Humira
Shortly after turning age 46, psoriasis suddenly appeared on my aunt's legs below the knee. She showed me a few red blotches with a bit of dryness to their appearance and I told her to make an appointment to see a dermatologist.
The dermatologist performed a biopsy on a fleck of the red skin and confirmed that my aunt had psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin disorder thought to be related to the immune system and it often runs in families. Now, I was not only worried about my aunt, but my skin's future as well. There is no cure for psoriasis, and hearing such news from her dermatologist was hard for my dear aunt to bear.
The dermatologist gave her a prescription for spray-on Clobex, which worked on the red spots on her legs quite well. The bad thing about Clobex spray is that the spray bottle leaks a great deal, which is a shame since the prescription, on a poor-performing health insurance policy, is quite expensive.Additionally, Clobex should not be used on the face, which is where psoriasis often strikes.As the years progressed, my aunt turned 47, 48 and then 49 years old; her psoriasis gradually worsened. It spread to cover both of her legs from thighs to ankles. Psoriasis developed on her elbows and upper tricep area and, for some explicable reason, a patch of psoriasis appeared under her chin. Lastly, two specks of psoriasis appeared under the eyebrow area of her face (a common area for psoriasis to show up.)
Upon hitting the age of 51, my aunt decided she had endured enough. She returned to the dermatologist and asked for a prescription for Humira, an injectable medication that eases the symptoms of psoriasis. In the past, Auntie had received an impressive promotional brochure from the dermatologist about Humira but disliked the possible consequences and side effects related to taking Humira.
After performing blood work to be sure that my aunt was clear of issues that included Tuberculosis, she was given a Humira prescription. The doctor's office took care of all the paperwork and the insurance company approved her prescription - - although she must still pay a sizeable amount per month.
USE
On the first day of treatment for psoriasis with Humira, our aunt with severe psoriasis gave herself 2 injections of Humira, as directed. Injections come pre-loaded and are ready to use. A very informative DVD provided by Humira showed her exactly how to do the injection at home. The medicine produced a burning feeling as it entered her skin, but only for a moment.
RESULTS
Within 2 days, results were noticeable. The redness of her psoriasis spots, which ranged from the size of a dime to a speck of rice, had faded.
Eight days later, she was directed to take another injection of Humira, and while she chose to inject the medication into her thigh, there are other areas of the body to inject, including the stomach area.
One day after her second injection, not only was the redness of her existing psoriasis lessened, but the smaller spots had disappeared.
We don't know what the future holds, but I am happy that my Aunt is feeling more confident about her skin. The patch of psoriasis under her chin is almost gone and the redness of psoriasis on her face does not require heavy make up, as it once did. Maybe one day she can wear shorts or a skirt without feeling self-conscious.
Because my aunt gave me permission to share her story, she has decided that she would like to continue to give details about her experience with Humira. We'll keep you posted.
In the meantime, please share with us and other readers any experiences you have about psoriasis in our comments section, and maybe we can help others fight this silent affliction.
