Biologic Treatment Specialist
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John M. Humeniuk, MD, FRCP
Dermatologist located in Greenville, SC, Simpsonville, SC, and Greer, SC
If you suffer from an ongoing skin condition like psoriasis or eczema, you know how difficult it is to find a treatment that provides long-lasting relief from your symptoms. As an experienced dermatologist, John Humeniuk, MD, FRCP, offers effective treatments for skin conditions caused by autoimmune disorders. He provides a variety of biologic treatments to repair your skin from within. To find the right biologic treatment for you, call John M. Humeniuk MD, LLC, at one of his offices in Greer, Simpsonville, and Greenville, South Carolina, today, or schedule an appointment online.
Biologic Treatment Q & A
What is biologic treatment?
Biologic treatments are products made from living organisms, like humans and animals. What sets biologics apart from traditional therapies is that they don’t affect the entire immune system during treatment. Instead, they target specific parts of the immune system that you want to treat.
Which conditions does biologic treatment affect?
Dr. Humeniuk offers biologic treatments to treat inflammatory conditions like:
Plaque psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes thick, red patches of scaly skin. Because autoimmune diseases cause your immune system to attack its healthy cells, new skin cells develop at an alarming rate with plaque psoriasis. This causes skin cells to build up into thick, itchy patches of skin.
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that develops in patients who already have psoriasis. Arthritis is any one of many inflammatory disorders that cause painful, swollen joints. While psoriatic arthritis can appear anywhere on your body, it’s most common in your fingers, hands, wrists, and feet.
Eczema
Eczema is a chronic condition that causes patches of red, itchy skin. Also called atopic dermatitis, eczema typically flares up during times of stress. It can also worsen when your skin is exposed to irritating soaps, fragrances, or chemicals. While it can develop at any time in your life, eczema generally appears during childhood and lasts through adulthood.
This skin condition is especially common behind the knees and on the inside of the elbows. However, it can develop anywhere on your body, including your hands, feet, and chest.
How does biologic treatment work?
Biologic treatments for inflammatory skin disorders, like plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, block the action of T-cells in your body. A T-cell is a white blood cell that fights infections and regulates your immune function.
These treatments also target specific proteins in your immune system, including the TNF-alpha and interleukin 17-A proteins, which regulate cell growth and can trigger inflammation.
These cells and proteins all contribute to arthritic inflammation. By blocking their actions, biologic treatments slow or stop the dysfunction of your autoimmune disorder.
What can I expect from biologic treatment?
Depending on how severe your chronic condition is, it can take as little as 2-3 doses to find relief from psoriasis — or as long as 4-6 weeks.
Because biologic treatments target your immune system, they can lower your body’s natural immune response. Without a strong immune response, you’re more vulnerable to infections. In some cases, vaccines are also less effective when you’re using biologics.
To find out if you’re a candidate for biologic treatment, call the practice, John M. Humeniuk MD, LLC, today or schedule an appointment online.
