The South West’s premier independent dermatology & skin clinic
How does Taltz work?
Taltz is a biologic medication, which means it is made from living cells. It is a monoclonal antibody that targets IL-17A, a protein that plays a role in the inflammation that causes psoriasis. By blocking IL-17A, Taltz helps to reduce inflammation and clear up psoriasis plaques.
How is Taltz taken?
Taltz is given as a subcutaneous injection. You can give yourself the injection at home after you have been trained by your doctor or nurse. The injection is given once every 4 weeks.
What are the side effects of Taltz?
Taltz can cause some side effects, including:
Is Taltz safe?
Taltz is generally safe, but it is important to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of treatment before you start taking it. Taltz can increase your risk of serious infections, including tuberculosis and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It is important to tell your doctor if you have any history of infections before you start taking Taltz.
Is Taltz effective?
Taltz is a very effective treatment for psoriasis. In clinical trials, up to 90% of patients who took Taltz saw a significant improvement in their psoriasis plaques at 12 weeks. Four out of 10 patients achieved completely clear skin at 12 weeks.
If you are considering using Taltz to treat psoriasis get in touch with us today.
| Medication | How it works | How it is given | Speed of action | Unsuitable patients | Common side-effects | Pre-treatment tests | Cost per month after loading doses* |
| Taltz® | IL-17 inhibitor | 80mg monthly with self-injector. 160mg loading dose | Within 12 weeks | Inflammatory bowel disease, pregnancy or breast feeding, active TB, avoid live vaccines | Candida and fungal infections. Allergic reactions | Blood tests and chest Xray | £780 |
*Approximate 2023 prices. Includes cold chain home delivery. Excludes initial and expected on-going face-to face or video consultation fees and any blood tests or additional investigations required. Please note routine monitoring blood tests are not required for this medication.
If you feel this is the type of medication for you, then book in a consultation with Dr Anthony Downs. For patients outside the south west area Dr Downs is able to offer remote video consultations.
Please note your private medical insurance may not cover costs of medication or ongoing consultations for chronic medical conditions.
Dr. Anthony Downs has over 20 years experience in prescribing biologics for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. He has contributed to global clinical trials that have led to these medicines being licenced and continues to be active in clinical research in this field of medicine.
There are many different treatments for psoriasis, including topical creams, light therapy, and oral medications. For some people, these treatments are not effective enough or they cause unwanted side effects. In these cases, biologics may be a good option.
Biologics are a type of medication that works by targeting the immune system. They are typically used to treat moderate to severe psoriasis. Biologics can be very effective in clearing up psoriasis, and they often have fewer side effects than other treatments.
Here are five reasons to consider switching to biologics for psoriasis:
If you are considering switching to biological treatment for psoriasis, talk to Dr. Anthony Downs. Dr. Downs can help you decide if biologics are right for you and make the best decision for your individual needs.
Here are some additional things to consider when deciding whether or not to switch to biologics for psoriasis:
If you have any questions or concerns about biologics, get in touch with us today.
If you feel this is the type of medication for you, then book in a consultation with Dr Anthony Downs. For patients outside the south west area Dr Downs is able to offer remote video consultations
Dr. Anthony Downs has over 20 years experience in prescribing biologics for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. He has contributed to global clinical trials that have led to these medicines being licenced and continues to be active in clinical research in this field of medicine.
It has been two years since the meeting has been face to face and it was great for dermatologist and medical skincare professionals to re-connect with old friends and colleagues who practice dermatology in America and across the world at this international meeting.
The meeting is an important annual event for doctors that want to hear about new imminent treatments and clinical research developments in dermatology and essential continuous professional development for our skin experts.
Dr. Anthony Downs brought back many useful tips and advice that can be applied to his patients at home in the South West of England.
Hot topics in this year's AAD meeting focused around emerging eczema treatments and the relentless rise of skin cancer.
For the last two years this event has been hosted online, but this year saw the welcome return of the face-to-face meeting which Dr Anthony Downs, Consultant Dermatologist attended late November in London.
This meeting provides a resource to discuss recent therapeutic advances that impact current clinical Dermatology practice.
Topics this year included acne, leg ulcers, scars, lupus and JAK inhibitors.
Patients expect their doctors to be up-to-date, but this does not always mean recommending a treatment just because it is new. Gathering opinions from other expert colleagues in meetings such as these help our skin specialist decide what is reliable, effective, safe and appropriate for my patients.
These events offer important continuous professional development for our skin experts and help Consultant Dermatologist to stay on top of innovation, evolving technology and medical industry developments.
Since 2007 Dr. Anthony Downs and Dr. Christopher Bower have co-hosted delivered a national intense training course to training grade Dermatologists in order to help them pass the SCE exam.
After medical school it takes at least 8 years to become a Consultant Dermatologist. Often longer.
The SCE is a rather tough exam that has to be passed in order to progress. Coronavirus has meant that last year and this year the course has been transferred to online interactive sessions.
This dermatology training course is always heavily over-subscribed and very popular with the 'juniors' because of the quality of teaching and the focus we can provide directed at passing the exam.
The course ended the end of July 2021 and we wish all the delegates that attended the very best of luck in their exam later this year.
Dr. Downs & Dr. Bower are looking forward to passing on their dermatology knowledge and offering further CPD, useful advice and guidance for future Dermatologist and medical professional at the next event.
Dr. Anthony Downs will be taking over from Dr. Tom Lucke who has retired from private practice.
Dr. Downs will provide specialist opinion for patients with all types of skin disease. He has been a consultant dermatologist since 2000 and has held NHS consultant posts in Exeter & Taunton alongside his own private practices in Exeter, Torquay, Bristol and London.
Dr. Downs is able to offer:
He can also provide a range of cosmetic procedures including the removal of benign moles, skin tags, cysts and liver spots for cosmetic reasons.
Dr. Downs is recognised by all the major health insurers and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians; a member of the British Association of Dermatologists and British Society of Dermatological Surgeons; a member of the European Academy of DermatoVenereology and American Academy of Dermatology; a member of the British Medical Laser Association, International Dermoscopy Society and British Cosmetic Dermatology Group.
Our remote dermatology consultations are available using FaceTime Video or standard phone calls. Any necessary prescriptions can then be posted to you or to a pharmacy of your choice.
The UK meeting had speakers from Europe, USA and India.
Tumours around the nails are often difficult to diagnose and malignant tumours need early recognition and treatment to minimise complications.
Benign tumours can cause pain and often require treatment.
Surgery around the nail can be complicated, and great care is needed to minimise risks of permanent nail damage.
South West Dermatology is please to report that one of our skincare and dermatology consulting locations has been inspected by the CQC as an overall outstanding facility and a great place to see and treat patients.
Well done to the whole team at Exeter Medical for continuing to uphold the professionalism and provide the outstanding service their patients have come to expect since their launch back in 2006.
You can view the full report here
