More Than Meets the Eye: Why Long-Term Management Matters in Psoriasis Care
(BPT) - At 24, Brandon Shamoun's life was full of change. After spending time teaching elementary school in Spain, he moved to Michigan to pursue graduate studies in higher education administration, a transition that brought opportunities but also unexpected health challenges.
Not long after relocating, Brandon began noticing red, scaly patches forming on his elbows that caused itching and burning sensations.
"The change in weather, plus navigating new challenges with grad school was quite an adjustment," Brandon said. "The cold and dryness seemed to trigger symptoms on my skin, and I couldn't figure out what I could do to manage it."
After searching for answers through his own research and trying a range of over-the-counter products, Brandon spoke with his dermatologist and received a diagnosis of plaque psoriasis. Like many people living with the condition, he went on to try a variety of prescription treatments in search of relief. While some options, such as topical corticosteroids, provided short-term improvement, he struggled to find an approach that supported long-term symptom management.
"I tried so many different treatments, but none of them worked for me," he said. "It was frustrating and, at times, overwhelming."
Plaque Psoriasis at a Glance
Plaque psoriasis is a common, chronic skin disease that affects nearly 9 million people in the United States. While symptoms such as redness, scaling, and flaking are often visible on the skin, itch can be one of the most burdensome symptoms.
Psoriasis can appear as raised, red areas of skin covered with silvery scales. These patches can occur anywhere on the body, including the knees, elbows, torso, scalp, and sensitive areas where skin touches skin, such as the underarms or groin. On darker skin tones, plaques may appear gray, purple, or brown. For many people, symptoms can come and go over time and may worsen due to factors like stress, weather changes, illness, skin injuries, alcohol use, or certain medications.
Although symptoms often begin between the ages of 15 and 25, plaque psoriasis can develop at any age, even in early childhood, and persist for decades.
"Whenever I would leave the house, I was worried people would see my plaques and think they were contagious. I knew plaque psoriasis is a chronic condition, so I would likely be living with these symptoms for years to come, but there didn't seem to be a treatment that could effectively manage them for me," continued Brandon. "I didn't see many people with plaque psoriasis talking openly about their experience, so I consistently found myself wondering, am I the only one going through this? Why me?"
Treatment for Plaque Psoriasis
That's when Brandon researched long-term treatment options and spoke with his dermatologist about ZORYVE® (roflumilast) cream 0.3%.
"I know that everyone's experience is different, but for me, ZORYVE cream helped clear my plaques and relieve itch," said Brandon. "It's non-greasy and it fit into my daily routine with ease. Seeing my skin look less red, scaly, and irritated over time has given me an option for managing my psoriasis long term."
ZORYVE cream 0.3% is the first once-daily, steroid-free therapy approved for adults and children as young as 2 years of age with plaque psoriasis, including intertriginous psoriasis (psoriasis in areas of skin-to-skin contact such as under the arms, and in the groin). Clinical studies of ZORYVE cream 0.3% demonstrated rapid improvement in clearance of plaques and reduction in symptoms, including itch. The most common side effects included diarrhea, headache, trouble sleeping, nausea, application site pain, upper respiratory tract infection, and urinary tract infection.
"After trying so many other treatment options, I was hopeful that ZORYVE could give me the relief I was looking for, and I like that it can be used continuously to manage my psoriasis for the long term," Brandon said. "Talking with my dermatologist helped me better understand my options and find a treatment plan that fit my needs."
"ZORYVE cream 0.3% can be used once daily, anywhere on the skin, including sensitive areas where psoriasis can be more difficult to manage, and there are no limitations on duration of use," said Lisa Swanson, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and pediatric dermatologist. "ZORYVE is non-greasy and has moisturizing properties and was made without sensitizers or irritants. My patients like that ZORYVE is steroid-free and easy to incorporate into their daily routine. Having treatment options that my patients can use consistently over time can be an important part of managing a chronic condition like plaque psoriasis."
In two clinical trials of 881 individuals living with plaque psoriasis, 40% of 576 individuals achieved clearer skin after using ZORYVE for 8 weeks compared to 7% of 305 who used a cream without the active ingredient. 69% of 447 individuals treated with ZORYVE also experienced itch relief, compared to 31% of 231 who used a cream without the active ingredient.
Approved Use
ZORYVE cream 0.3% is a prescription medicine used on the skin (topical), including in areas with skin folds, to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and children 2 years of age and older.
It is not known if ZORYVE cream 0.3% is safe and effective in children with plaque psoriasis younger than 2 years of age.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
ZORYVE is for use on the skin (topical use) only. Do not use ZORYVE in your eyes, mouth, or vagina. Do not use ZORYVE if you have certain liver problems.
Before using ZORYVE, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have liver problems.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ZORYVE will harm your unborn baby.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if ZORYVE passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with ZORYVE. Breastfeeding women using ZORYVE should use it on the smallest area of the skin and for the shortest time needed. Do not apply ZORYVE directly to the nipple or areola to avoid contact with your baby.
Tell your healthcare provider about the medicines you take,including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The most common side effects of ZORYVE cream 0.3% include:
- diarrhea
- headache
- trouble sleeping
- nausea
- application site pain
- upper respiratory tract infections
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
These are not all of the possible side effects of ZORYVE. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Patient Information for ZORYVE.
Talk to your healthcare provider and learn more at ZORYVE.com, or visit ZORYVE.com/book-virtual-appointment to be connected to an independent board-certified dermatologist for a virtual appointment.
Photo courtesy of Brandon Shamoun, an actual patient who has been treated with ZORYVE cream and is being compensated for his time contributing to this article.
© 2026 Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc. All rights reserved. US-CRP-151-00040 08/26
Source: BrandPoint
