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What Are the Treatments?

Despite the fact that psoriasis is technically incurable, it responds well to most treatments for dermatitis. Treatment advances mean that even those with severe psoriasis can get relief during flare-ups in about 85% to 90% of cases.

Topical Treatment Options

A standard treatment recommended by many doctors is to soak in a warm bath for 10 to 15 minutes, then immediately apply a topical ointment such as petroleum jelly, which helps your skin retain moisture.

• Some doctors recommend salicylic acid ointment, which smoothes the skin by promoting the shedding of psoriatic scales.
• Steroid-based creams are effective; however, because they can have harmful side effects, psoriasis sufferers should be especially careful to follow their doctor's instructions.
• A topical ointment containing calcipotriene, which is related to vitamin D, has proven to be as effective as hydrocortisone creams for treating psoriasis, but only limited amounts should be used to avoid side effects.
• Coal-tar ointments and shampoos can alleviate symptoms, but many psoriasis patients seem vulnerable to the side effects — in particular folliculitis, a pimple-like rash affecting the hair follicles. These medicines should be used only under a doctor's supervision. Anthralin therapy is generally reserved for severe forms of psoriasis. Anthralin salve is carefully applied to the affected areas and removed after 10 to 30 minutes. All the white scales should be gone, revealing an underlying layer of fresh, normal skin. If not properly applied by a trained therapist, however, anthralin may irritate healthy skin and leave stains that can last several weeks.
• Prescription vitamin A-related gels don't work as quickly as steroids but tend to have fewer side effects. Women of childbearing age should use birth control while taking this medication because of the risk of birth defects.

Even daily doses of sunlight — not enough to produce sunburn though — can help lesions in many people.

However, people should also try to avoid psoriasis triggers, such as skin injuries, insect bites, viral or bacterial infections, sunburns, stress, alcohol and being overweigh

Light Therapy Treatments

For persistent, difficult-to-treat cases of psoriasis, many medical doctors recommend and prescribe light therapy. One of the most effective treatments — known as PUVA, a combination of the drug psoralen and ultraviolet A light — has been shown to contribute to an increased risk of skin cancer, even decades after therapy has stopped however.

Some doctors may prescribe ultraviolet B light (UVB) treatment using a light box alone or with other therapies such as coal tar. A relatively new type of light treatment, called narrow band UVB therapy, may be less carcinogenic than PUVA but just as effective.

Laser treatments may also be an option for some cases of psoriasis.

Oral Medications

When other treatments fail, some doctors prescribe oral medications to treat psoriasis. Some of these medications affect the immune system. One such medication is methotrexate, an anticancer drug, which can produce dramatic clearing of the psoriasis lesions. However, it can cause side effects, so the prescribing doctor should perform regular blood tests. Other medications of this type include cyclosporine or hydroxyurea.

Retinoids, compounds with vitamin A-like properties, can be helpful to people with severe psoriasis. As with the topical vitamin A-like creams, women of childbearing age need to use birth control.

Alternatives for people with severe psoriasis are on the horizon. Several treatments in development focus on controlling the body's immune response.