PLAQUE
PSORIASIS
AND ITS
TREATMENTS
Learn how vitamin D
medications play an
important role in
managing plaque
psoriasis
WHAT CAUSES PLAQUE PSORIASIS?
2
Understanding Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. It typically
causes raised, red lesions covered with silvery white scales. Of
the approximately 7.5 million people in the US with psoriasis,
80% have plaque psoriasis. But remember, plaque psoriasis is
not contagious—you cannot catch it from someone else.
WHAT’S HAPPENING TO MY SKIN?
Psoriasis is a chronic (lifelong) skin disease. It occurs when the
immune system “speeds up” the growth cycle of skin cells. A
normal skin cell matures and falls off the body in about a month.
For people with plaque psoriasis, it can take only 3 or 4 days for
new skin cells to develop. Instead of falling off, the cells remain
on the skin and form thickened patches (lesions or plaques).
While plaque psoriasis is a chronic condition, many patients
experience times when their symptoms improve or worsen.
WHERE DOES PLAQUE PSORIASIS DEVELOP?
Plaque psoriasis can occur on any part of the body, but most
commonly on the scalp, knees, elbows, and torso. Sometimes,
the lesions can appear in the same place on the left and right
sides of the body.
No one knows exactly what causes plaque psoriasis, although
changes in the immune system that cause psoriasis may be
genetic for some people. This means people could get the
disease, or inherit it, from their parents. It’s impossible to predict
who will develop plaque psoriasis, but having 1 or both parents
with plaque psoriasis may increase the likelihood of the child
developing the disease. For example, if 1 parent has plaque
psoriasis, there is a 10% chance the child will get it. But if both
parents have plaque psoriasis, then there is a 50% chance it will
be passed on to the child.
However, for people with plaque psoriasis, certain situations or
environments may trigger the condition to flare up:
Stress
Weather
Injury to skin
Diet
Certain medications
Illness/allergies
SORILUX Foam is a prescription medicine used on the skin
(topical) to treat plaque psoriasis in people 18 years and older.
SORILUX Foam has only been studied in plaque psoriasis. It is
not known if SORILUX Foam is safe and effective in people
under 18 years old.
Important Safety Information
Do not use SORILUX Foam if you have been told by your
doctor that you have a high level of calcium in your blood
(hypercalcemia). The medicine in SORILUX Foam has been
shown to cause hypercalcemia. If hypercalcemia occurs, stop
using SORILUX Foam until calcium levels return to normal
SORILUX Foam is ﬂammable. Avoid ﬁre, ﬂame, or smoking
during and right after you apply SORILUX Foam to your skin
Please see accompanying
full Prescribing
Information, including
Patient Information Leaflet.
3
4
Treating Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis may be chronic, but there are medications
available to help treat some aspects of the disease. Your doctor
may decide to use different medicine(s) based on what may
work best for you. Tell your doctor about all medicines you take,
including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins,
and herbal supplements.
TOPICAL STEROIDS
Topical steroids (available in creams, ointments, gels, foams, or
lotions applied to the skin) are most frequently prescribed for
patients with plaque psoriasis. Steroids are anti-inflammatory
medications used to reduce the swelling and redness of
psoriatic lesions.
Topical steroids are available in different strengths from “super
potent” (Class 1) to “least potent” (Class 7). Stronger steroids
are generally more effective than less potent ones for treating
plaque psoriasis, but they also have a greater risk of side effects.
ADDITIONAL TREATMENTS
Topical medications—used on the skin at the lesion site
— For example, retinoids, anthralin, salicylic acid, coal tar
Phototherapy—also known as light therapy; the skin is exposed to
artificial ultraviolet light to slow the growth of affected skin cells
SORILUX Foam is a prescription medicine used on the skin
(topical) to treat plaque psoriasis in people 18 years and older.
SORILUX Foam has only been studied in plaque psoriasis. It is
not known if SORILUX Foam is safe and effective in people
under 18 years old.
Important Safety Information
Avoid excessive exposure of the treated skin to natural or
artiﬁcial sunlight (including tanning booths and sun lamps).
