Important: This is general information based on the best data available at the time of writing. DO NOT rely on this information alone or consider it as a substitute for medical advice.
ABOUT PSORIASIS:
Psoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory
Disease that affects about 3% of the population. Its cause is unknown. It is not contagious and reportedly does not usually leave scars on the skin. The symptoms of psoriasis present as localized, well-defined skin lesions, usually symmetrical, red papules and plaques, usually covered with white or silvery scales. These thickened, inflamed patches of skin usually appear on the knees, elbows, trunk or scalp (although other areas of the skin may also be affected) and are characterized by itching, stinging and pain.
There is currently no cure for psoriasis. Psoriasis is a complex disease with multisystem involvement. Treating the skin symptoms alone is not enough to control this complex disease (1).
Consult your doctor. Tell your doctor that you are using this cream.
Although psoriasis visibly affects the skin and nails, it is important to understand that this disease is associated with a number of significant comorbidities (ie additional diseases, symptoms or disorders). For example, people with psoriasis are at increased risk of developing chronic inflammatory arthritis, cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases. Treatment is usually lifelong and aimed at reducing symptoms.
Treatment of visible signs of psoriasis is based on controlling symptoms. A range of topical and systemic treatments are available for this purpose, as well as phototherapy (irradiation of the affected areas with light of specific wavelengths).
Your doctor may recommend a combination of methods. In addition, treatment of cardiovascular, metabolic and other comorbidities may be necessary.
Typically, the first step in treatment is to use soothing moisturizers such as Graham's Natural Psoriasis Cream. These moisturizing creams relieve itching and dryness, reduce flaking, soften scales, and promote the absorption of other topical treatments. For very mild psoriasis, treatment with emollients may be sufficient.
A clinical guideline for the assessment and treatment of psoriasis in adults, adolescents and children, aimed at improving long-term disease control and quality of life in people with psoriasis, can be found at https://www.psoriasis-bund.de/wissen/leitlinien/.
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE:
This complex oil-in-water cream contains
a range of naturally derived ingredients suitable for topical use in the general population; this includes
However, this does not exclude the fact that some ingredients
individual people hypersensitivity reactions
can cause.
- Check the ingredient list BEFORE use and do not use this product (unless directed by a healthcare professional) if you suspect you have an allergy or sensitivity to any of the ingredients.
- Perform a patch test by applying a small amount to normal, healthy skin. If no irritation or redness occurs after a few hours, you can apply the product to the skin affected by psoriasis.
- IF at any time while using this product you experience unusual redness, tenderness, or other adverse reactions, consult a physician.
For routine use:
The skin should be cleaned regularly with a pH neutral cleanser (not alkaline soap). Apply Graham's Natural Psoriasis Cream to clean, dry skin as often as necessary (approximately 2-3 times a day) to moisturise and maintain the comfort of skin affected by plaques and psoriasis. Apply emollients as thinly as possible and frequently throughout the day (not in an occasional thick layer) as the way emollients work helps to maintain the skin's natural moisture and barrier function. Not suitable for use on large areas or open wounds.
For combination treatments:
Tell your doctor that
you use this cream.
The goal of topical emollients therapy is to improve the condition of the skin by providing physical, structural and chemical-physical elements that allow the skin to better retain moisture. By normalizing the skin, natural reactions such as itching and inflammation are reduced and drug skin treatments can be more easily absorbed. Some topical treatments only work particularly well once scales that prevent drug and light penetration have been removed.
This cream does not contain any medicines. However, it does contain substances that physically interact with the skin and may affect the way some other topical medications work. Your doctor will advise you on how to use Graham's Natural Psoriasis Cream in combination with other psoriasis therapies.
Graham's Natural Psoriasis Cream
- Suitable for use in combination with phototherapy. Data indicate that the ingredients are considered non-phototoxic and non-photosensitizing.
- Usually suitable for combination with salicylic acid, topical vitamin A and vitamin D analogues and/or corticosteroid treatments.
IMPORTANT: For combination treatments with
Dithranol (Cignolin):
Before treatment withDithranol (Cignolin)(2) The skin should be cleaned of any residue of Grahams Natural Psoriasis Cream; however, subsequent application may prove beneficial.
Graham's Natural Psoriasis Cream is rich in antioxidants. It can therefore suppress the oxygen radicals promoted by the use of dithranol (cignolin).
Likewise, the low pH and watery texture of the cream can trigger the chemical degradation of dithranol (cignolin). Applying Graham's Natural Psoriasis Cream after treatment with dithranol (cignolin) may help relieve skin irritation.
Your doctor will recommend the most suitable treatment for you.
INFORMATION ON THE COMPOSITION OF THIS MEDICAL DEVICE:
Important:
- What works well for one person may not have the same effect on others.
- Some people may be sensitive to certain ingredients. Therefore, please test this or other topical products BEFORE use and perform a patch test first.
- Except for personal intolerance to one or more of the ingredients, no adverse effects are to be expected when this product is used as intended.
- Special precautions may be necessary when treating psoriasis with dithranol (Cignolin); see “Important instructions for use”.
The product is a complex oil-in-water cream
The cream was designed to
leaves a light, cool, soothing feeling on the skin, is very mild and enables gentle, targeted refreshment of the epidermis and removal of dandruff.
