Everything You Need to Know About Skyrizi

Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis causes dry, raised, red skin patches, or lesions, on the skin, that are covered with silvery scales. These plaques can be itchy, tender, and vary in number. They usually appear on elbows, knees, the lower back, and scalp.

While there is no cure for plaque psoriasis, there are treatments available to help those living with the condition to manage their symptoms. One such treatment is Skyrizi, a biologic prescription for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Read our blog post below to find how Skyriziz could help you or someone you love manage their plaque psoriasis.

Skyrizi: What it Is

Skyrizi is a biologic prescription for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Specifically, Skyrizi (pronounced Sky-RIZZ-ee) is an interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor that works inside the body to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

How Skyrizi Works

Plaque psoriasis on your skin actually starts inside your body. While the exact cause is unknown, scientists suspect an overactive immune system. One of the ways your immune system protects you is with inflammation. However, too much inflammation can mean your immune system is overactive. That’s what happens with plaque psoriasis.

Skyrizi was designed to work with your immune system, and is actually similar to proteins found within your own immune system. Skyrizi, once in the body, attaches to a specific protein in the body that can cause inflammation; specifically, a protein called IL-23, one of the proteins that may contribute to inflammation and plaque psoriasis.

While the exact cause of plaque psoriasis is unknown, it is thought that in cases of plaque psoriasis the body produces too much IL-23, which contributes to excess inflammation inside the body and causes painful, red, itchy, burning plaques on the skin. By attaching to this protein, Skyrizi helps reduce the inflammation inside the body that leads to plaques on the skin.

Skyrizi Dosing Schedule

The recommended dose is 150 mg (two 75 mg injections) administered by subcutaneous injection at Week 0, Week 4, and every 12 weeks thereafter.

Skyrizi Results

In clinical trials, most people saw 90% clearer skin as early as 4 months after taking Skyrizi, and nearly 6 out of 10 people achieved 100% clear skin after 1 year.

Skyrizi works within weeks. In clinical trials, the drug helped people achieve both clearer skin and psoriasis symptom relief. A majority even achieved 100% clear skin at one year. Ask your provider if Skyrizi is right for you.

Skyrizi Side Effects

Because Skyrizi is a prescription medicine that may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections, it can increase your risk of infections. Your healthcare provider should check you for infections and tuberculosis (TB) before starting treatment. Your healthcare provider should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during and after treatment with Skyrizi.

The most common side effects of the drug include upper respiratory infections, fungal skin infections, headache, feeling tired, and injection site reactions.