Living with GPP - Make the most out of your doctor's appointments

Questions to ask your doctor

Woman with GPP at the beach,triggers for flares, manage GPP, Act4GPP

Living with GPP

Living with GPP - There is more than you see

When living with GPP, recognising what triggers your flares
is a big part of managing your disease.

Flares

Recognising flares early is a big part of managing your disease.2,22

Flares are defined as episodes of widespread pustules that can occur without warning in people who may or may not have plaque psoriasis.2,4,14,22 Flares may start with fiery red, tender skin, followed by painful pustules and dry scaling.8

Pay attention to how your body feels before a flare. You may feel unwell and generally uneasy, and you may also experience a decreased appetite, nausea, fever, or joint pain.2,23

GPP flares can come on very suddenly.4 They can happen anytime and can be unpredictable- it’s hard to know when you are about to have one, how long it will last or how severe it will be.4,22

Leaving a flare untreated can be life threatening and so it’s important to speak to your doctor as soon you feel a flare coming on whether its mild or not.2,3

Triggers and common symptoms during flares

flares, triggers, widespread pustules, manage GPP the disease, Act4GPP

Disease management

Although living with GPP is not easy, it’s important to remember that there are ways to help manage your disease. Finding effective management techniques can help you to cope and live with your disease.

Download the different practical tips you can use to help living with GPP and for managing flares.  

Practical tips for living with GPP

Download leaflet

Practical tips for managing flares

Download leaflet

support, management techniques, tips for living with GPP, Act4GPP

Treatment

GPP is a specific type of psoriasis, which is very different to plaque psoriasis. It is a condition which requires systemic treatment (that works throughout the whole body) as opposed to topical treatments. This is why it’s important to discuss the available treatment options that can help with the management of your condition with your doctor.

When it comes to GPP treatment, the goal is to ease your symptoms.15 The hope is that the treatment may make symptoms less severe, so you can avoid complications.15

Your dermatologist may suggest the following to alleviate your symptoms:15,23

treatment, systemic therapy to alleviate symptoms, oral therapy, injectables,Act4GPP

Systemic therapy

(injectables and oral therapy)

treatment, topical therapy to alleviate symptoms, Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy, skin creams, Act4GPP

Topical therapy

(Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy,
skin creams)

Some treatments may take a while to start working.5 It is important to talk and work with your doctor to find a specific treatment plan that best suits your needs. Be sure to follow treatment guidance and not interrupt any treatment courses without consulting your doctor first. And rest assured that there is ongoing research into treatments.8,24 Speak to your doctor to find out more information about this.

Access the latest information on clinical studies in GPP

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  2. Strober B, et al. Unmet medical needs in the treatment and management of generalized pustular psoriasis flares: evidence from a survey of Corrona registry dermatologists. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2021;11(2):529-541. doi:10.1007/s13555-021-00493-0
  3. Ly K, et al. Diagnosis and screening of patients with generalized pustular psoriasis. Psoriasis (Auckl). 2019;20;9:37-42. doi: 10.2147/PTT.S181808
  4. Pustular Psoriasis [Internet]. National Psoriasis Foundation. 2022 [cited 4 March 2022]. Available from: https://www.psoriasis.org/pustular/
  5. Global Commission to End the Diagnostic Odyssey for Children with a Rare Disease [Internet]. Global Commission. 2022 [cited 4 March 2022]. Available from: https://www.globalrarediseasecommission.com/report
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  7. Bachelez H. Pustular psoriasis and related pustular skin diseases. Br J Dermatol. 2018;178(3):614-618. doi: 10.1111/bjd.16232
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  14. Navarini AA, et al. ERASPEN Network. European consensus statement on phenotypes of pustular psoriasis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017;31(11):1792-1799. doi: 10.1111/jdv.14386
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  16. Skalicky A, et al. Symptom experience of patients with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). Value in Health. 2020;23(suppl 1):S345. doi:10.1016/j.jval.2020.04.1310
  17. Johnston A, et al. IL-1 and IL-36 are dominant cytokines in generalized pustular psoriasis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017;140(1):109-120. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.08.056
  18. Robinson A, et al. Treatment of pustular psoriasis: From the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2012;67(2):279-288. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2011.01.032
  19. Liang Y, et al. Psoriasis: a mixed autoimmune and autoinflammatory disease. Curr Opin Immunol. 2017;49:1-8. doi:10.1016/j.coi.2017.07.007
  20. Benjegerdes K, et al. Pustular psoriasis: pathophysiology and current treatment perspectives. Psoriasis: Targets and Therapy. 2016;6:131-144. doi: 10.2147/PTT.S98954
  21. Choon SE, et al. Clinical Course and Characteristics of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2022;23(Suppl 1):21-29. doi: 10.1007/s40257-021-00654-z
  22. Bachelez H. Pustular Psoriasis: The Dawn of a New Era. Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(3):adv00034. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3388
  23. Pustular Psoriasis [Internet]. eMedicineHealth. 2022 [cited 4 March 2022]. Available from: https://www.emedicinehealth.com/pustular_psoriasis/article_em.htm
  24. ClinicalTrials.gov. [Internet] A 5-year Study to Test BI 655130 in Patients With Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Who Took Part in Previous Studies With BI 655130 - Full Text View - Clinicaltrials.gov. 2022 [cited 5 April 2022]. Available from: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03886246?cond=Generalised+Pustular+Psoriasis&draw=2&rank=5
  25. Sampogna F, et al. Measuring quality of life of patients with different clinical types of psoriasis using the SF-36. British Journal of Dermatology. 2006;154(5):844-849. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.07071.x
  26. Pfohler C, et al. Psoriasis vulgaris and Psoriasis pustulosa; Epidemiology, Quality of Life, Comorbidities and Treatment. Current Rheumatology Reviews. 2013;9(1):2-7. doi: 10.2174/1573397111309010002
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  38. Pustules [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2022 [cited 6 May 2022]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003234.htm#:~:text=Pustules%20are%20small%2C%20inflamed%2C%20pus,lesions)%20on%20the%20skin%20surface
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