Now Botox could help ease hell of psoriasis

A TRIAL for treating the skin condition psoriasis using jabs more commonly used to smooth wrinkles is under way at the University of Minnesota.

Doctors reported that patients given Botox jabs for other reasons also saw improvement in psoriasis.

The condition is caused when skin cells are produced too rapidly, causing a buildup of scaly patches, known as plaques. It’s not clear why Botox would help, but as the toxin works by invading nerve cells, where it releases an enzyme that prevents muscle contraction, one theory is that it may prevent the nerves contributing to inflammation.

Ten patients will have one treatment in which Botox is injected around a psoriasis plaque and their skin assessed after three months.