What are the treatments for psoriasis?

What are the treatments for psoriasis?

There are many effective psoriasis treatment options. The best treatment is determined individually by the attending physician and depends in part on the type of disease, its severity, and the amount of skin involved.

For mild disease involving only a small area of ​​the body (eg, less than 10% of the total skin surface), topical treatments (applications to the skin), such as creams, lotions, and sprays, can be very effective and safe to use. Sometimes it may be helpful to inject a small amount of steroid directly into hard or resistant isolated psoriatic plaques.

For moderate to severe disease involving a larger body area (> 10% or more of the skin surface), topical products may not be effective or practical. This may require UV therapy or systemic (systemic treatment such as pills or injections) medication. Oral medications usually carry a greater risk. Because topical treatments have no effect on psoriatic arthritis, systemic medications are often required to stop progression to permanent joint destruction.

It's important to remember that, as with any medical condition, all medications can have side effects. No drug is 100% effective for everyone, and no drug is 100% safe. The decision to use any medication requires thorough consideration and discussion with your healthcare provider. The risks and potential benefits of the drug must be considered for each type of psoriasis and the individual. Of two patients with the exact same disease, one may be tolerated with minimal treatment, while the other may be incapacitated and require internal therapy.

Recommendations to minimize the toxicity of some of these drugs are often referred to as "rotational" therapy. The idea is to switch psoriasis drugs every 6 to 24 months to minimize the toxicity of one drug. Depending on the drug chosen, this recommendation can be an option. An exception to this proposal is the use of newer biologics as described below. Individuals who have been using potent topical steroids on large areas of the body for a long time may benefit from stopping the steroids for a period of time and switching to a different therapy such as calcitriol (Vectical), light therapy, or systemic medications.

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