(BPT) – If it were just one year earlier, Paul wouldn’t have had the guts to strike up a conversation with a woman in the lobby of their office building – an interaction that would lead to 19 years of marriage. He would have lacked the confidence because of what he now knows was an undiagnosed case of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis – a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes itchy, red, flaky and sometimes painful patches, known as “plaques,” to appear on the skin.

Paul’s journey with this issue began 30 years ago when the plaques spread to cover most of his body.

“It became so bad I wasn’t going out, and I wasn’t even attempting to date because it was all over my face,” says Paul.

Despite living in a warm climate, Paul wore pants and long-sleeved shirts to avoid uncomfortable questions or stares from strangers. Recognizing his symptoms were having a significant impact on him physically and emotionally, he finally reached out to a dermatologist for help treating his plaque psoriasis.

Paul cycled through many topicals and phototherapy, and started to become more social, even having the confidence to finally ask out his future wife. However, Paul wasn’t completely satisfied with the skin clearance. While his condition had improved, he still had some plaques on his skin.

Unwilling to settle, he sought care from a new dermatologist. Together, they decided to start treatment with SKYRIZI^® (risankizumab-rzaa), a biologic medicine for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

“Since beginning SKYRIZI, I’ve been pleased with my results,” says Paul. His story of achieving greater skin clearance with SKYRIZI when topicals and phototherapy weren’t enough echoes that of other plaque psoriasis patients. In clinical trials, 3 out of 4 people achieved 90 percent clearer skin at four months, after just two doses. Of those who achieved 90 percent clearer skin, nearly 9 out of 10 people sustained 90 percent clearer skin through one year.

SKYRIZI may cause serious side effects, including:

• Serious allergic reactions: Stop using SKYRIZI and get emergency medical help right away if you get any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
• Infections: SKYRIZI may increase your risk of infections. Before starting treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. Tell your doctor right away if you have an infection or symptoms of one.

Do not use SKYRIZI if you are allergic to risankizumab-rzaa or any of the ingredients in SKYRIZI.

Also, tell your doctor if you plan to or recently received a vaccine.

Paul credits his skin clearance to partnering with his dermatologist like a teammate, ensuring he shared his treatment goals and how he felt about his results.

“It’s crucial to be your own advocate when working with your doctor by having clear goals and communicating openly. With appropriate treatment, clearer skin may be possible,” says Paul.

Dermatologist April Armstrong, MD, MPH, states there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to psoriasis management but advises there are ways to help get psoriasis treatment right from the start.

“When creating a treatment plan with patients, we need to consider both disease severity and psoriasis symptoms. Establishing and maintaining an open, honest line of communication is essential because it ensures treatment plans will align with a patient’s changing needs and priorities,” she says.

Dr. Armstrong adds that doctors should consider how quickly and durably a treatment works, in addition to safety, dosing, and administration, to determine what will help meet the patient’s goals and preferences.

Like many people living with psoriasis, Paul prioritizes his time. With SKYRIZI, his dosing schedule is four times a year after two starter doses, which fits his lifestyle.

Paul admits he may never have met the love of his life if he hadn’t decided to advocate for himself and seek help for his psoriasis. He now knows firsthand the importance of finding care from a dermatologist specializing in psoriasis.

“With an understanding of my goals and preferences, and the risks and benefits of different treatment options, my doctor and I determined SKYRIZI was the right choice for me,” Paul states. “However, every patient needs to work with their doctor to find a treatment option that’s right for them.”

Paul’s story shows the value of being your own advocate and admitting when you want more clearance.

“Had it not been for speaking up, I never would have gotten the clearance I wanted.”

USE for SKYRIZI^® (risankizumab-rzaa)

SKYRIZI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults:

• with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or treatment using ultraviolet or UV light (phototherapy).
• with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about SKYRIZI^® (risankizumab-rzaa)?

SKYRIZI is a prescription medicine that may cause serious side effects, including:

Serious allergic reactions:

• Stop using SKYRIZI and get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction:
  • fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure)
  • swelling of your face, eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • trouble breathing or throat tightness
  • chest tightness
  • skin rash, hives
  • itching

Infections:

SKYRIZI may lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections. Your healthcare provider should check you for infections and tuberculosis (TB) before starting treatment with SKYRIZI and may treat you for TB before you begin treatment with SKYRIZI if you have a history of TB or have active TB. Your healthcare provider should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during and after treatment with SKYRIZI.

• Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection, including:
  • fever, sweats, or chills
  • cough
  • shortness of breath
  • blood in your mucus (phlegm)
  • muscle aches
  • warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body different from your psoriasis
  • weight loss
  • diarrhea or stomach pain
  • burning when you urinate or urinating more often than normal

– trouble breathing or throat tightness