SHARING EXPERIENCES WITH PSORIASIS HELPS US WORK THROUGH IT TOGETHER
Psoriasis causes so many challenges for people beyond just symptoms. Cyndi Lauper talks with award-winning chef Aaron Sanchez, actress and New York Times best-selling author La La Anthony, Emmy winning actor, author, and producer Dan Bucatinsky and several of our real patient advocates living with PsO, about living with psoriasis, obstacles they’ve faced, and what they wish people knew. Hear how they overcame their challenges, and pick up some tips on the way. Share their stories and your own using #PsOintheKnow.
Cyndi is an actual patient who has taken COSENTYX and has been compensated for her time.
Indication
COSENTYX® (secukinumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis that involves large areas or many areas of the body, and who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet or UV light, alone or with systemic therapy).
Important Safety Information
Do not use COSENTYX if you have had a severe allergic reaction to secukinumab or any of the other ingredients in COSENTYX. See the Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients.
COSENTYX is a medicine that affects your immune system. COSENTYX may increase your risk of having serious side effects such as:
Infections
COSENTYX may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections.
- Your doctor should check you for tuberculosis (TB) before starting treatment with COSENTYX.
- If your doctor feels that you are at risk for TB, you may be treated with medicine for TB before you begin treatment with COSENTYX and during treatment with COSENTYX.
- Your doctor should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with COSENTYX. Do not take COSENTYX if you have an active TB infection.
Before starting COSENTYX, tell your doctor 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:
- fevers, sweats, or chills
- muscle aches
- cough
- shortness of breath
- blood in your phlegm
- weight loss
- warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body
- diarrhea or stomach pain
- burning when you urinate or urinate more often than normal
After starting COSENTYX, call your doctor right away if you have any signs of infection listed above. Do not use COSENTYX if you have any signs of infection unless you are instructed to by your doctor.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
New cases of inflammatory bowel disease or “flare-ups” can happen with COSENTYX, and can sometimes be serious. If you have inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease), tell your doctor if you have worsening disease symptoms during treatment with COSENTYX or develop new symptoms of stomach pain or diarrhea.
Serious Allergic Reactions
Serious allergic reactions can occur. Get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms: feeling faint; swelling of your face, eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing or throat tightness; chest tightness; or skin rash. If you have a severe allergic reaction, do not give another injection of COSENTYX.
Before starting COSENTYX, tell your doctor if you:
- have any of the conditions or symptoms listed above for infections
- have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
- are allergic to latex. The needle caps contain latex.
- have recently received or are scheduled to receive an immunization (vaccine). People who take COSENTYX should not receive live vaccines.
- have any other medical conditions
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if COSENTYX can harm your unborn baby. You and your doctor should decide if you will use COSENTYX.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if COSENTYX passes into your breast milk.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines to show your doctor and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.
How should I use COSENTYX?
See the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with your COSENTYX for information on how to prepare and inject a dose of COSENTYX, and how to properly throw away (dispose of) used COSENTYX Sensoready® pens and prefilled syringes.
- Use COSENTYX exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
- If your doctor decides that you or a caregiver may give your injections of COSENTYX at home, you should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject COSENTYX. Do not try to inject COSENTYX yourself, until you or your caregiver has been shown how to inject COSENTYX by your doctor or nurse.
The most common side effects of COSENTYX include: cold symptoms, diarrhea, and upper respiratory infections. These are not all of the possible side effects of COSENTYX. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
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.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
Coming soon! PsO in the Know, a new podcast series dedicated to bringing the impact of psoriasis (PsO) to life, one unique story at a time.
Really loving your job is a great feeling. Even so, it’s sometimes hard to remember that when you have plaque psoriasis. Gary and Dewey know the feeling. They both love what they do. Gary, as a driving instructor, has watched people pull away when he's reached for the wheel or reached out to shake hands when he's had psoriasis on his hands. Dewey, as a prowrestler, has had competitors refuse to get in the ring with him—even after being told that his psoriasis wasn’t contagious. Hear their stories now, and share your own using #PsOatWork. Then, let’s learn from each other.