Wear a hat and clothes that cover the treated areas of your skin
if you have to be in sunlight
The most common side effects of SORILUX Foam are irritation,
redness, and itching of the treated skin areas
SORILUX Foam is for use on the skin only. Do not get
SORILUX Foam in your eyes, mouth, or vagina
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become
pregnant. It is not known if SORILUX Foam can harm your
unborn baby
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. It is not known if
SORILUX Foam passes into breast milk. Do not apply
SORILUX Foam to the chest area if you are breastfeeding
a baby. This will help to prevent the baby from accidentally
getting SORILUX Foam into his/her mouth
Tell your doctor if you are getting light therapy for your psoriasis
Tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions
Systemics/biologics—used for moderate to severe psoriasis;
taken orally or by injection or intravenous infusion; work
throughout the body
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information,
including Patient Information Leaflet.
5
6
The Role of Topical Vitamin D
There are other prescription topical medications available to help
treat plaque psoriasis—namely, vitamin D3 treatments.
HOW SORILUX FOAM WORKS
The vitamin D in SORILUX Foam is a manmade compound that
binds to the receptor similar to natural vitamin D. The precise
way that SORILUX Foam helps treat plaque psoriasis is unknown.
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF A VITAMIN D3 TREATMENT
Doctors have a variety of treatment regimens for plaque psoriasis.
Vitamin D3 may be your doctor’s choice for treatment, or it could
be a part of your overall plaque psoriasis treatment plan.
Talk to your doctor about available plaque psoriasis treatments
and ask if a vitamin D3 treatment, such as SORILUX Foam, is
right for you.
SORILUX Foam is a prescription medicine used on the skin
(topical) to treat plaque psoriasis in people 18 years and older.
SORILUX Foam has only been studied in plaque psoriasis. It is
not known if SORILUX Foam is safe and effective in people
under 18 years old.
Important Safety Information
Do not use SORILUX Foam if you have been told by your
doctor that you have a high level of calcium in your blood
(hypercalcemia). The medicine in SORILUX Foam has been
shown to cause hypercalcemia. If hypercalcemia occurs, stop
using SORILUX Foam until calcium levels return to normal
SORILUX Foam is ﬂammable. Avoid ﬁre, ﬂame, or smoking
during and right after you apply SORILUX Foam to your skin
Avoid excessive exposure of the treated skin to natural or
artiﬁcial sunlight (including tanning booths and sun lamps).
Wear a hat and clothes that cover the treated areas of your
skin if you have to be in sunlight
The most common side effects of SORILUX Foam are
irritation, redness, and itching of the treated skin areas
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become
pregnant. It is not known if SORILUX Foam can harm your
unborn baby
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. It is not known if
SORILUX Foam passes into breast milk. Do not apply
SORILUX Foam to the chest area if you are breastfeeding
a baby. This will help to prevent the baby from accidentally
getting SORILUX Foam into his/her mouth
SORILUX Foam is
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information,
including Patient Information Leaflet.
7
8
SORILUX Foam
My Life. My Treatment. My D.
Plaque psoriasis is a chronic (lifelong) and unpredictable
skin condition. Talk to your doctor to see if SORILUX Foam
may work for you.
9
WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY DOCTOR
BEFORE USING SORILUX FOAM?
Before using SORILUX Foam, tell your doctor if you:
Are getting light therapy for your psoriasis
WHAT IS SORILUX FOAM?
Have any other medical conditions
SORILUX Foam is a prescription medicine
used on the skin (topical) to treat plaque
psoriasis in people 18 years and older.
SORILUX Foam has only been studied
in plaque psoriasis. It is not known if
SORILUX Foam is safe and effective in
people under 18 years old.
Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if
SORILUX Foam can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor
if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
SORILUX Foam is the only vitamin D3
treatment available as a topical foam
formulation.
Important Safety Information
Do not use SORILUX Foam if you have been told by your
doctor that you have a high level of calcium in your blood
(hypercalcemia). The medicine in SORILUX Foam has been
shown to cause hypercalcemia. If hypercalcemia occurs, stop
using SORILUX Foam until calcium levels return to normal
SORILUX Foam is ﬂammable. Avoid ﬁre, ﬂame, or smoking
during and right after you apply SORILUX Foam to your skin
Avoid excessive exposure of the treated skin to natural or
artiﬁcial sunlight (including tanning booths and sun lamps).
Wear a hat and clothes that cover the treated areas of your
skin if you have to be in sunlight
SORILUX Foam is for use on the skin only. Do not get
SORILUX Foam in your eyes, mouth, or vagina
Are breastfeeding. It is not known if SORILUX Foam passes into
breast milk. Do not apply SORILUX Foam to the chest area if
you are breastfeeding a baby. This will help to prevent the baby
from accidentally getting SORILUX Foam into his or her mouth
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
OF SORILUX FOAM?
