Ep. #268 "Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Psoriasis Severity and Elevating the Patient Voice"

Description:

Psoriatic disease affects far more than just the skin. Hear leading dermatologist Dr. April Armstrong and Dr. Benoît Guérrette discuss this and more with Jensen, a patient advocate.

Psoriatic disease affects not only the skin but it can impact confidence, emotional and social well-being, and daily life. In this episode, join moderator Dr. Guy Eakin, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at NPF, as we explore the disconnect between clinical classifications of psoriasis and what patients experience in real-life with leading dermatologist Dr. April Armstrong, Dr. Benoît Guérrette, Vice President of Dermatology & Rheumatology at Takeda, and Jensen, a NPF patient advocate and former Lead Youth Ambassador. Listen as we address the need for a more nuanced approach to classifying disease severity that accounts for the holistic needs of psoriatic disease, as well as share insights into how advocacy and awareness can drive change in treatment access and care standards.

 The intent of this episode is to identify how clinical severity classifications of psoriasis are evolving to meet the needs of those who live with the disease and how that change impacts overall management.

This episode is sponsored by Takeda.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Intro to Psoriasis Uncovered and guest welcome to dermatologist Dr. April Armstrong, Vice President of Takeda, Dr. Benoît Guérette, and patient advocate Jensen, who discuss the unmet needs of people with moderate psoriasis and how as a community we can better serve those living with the disease.

2:22 How health care providers and the biopharmaceutical industry are coming together to address systemic eligibility and the unmet needs of people living with psoriasis.

4:25 Quality of life should be included when assessing clinical severity in psoriasis and identification of appropriate treatment choices.

6:52 The impact of misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and effect on high impact sites can be life- altering.

8:30 How appropriate treatment and knowledge can make all the difference when diagnosed with plaque psoriasis. 

9:40 Views on the psoriasis disease classification system and how it’s evolving to include real life impact from physical and emotional needs, to more personalized care for those living with psoriasis, even when small body surface areas are involved. Severity isn’t defined by skin coverage alone.

12:38 What’s needed to prioritize the care and outcomes of people living with psoriasis.

14:18  The future of management and care for psoriatic disease.

15:53  “My skin tells a story.” Wisdom from what I wish I had known previously.

16:52  Moving closer to care that truly reflects the lives and needs of those who live with psoriasis.

Key Takeaways:

·       Severity of psoriasis isn’t defined by skin coverage or body surface area (BSA) alone. The impact on quality of life should also be considered in the assessment, selection of treatment, and management of the disease. 

·       The psoriasis disease classification system is evolving to be more of a patient centered approach.  Many clinicians are now using the International Psoriasis Council (IPC) or 2 bucket approach to identify whether someone should receive a topical or systemic treatment based on location and response to treatment, as well as impact on quality of life. 

·       With continued research and  development, the next 5 to 10 years could see a shift in effective treatment options while also treating sooner to initiate better outcomes for people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Guest Bios:  

April Armstrong, M.D., M.P.H. is an internationally renowned dermatologist and clinical researcher who is a Professor and Chief of Dermatology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) where she specializes in inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Dr. Armstrong is also the Co-Director for Network Resources at the UCLA Clinical and Translational Research Institute. She has conducted over 150 clinical trials and published over 350 high impact articles in scientific journals. Dr. Armstrong holds multiple leadership positions including the immediate Past Chair of the National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board, Co-President of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), councilor for the International Psoriasis Council, and board member for the International Dermatology Outcome Measures and the American Academy of Dermatology.

 Benoît Guérette, Ph.D. is an accomplished leader in medical affairs with extensive experience across academia and the pharmaceutical industry. Since March 2025, Dr. Guérette has served as Vice President of Dermatology and Rheumatology US Medical Affairs at Takeda Pharmaceutical. Prior to joining Takeda, he held several strategic and leadership roles at various pharmaceutical companies, including overseeing clinical development, global and U.S. medical affairs, global access & pricing, translational sciences and more. Before transitioning to the industry, Dr. Guérette was an Associate Professor of Immunology at Laval University, leading research in cancer immunology. He holds a Ph.D. in Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology from Laval University and completed postdoctoral studies in Inflammation and Immunology at  Harvard Medical School.

 Jensen is a volunteer and former Lead Youth Ambassador for the National Psoriasis Foundation. Jensen developed psoriasis at age 7 but wasn’t formally diagnosed until age 14 being misdiagnosed along the way, trying different management approaches that were ineffective. She was a competitive swimmer from elementary through high school and in the last 2 years of high school played lacrosse. Upon finishing high school she attended college becoming a registered nurse in an intensive care unit. Jensen wants “youth living with psoriatic disease to feel a  community that is behind them and with them every step of the way. I really want to be able to make a difference in a way that would’ve helped me as a child when I was diagnosed.”

Resources:

Ø  “Reassessing Psoriasis Severity” Advance Online, National Psoriasis Foundation. H. Onorati. January 16, 2024,  https://www.psoriasis.org/advance/psoriasis-severity-high-impact-sites/

 

Ø  “Psoriasis Involving Special Areas is Associated with Worse Quality of Life, Depression, and Limitations in the Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities”. Blauvelt, A., Strober, B., Gondo, G., Journal of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Volume 8, Issue 3.  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/24755303231160683