In the workplace, the incorrect thinking that plaque psoriasis is contagious or that it's not a "real" disease can lead to serious discrimination. Sometimes, teaching an employer or company the basic facts about psoriasis can resolve the problem. But when it doesn't, you've got to KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND SPEAK UP. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are on your side. Learn more about both at The National Psoriasis Foundation.
Working out has always been part of the job for Dewey. But being asked to clean the equipment in the gym so people wouldn’t “catch” his plaque psoriasis was too much. So he came up with ways to hide his plaque psoriasis. He even adopted a full-on trucker persona in the ring, which kept him covered in bandanas and jeans. He's telling his work story here so others know they're not alone. People with psoriasis—even hardcore wrestlers—just want to be treated like everyone else. Got a #PsOatWork story? Share it on social media now.
To take care of business when you have plaque psoriasis, you need to first take care of YOU. So when you're on the job, follow these tips instead of trying to "work through the pain" of psoriasis. Overdoing it can trigger exhaustion, and may make symptoms worse.
Plaque psoriasis impacted Gary’s job for years. From minor disruptions, like needing breaks to clear his car or desk of flakes, to bigger ones like missing work for doctor appointments, it seemed like every day, there was something. It took guts to learn how to speak to people about his condition, but he found that just telling the truth helps: it’s an autoimmune disease, and not contagious! Hear more from Gary now. Then, share your own struggles or successes on social media using #PsOatWork.
Discussing plaque psoriasis with coworkers can be scary, especially if having to miss work has any of your colleagues feeling that you are doing less than your share of the work. Fear not. The tips here can help prepare you for a healthy, productive conversation—and may even help you change how they see people with psoriasis.
Dewey doesn’t have what you’d call an “ordinary” job. But he’s never really been an ordinary guy. Teased as “big for his age” as a kid, he eventually found his size to be an asset in the professional wrestling world. But his plaque psoriasis definitely wasn’t. At times, his skin bled. People stared. Competitors worried he was contagious and avoided him. It wasn’t easy—but he found ways to cope. Listen to Dewey’s experience and hear why he thinks we can all help each other at work and in life. Then, share your #PsOatWork story on social media.
In addition to using these tips to physically make working with plaque psoriasis a bit easier, remember: removing stress can make a big difference when you have psoriasis. If you work a desk job, a quick meditation session may help. If you work outdoors, try some gentle stretching and deep breathing every few hours. Or, if your job is high stress, try practicing mindfulness or learning some stress-management skills. Little changes—in your work space and in your mind—can do a lot.
As a driving instructor, Gary had to work hard to keep his students' eyes on the road—and off his flaking skin. Now, as a part of the PsO at Work campaign, he’s sharing his story to let you know you’re NOT alone. There’s a lot we can learn from each other to make things work at work. Hear from Gary now, then share your own story on social media using #PsOatWork.
Consider the tradeoffs you make every day for your plaque psoriasis. The things you have to do. The things you can't do. The things you will or won't do to get through your workday. If you're still doing too much to deal with your psoriasis at work, then maybe it's time to talk to your doctor about treatment options. Get the conversation started with this helpful discussion guide.
Unless there’s a job that requires scratching, itching, and flaking, psoriasis seems to make every job…harder. Until things get better. Listen in as Cyndi describes realizing that when her symptoms improved, her confidence on stage did too.
It’s a great thing to be able to stand out from the crowd because of what you do—not because of your skin! Learn more about the treatment that worked for her here. Remember, there’s a lot we can learn from each other—share your story on social media using #PsOatWork.
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Cyndi rarely takes a day off—so she needed a treatment that would allow her to focus on work and not on her psoriasis. In this video, you’ll hear how finding a treatment that worked for her now has her back touring live—and writing music for the Broadway adaptation of the movie “Working Girl.” So, psoriasis definitely isn’t holding back this working girl anymore! Learn about Cyndi’s treatment here.
Watch and see why it’s important to find a treatment that works for you—and then share your story on social media using #PsOatWork.
