Common Treatments of Psoriasis
When you have to live with it, the only thing you can think about is a good treatment for psoriasis. Your focus may be on clearing up the unsightly rash or it may be all about stopping the itching, burning, and pain. Regardless of the psoriasis symptom that bothers you the most, medical treatment is available and for some, it actually works. Here is a quick overview of the most commonly used methods to treat new psoriasis.
- non biologic therapy
- biological therapy
- combination therapy
The most frequently used option in non biologic therapy is topical treatments. This treatment of psoriasis is exactly what it sounds. It consists of creams and lotions applied directly to the affected areas. Some contain steroids or vitamin A supplements. The vitamin A or retinoid based medications are also used to treat severe acne. Phototherapy is another form of non biologic therapy. For the skin’s health, psoriasis is treated with different types of light. UVB light is the most commonly used one, but PUVA may be tried as well.
In the case of biological therapy in psoriasis treatments, the idea is to target the immune cells. It’s true that scientists and doctors don’t know the specific cause of psoriasis, but they have achieved a level of success in treatment by targeting the immune cells. It is thought that psoriasis may be caused in part by abnormal immune cells. Biological therapy consists of medications like Alfacept which inhibits the production of the abnormal immune cells. Etanercept is another medication used. Its job is to control the structural skin damage done by psoriasis. In some cases of psoriasis, drug therapy has worked very well.
If the other treatments of psoriasis don’t work, a combination method may be implemented. Though it can be used in any combination, it is most often a topical treatment combined with either light therapy or medication. When the treatment begins to work, the patient will be removed from one of the psoriasis drugs and left with the other as a maintenance treatment. For psoriasis, raptiva is a medication that shows a lot of promise in healing this skin condition.


Lisa S. 

