Treatment Options

Once you get your psoriasis diagnosed, your doctor will recommend or prescribe a course of treatments for you. If your psoriasis is mild, then you may be recommended over the counter treatments, otherwise you are likely to be prescribed medicated treatments. There are a range of treatment options for psoriasis, and doctors tend to start out by trying the options with the least severe side effects first. If these topical treatments fail, then they move onto phototherapy and systemic treatments.

Non-medicated Emollient Creams

If your psoriasis is not severe then it is likely that you will be prescribed an emollient cream, which is basically a hypoallergenic moisturising cream. This will help to moisturise the skin and help prevent the plaques from drying out and cracking. This in turn prevents the pain and itching, and will help aid the healing process. There are also a range of natural, herbal psoriasis treatment creams available over the counter.

Medicated Creams

For more severe psoriasis, or where non-medicated creams haven't made an improvement to your condition, medicated creams may be prescribed. These may contain steroids, or vitamin A – both of which help to normalise skin call production. Coal tar has been used for over a century in the treatment of psoriasis – and this could also be an active ingredient in a prescribed cream. Despite the foul smell, coal tar is effective at treating skin disorders such as psoriasis and dandruff.

Scalp Psoriasis

If your psoriasis is affecting your scalp then you may prescribed a specialist psoriasis shampoo. Again, these can be medicated or non-medicated, and there are a number of natural alternatives available.

Phototherapy

If topical applications prove unsuccessful then phototherapy is the next option. Whilst many psoriasis sufferers report that their condition improves after exposure to sunlight, phototherapy uses only the UVA part of the spectrum. This can also be combined with the drug Psoralen, which is activated by the UV light and helps to slow the production of skin cells.

Severe Psoriasis

In cases of more severe psoriasis there are systemic treatments. These are quite toxic medicines, so regular blood and liver tests are required to monitor their affect. These treatments are usually immunosuppressants or synthetic vitamin A.

Biologics are sometimes used – but these have to be administered by injection. They work by disrupting the immune system and are effective in reducing the symptoms of psoriasis.

Psychological Support

Psoriasis, although a skin condition can also affect the mental wellbeing of sufferers, as the plaques can lead to feelings of self consciousness and even depression. It is important for psoriasis sufferers to have a good network of friends and support, and online forums for psoriasis sufferers form an important resource for information and support.