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A lot of people who don’t have psoriasis don’t understand what it’s like to live with. So, even when your job puts you in front of millions, it can feel pretty lonely when you’re trying to hide your psoriasis. But, when you realize you’re not alone, dealing with it can be a little less challenging. In this video, Cyndi explains how the PsOatWork campaign can help you learn from others who struggled with psoriasis at work too. And how you, in turn, could help someone else by sharing your story on social media using #PsOatWork.
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For years, psoriasis disrupted Cyndi’s work life, making her uncomfortable on stage and in front of cameras. In this video, she shares an extreme way she tried to hide a bad flareup from being seen—before she found a treatment that worked for her. If you’re struggling with psoriasis at work—don’t give up. Listen to Cyndi. Then, share your struggles, share your story, and learn from others on social media using #PsOatWork.
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Unfortunately, plaque psoriasis doesn’t stay home when you go to work. Cyndi understands that challenge all too well—for years, she worked through her pain in front of crowds of thousands. Now, as a part of the PsO at Work campaign, she’s telling her story here so that you know: you are NOT alone. It’s important to speak up for what we need and that we all learn from each other—so we can “work it” together. Watch now—then share your story on social media using #PsOatWork.
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Your inspirational story could be featured in a promotional campaign. To learn more, call 1-877-879-0245, email info@voices-of-inspiration.com, or sign up online now.
Did you know that COSENTYX doesn't just treat plaque psoriasis? Learn more about how it works at COSENTYX.com.
Prescribing info: bit.ly/COSEPI
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Plaque psoriasis doesn’t stay home when you have to go to work. Hear about how psoriasis disrupted Jordan’s daily work life, and find out how she’s doing now. If you’re struggling at work too, don’t give up. Visit COSENTYX.com to learn more.
Prescribing info: bit.ly/COSEPI
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It’s nothing but confetti and thumbs-up from Dewey on his #cleariversary. Learn more about how you can have your own #cleariversary at COSENTYX.com.
Prescribing info: bit.ly/COSEPI
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If you are one of the many people struggling with plaque psoriasis, Cyndi wants you to know — "You don’t have to live like this. There are options.” Watch Cyndi’s video to hear how COSENTYX helped her. Then visit COSENTYX.com to learn more.
Prescribing info: bit.ly/COSEPI
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Discussing your psoriasis with your boss can be challenging, especially if your condition requires you to miss time or work from home. Don’t worry, we’ve got some simple tips to ease the process.
You’re not alone in this fight. Hear real patients talk about how they advocated for themselves, got answers, and achieved clear skin with COSENTYX.
At 3 months, the majority of people were clear or almost clear. 8 out of 10 saw 75% clearance. Many who saw results at 1 year maintained them at 5 years.
Prescribing info: bit.ly/COSEPI
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Join Cyndi Lauper in celebrating the power of “Hope” in her newest music video. This uplifting journey highlights the strength of our community, while showing us once again that you don’t have to feel alone when you’re living with this disease.
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AN ANSWER TO ALL THOSE QUESTIONS.
I always wondered if everyone was staring…would I have to explain this again? It was hard not knowing what I could wear. “Are my knees too bad for a dress, or should I wear long sleeves to cover my arms?” These were my thoughts as a teenager and young adult. Then, my thoughts became darker. “My mother’s skin is so bad; do I look that scary? Will there ever be a solution? Will my children grow up ashamed of their mother and the way she looks?” These were my daily thoughts as I dealt with living with plaque psoriasis.
Read More
Learn more about all the tools and support we offer through COSENTYX Connect at COSENTYX.com.
THIS IS LIVING.
Trying to move forward, despite my condition, has been a constant theme in my life since I was nine years old. Struggling through not just the visual aspects of this disease, but the physical aspects were difficult. I can’t remember a day when I didn’t have to answer questions about my plaque psoriasis: “What happened?” “What’s wrong with your skin?” “Can’t you just put lotion on it?” And of course, “Can I catch it?” It was overwhelming at times, as every breakout or patch demanded a new story. I felt like my whole life was on display for all to see. And all the while, I kept hoping a new medication would come out, something that would work for me.
Read More
Take a look at these tips to get rid of itch fast. Then visit COSENTYX.com to learn about results that last.
Prescribing info: bit.ly/2uTxML7