Key Takeaways
- La La Anthony opens up about her personal journey with plaque psoriasis and encourages open communication with doctors about treatment needs.
- The campaign aims to raise awareness about the burden of plaque psoriasis and the importance of finding the right treatment options beyond just topical therapies.
- The initiative provides resources for patients to explore new treatment approaches that address the underlying inflammation of psoriasis.
Amgen has partnered with actress, producer, and entrepreneur La La Anthony to shine a light on the daily challenges of living with plaque psoriasis. In this collaborative campaign, La La shares a behind-the-scenes look at how the autoimmune disease has affected her life—both personally and professionally. With over 6 million people in the United States living with plaque psoriasis, La La’s story resonates with millions who face the frustrations and discomforts caused by the disease, from itchy, flaky skin to the influence it has on wardrobe and beauty choices.
In a newly released interactive video, La La recounts her experience of searching for the right treatments. She explains how she tried various therapies that were inconvenient and didn’t fit her lifestyle, particularly treatments for scalp psoriasis that required frequent hair washing. “I was hesitant to tell my doctor that some treatments didn’t work with my routine, but I realized that doctors can only help if they know the full picture,” La La shared. Through this campaign, La La hopes to empower others to speak candidly with their healthcare providers, ensuring that they advocate for treatment solutions that suit their needs and improve their quality of life.
Understanding the Burden of Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is often misunderstood as merely a skin condition, but it is an autoimmune disease triggered by internal inflammation. While the symptoms—itchy, red, scaly patches on the skin—are highly visible, the underlying cause is rooted in the body’s immune system. Many individuals living with plaque psoriasis rely on topical treatments, such as creams or ointments, to alleviate the symptoms. However, these treatments only address the surface-level manifestations of the disease, rather than targeting the internal inflammation that causes the flare-ups. This disconnect between the symptoms and the cause leads to many patients feeling frustrated by the limited effectiveness of their treatments.
Research has shown that patients with plaque psoriasis often perceive their symptoms as more severe than their doctors do. This communication gap can lead to inadequate treatment strategies and persistent discomfort. La La Anthony’s campaign with Amgen aims to bridge this gap by encouraging patients to be more vocal about their symptoms and to discuss how plaque psoriasis impacts their day-to-day lives. By fostering open conversations with healthcare professionals, patients can find treatment options that better align with their lifestyles and address both the symptoms and the root cause of the disease.
New Approaches to Plaque Psoriasis Management
The campaign highlights the importance of exploring treatment options beyond conventional topical therapies. For many patients, these treatments may not provide long-term relief or may be difficult to incorporate into their routines. As La La Anthony experienced, some treatments can be impractical—such as those requiring daily hair washing for scalp psoriasis—which can lead patients to discontinue their treatment or avoid discussing their concerns with their doctors.
Dr. Meagen McCusker, a board-certified dermatologist involved in the campaign, emphasized the need for more effective treatment options that address the underlying inflammation in plaque psoriasis. “Plaque psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory condition, and each patient’s experience is unique,” Dr. McCusker explained. “Fortunately, advances in treatment have given us many options beyond just topical therapies. For patients whose symptoms are not well-managed, I recommend discussing systemic treatments that can reduce the inflammation driving their disease.”
One such treatment is Otezla (apremilast), an oral therapy that targets the inflammatory pathways contributing to psoriasis symptoms. Unlike topical creams that provide short-term symptom relief, Otezla works within the body to manage the disease’s underlying causes. Through the campaign, patients can learn more about how Otezla and other therapies might fit into their treatment plans, offering them hope for better disease management and an improved quality of life.
The Importance of Open Dialogue Between Patients and Doctors
A key message of La La Anthony’s partnership with Amgen is the importance of open communication between patients and their healthcare providers. Many patients feel uncomfortable discussing the limitations of their treatments, fearing that they will be perceived as non-compliant or difficult to treat. However, as La La’s experience shows, doctors can only provide effective care when they have a clear understanding of how a disease impacts their patient’s life.
By advocating for herself and speaking openly about her needs, La La was able to better manage her condition and hopes to inspire others to do the same. “I want to encourage people living with plaque psoriasis to be vocal about how the disease and treatments are impacting their daily lives,” she said. This campaign not only provides a platform for La La’s personal story but also offers resources for other individuals living with plaque psoriasis to learn how to communicate more effectively with their healthcare teams.
Patients can access the interactive video featuring La La, along with resources to facilitate discussions with doctors about plaque psoriasis treatments, by visiting MomentsWithLaLa.com. Although La La is not currently taking Otezla, the campaign encourages patients to consider their options and find the right treatment that addresses both their symptoms and lifestyle needs.
A Broader Commitment to Psoriasis Awareness
Amgen’s collaboration with La La Anthony is part of a broader effort to support patients living with plaque psoriasis and ensure that they have access to effective, affordable treatments. In addition to providing educational resources, Amgen is committed to making therapies like Otezla accessible to the patients who need them. For more information about Otezla and its potential benefits for managing plaque psoriasis, patients can visit Otezla.com or speak directly with their healthcare providers.
Psoriasis affects over 125 million people worldwide, with the vast majority of cases being plaque psoriasis. As a chronic condition, it requires ongoing management, and many patients struggle to find treatments that are both effective and compatible with their everyday lives. By raising awareness through campaigns like this one, Amgen and La La Anthony are helping to change the narrative around psoriasis management, making it easier for patients to advocate for themselves and explore the full range of treatment options available.
Resource: Amgen, October 01, 2024
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