How Is Psoriasis Treated?

Treatment depends on:

• How serious the disease is
• The size of the psoriasis patches
• The type of psoriasis
• How the patient reacts to certain treatments.

All treatments don't work the same for everyone. Doctors may switch treatments if one doesn't work, if there is a bad reaction, or if the treatment stops working.

Topical Treatment:

Treatments applied right on the skin (creams, ointments) may help. Treatments can:

• Help reduce swelling and skin cell turnover
• Suppress the immune system
• Help the skin peel and unclog pores.

Bath solutions and lotions may feel good, but they rarely make the skin better. They are often used along with stronger treatments.

Light Therapy:

Natural ultraviolet light from the sun and artificial ultraviolet light are used to treat psoriasis. One treatment, called PUVA, uses a combination of a drug that makes skin more sensitive to light and ultraviolet A light.

Systemic Treatment:

If the psoriasis is severe, doctors might prescribe drugs or give medicine through a shot. This is called systemic treatment. Antibiotics are not used to treat psoriasis unless bacteria make the psoriasis worse.

Combination Therapy:

When you combine topical (put on the skin), light, and systemic treatments, you can often use lower doses of each. Combination therapy can also lead to better results.