is plaque psoriasis?

Plaque psoriasis creates red, scaly patches on the skin surface

With plaque psoriasis, the skin's shedding cycle is too fast, causing skin cells to pile up on the surface of the skin. As the cells keep piling up, the skin becomes red, swollen, and itchy.

These patches of skin cells, also known as plaques, can be found anywhere on the body—especially on your knees, elbows, and back.

T cells, a type of white blood cell in the immune system, play an important role in the development of the redness, swelling, and itching of psoriasis plaques.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Taclonex® (calcipotriene 0.005% and betamethasone dipropionate 0.064%) Ointment is approved for use on the skin to treat psoriasis vulgaris (plaque psoriasis) in adults 18 years of age and older and should be applied to affected areas once daily for up to 4 weeks. Taclonex Scalp® (calcipotriene 0.005% and betamethasone dipropionate 0.064%) Topical Suspension is approved to treat moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris of the scalp in adults 18 years and older and should be applied to affected areas on the scalp once a day for 2 weeks or until cleared. If the affected area is not cleared, Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension may be continued for up to 8 weeks. Do not exceed the recommended weekly dose of 100 grams for either product. Neither product is recommended for use on children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT TACLONEX® OINTMENT AND TACLONEX SCALP® TOPICAL SUSPENSION

FOR TOPICAL USE ONLY. Do not use Taclonex® Ointment or Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension on your face, under your arms, or on your groin. Do not get either product in your eyes, mouth, or vaginal area. Do not swallow Taclonex® Ointment or Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension.

You should not use Taclonex® Ointment or Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension if you are allergic to any of their ingredients, have thin skin (atrophy) at the treatment site, have known or suspected calcium metabolism disorders (too much or too little calcium in your blood or urine), have erythrodermic, exfoliative, or pustular psoriasis, or have severe kidney or severe liver disease. Avoid excessive exposure to either natural or artificial sunlight if you apply Taclonex® Ointment to exposed portions of your body or use Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension. Tell your doctor if you have a skin infection, are getting phototherapy treatments for your psoriasis, are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Also tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking, especially other corticosteroids, products containing calcipotriene, or medicines for your psoriasis.

Taclonex® Ointment and Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension may cause serious side effects if you use too much, use it for too long, or use it with other medicines that contain corticosteroids or calcipotriene. Taclonex® Ointment and Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension contain the same medicine to treat psoriasis vulgaris. If you use both medicines to treat your psoriasis vulgaris, be sure to follow your doctor’s directions carefully so that you do not use too much of one or both of these medicines. Taclonex® Ointment and Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension can pass through your skin. Serious side effects may include too much calcium in your blood or urine or adrenal gland problems. Your doctor may do special blood and urine tests to check your calcium levels and adrenal gland function while you are using Taclonex® Ointment or Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension.

The most common side effects of Taclonex® Ointment are itching and rash. Other less common side effects with Taclonex® Ointment include redness of the skin, inflamed hair pores (folliculitis), psoriasis, skin irritation, skin burning, change of skin color (at the site of application), rash with pus-filled papules, thinning of the skin, and swollen fine blood vessels (this makes your skin appear red at the site of application).

The most common side effects of Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension are inflamed hair pores (folliculitis) and burning sensation of the skin. Other side effects include itching, worsening of psoriasis, redness of the skin, and skin pain or irritation.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information for Taclonex® Ointment and Taclonex Scalp® Topical Suspension.

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