INTENDED USE:
This non-sterile topical emollient therapy is intended for use in conjunction with professional medical treatment for psoriasis. It can be used alone or in conjunction with phototherapy and/or other treatments. Emollient therapy can help eliminate the skin plaques characteristic of psoriasis. Symptoms include flaking associated with dry, inflamed, itchy, flaky, open, thickened and/or reddened skin. This product softens the skin surface and has a soothing and emollient effect, facilitating the removal of scales and promoting rehydration of the epidermis. Humectants, antioxidants and gentle keratolytic active ingredients complement the emollient, moisturizing effect and help to normalize the appearance, structure and function of the epidermis.
INGREDIENTS:
Purified Water, Cetostearyl Alcohol, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Castor Oil, Honey, Glycerin, Urea, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Jojoba Oil, Macrogol Cetostearyl Ether/Polyoxyl(20) Cetostearyl Ether, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phenoxyethanol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate & Tocopherol, Carnauba Wax, White Beeswax, Glyceryl Monocaprylate, Lactic Acid, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid.
Bothmoisturizers and humectantsThese are urea, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate
and honey. Humectants absorb water from the water base of the formula, the ambient air and the underlying epidermis to increase the skin's water content. The top layer of skin (stratum corneum) of unaffected psoriatic skin is not deficient in natural urea, however levels can be reduced by 40% in psoriatic lesions. The application of urea-containing moisturizers has been shown to positively alter the stratum corneum, hydrate severely damaged skin and support and improve barrier function.
Sodium hyaluronate is a high molecular weight polysaccharide that occurs naturally in the skin. In the healthy epidermis, it regulates water balance, osmotic pressure, acts as an ion exchange resin and regulates the environment outside and between cells. It can also function as a lubricant, a shock absorber and a structural molecule. In psoriatic lesions, partially degraded hyaluronate is present in the lower papillary dermis and could be the mechanism for the pronounced capillary proliferation and inflammation in this region. The sodium hyaluronate in this formulation remains as a high molecular weight substance and protects the
epidermal layers.
Themoisturizing oils and lipidsconsist of medium-chain triglycerides, castor oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, carnauba wax and beeswax. The acid mantle of the healthy stratum corneum consists mainly of triglycerides, wax/sterol esters, squalene and some free fatty acids.
Graham's Natural Psoriasis Cream contains a variety of lipids that are close to those found in healthy skin3. Two types of lipids are preferably used: those whose role is to support the intercellular, lamellar barrier and cushion the skin cells, and semi-occlusive lipids that remain on the skin surface, reduce transepidermal moisture loss and reduce flaking.
Bothantioxidants(4) These are marigold extract (Calendula officinalis), Centella Asiatica extract, tocopheryl acetate & tocopherol (vitamin E) and ethyl ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
Oxidative stress and the increased formation of free radicals are associated with skin inflammation and are considered one of the
most important factors in the development of psoriasis. Studies show that people with psoriasis have a level of markers of lipid peroxidation
and have a reduced antioxidant status.
Both simple (ie purified vitamins) and complex substances (herbal extracts, honey) are used as antioxidants.
both lipid- and water-soluble antioxidant effects, enabling the suppression of oxygen radicals in both lipid-containing and aqueous environments as well as a range of different antioxidant activities.
Asmild peeling substances and keratolyticscontain urea and glycerin, which, in addition to their moisturizing effect, also have a keratolytic effect (dissolving dead skin). Urea causes proteins to unfold, making them soluble and denatured. Clinical studies (5) have shown that the use of creams containing urea leads to a reduction in epidermal thickness of 29% (P<0.01) and a decrease in proliferation of 51% (P<0.005), as well as increased hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss.
A balance between the degradation and formation of desmosomes (connection between skin cells) is required for healthy skin. After about a week of glycerin treatment, there is a reactivation of protease activity in the stratum corneum (due to the increased water activity alone). This protease is responsible for regulating the maturation and natural loss of the outer skin cells (desquamation of the corneocytes), which leads to an improved (reduced) thickness of the stratum corneum.
Minor, temporary change in pH:Achieving a slightly acidic pH value through highly diluted lactic acid. (Honey also has a buffering effect). An acidic pH value of the skin is considered particularly useful for reducing bacterial colonization of the skin and is important for the restoration of
skin health.
The cream has an opaque pale neutral brown color and a mild honey smell. It initially spreads quickly and easily on the skin. The moisture, low molecular weight lipids and ingredients of the cream are then quickly absorbed, leaving a non-sticky, moist, soft, waxy protective layer.
This product has been manufactured in Australia using Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) from pharmaceutical and food grade ingredients (excipients, non-drugs). It is NOT indicated or suitable for use on large open wounds. Store below 30°C in the original, unopened carton. Do not freeze. If the cream develops an unusual odor or changes consistency, DO NOT use. Discard and replace as required.
Footnotes:
- (1) World Health Organization, 2016 Global report on psoriasis. ISBN 97892 4 156518 9
- (2) Dithranol (cignolin) has been reported to act by stimulating reactive oxygen species (ROS), a consequence of lipid peroxidation. These ROS are involved in signal transduction by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), in inflammatory response signaling pathways, and in particular in the JNK cascade. The stress-activated kinases JNK and SAPK are required for the regulation of cellular proliferation and apoptosis.
- (3) Compared to simple hydrocarbon-based creams.
- (4)See “Important instructions for use”.
- (5) H. Tagami et al Water sorption test of the stratum corneum of the skin surface in vivo.
Created in July 2022.