The most common side effects of SORILUX Foam are irritation,
redness, and itching of the treated skin areas
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or
that does not go away
These are not all the possible side effects of SORILUX Foam.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. at
1-888-784-3335 (1-888-STIEFEL) or to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch
Please see accompanying
full Prescribing
Information, including
Patient Information Leaflet.
4
10
How Should I Use SORILUX Foam?
11
Dispense SORILUX Foam into hand.
Be sure to use SORILUX Foam exactly as your doctor tells
you. SORILUX Foam is usually applied 2 times a day (once in
the morning and once at night) to the affected skin
5
SORILUX Foam is for use on the skin only. Do not get
SORILUX Foam in your eyes, mouth or vagina
SORILUX Foam is flammable. Avoid fire, flame, or smoking
during and right after you apply SORILUX Foam to your skin
Cover affected area with thin layer of SORILUX Foam.
Rub foam gently into affected skin.
Avoid excessive exposure of the treated skin to natural or
artificial sunlight (including tanning booths and sun lamps).
Wear a hat and clothes that cover the treated areas of your
skin if you have to be in sunlight
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING SORILUX FOAM
1
6
Break tiny plastic piece on SORILUX Foam can nozzle.
2
Shake SORILUX Foam can.
3
Avoid getting SORILUX Foam in or near the eyes, mouth,
or vagina. Wash hands after applying SORILUX Foam
(excluding affected areas of the hands).
SORILUX Foam is a prescription medicine used on the skin
(topical) to treat plaque psoriasis in people 18 years and older.
SORILUX Foam has only been studied in plaque psoriasis. It is
not known if SORILUX Foam is safe and effective in people
under 18 years old.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information,
including Patient Information Leaflet.
Turn the SORILUX Foam can upside down and press the nozzle.
Important Safety Information
12
More About SORILUX Foam
SORILUX Foam is a prescription medicine used on the skin
(topical) to treat plaque psoriasis in people 18 years and older.
SORILUX Foam has only been studied in plaque psoriasis. It is
not known if SORILUX Foam is safe and effective in people
under 18 years old.
HOW SHOULD I STORE SORILUX FOAM?
Store SORILUX Foam at room temperature, between 68°F to
77°F (20°C to 25°C)
SORILUX Foam is flammable. Keep the can away from all
sources of fire and heat
Do not dispense SORILUX Foam near fire or direct heat.
Never throw the can into a fire, even if the can is empty
Do not puncture the SORILUX Foam can
Keep SORILUX Foam and all medicines out of the reach of children.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are
not mentioned in Patient Information leaflets. Do not use
SORILUX Foam for any condition for which it was not prescribed.
Do not give SORILUX Foam to other people, even if they have the
same condition that you have. It may harm them.
Read the Patient Information leaflet that comes with
SORILUX Foam before you start using it and each time you
get a refill. There may be new information. If you would like
more information, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or visit
www.soriluxfoam.com.
SORILUX Foam is
Do not use SORILUX Foam if you have been told by your
doctor that you have a high level of calcium in your blood
(hypercalcemia). The medicine in SORILUX Foam has been
shown to cause hypercalcemia. If hypercalcemia occurs, stop
using SORILUX Foam until calcium levels return to normal
SORILUX Foam is ﬂammable. Avoid ﬁre, ﬂame, or smoking
during and right after you apply SORILUX Foam to your skin
Avoid excessive exposure of the treated skin to natural or
artificial sunlight (including tanning booths and sun lamps).
Wear a hat and clothes that cover the treated areas of your
skin if you have to be in sunlight
The most common side effects of SORILUX Foam are irritation,
redness, and itching of the treated skin areas
SORILUX Foam is for use on the skin only. Do not get
SORILUX Foam in your eyes, mouth, or vagina
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become
pregnant. It is not known if SORILUX Foam can harm your
unborn baby
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. It is not known
if SORILUX Foam passes into breast milk. Do not apply
SORILUX Foam to the chest area if you are breastfeeding
a baby. This will help to prevent the baby from accidentally
getting SORILUX Foam into his/her mouth
Tell your doctor if you are getting light therapy for your psoriasis
Tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information,
including Patient Information Leaflet.
13
NOTES
Scan QR code to go to
www.soriluxfoam.com
www.soriluxfoam.com
SORILUX is a trademark of Stiefel Laboratories, Inc.
©2012 Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.
Printed in USA. SLX005R0 May 2012