Psoriasis Treatment

Today, there are many different treatments available to help control psoriasis. Some can be found over the counter at a drugstore, while others are available by prescription only. No single treatment works for everyone. The goal is to find a treatment that works the best with the fewest side effects. One of the first principles of psoriasis treatment is to not create anything worse than the disease.

Dermatologists often use a trial-and-error approach to finding the most appropriate psoriasis treatment. The decision to use a particular treatment is based on the type of psoriasis, its location, extent, severity, the patient's age, gender and quality of life.

Psoriasis treatment ladder
The choice of psoriasis treatment should progress in a step-wise fashion. Medications with the fewest side effects should be employed first, although these medications are usually the least effective. If the treatment goal is not achieved or if the psoriasis is more severe, therapies with greater toxicity may be initiated. Agents with significant toxicity are usually reserved for severe unresponsive psoriasis.

This is called the psoriasis treatment ladder:




There are 3 basic types of treatments for psoriasis:

1. Topical treatment (medicated ointments or creams applied to the skin) - Topical treatments agents applied to the skin-are usually the first line of defense in treating psoriasis. Topicals slow down or normalize that excessive cell reproduction, remove built-up scale, reduce skin turn over, and clear affected skin of plaques. Some topical agents are used in conjunction with other therapies, especially phototherapy.
2. Phototherapy (UVB, PUVA and lasers) involves exposing the skin to wavelengths of ultraviolet light under medical supervision. The ancient observation that sunlight improves psoriasis prompted attempts to mimic the effects of natural sunlight and resulted in the development of modern phototherapy treatment. Ultraviolet light treatment is frequently combined with topical or systemic treatment.
3. Systemic treatment (medications taken into the body by pill or injection). Psoriasis which is resistant to topical treatment and phototherapy is treated by agents that are taken internally by pill or injection. This is called systemic treatment. Systemic medications are prescription medications that affect the entire body, and are usually reserved for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. The decision to progress to systemic treatment should be based not only on objective disease severity, but also on social and psychological factors, including the patient's quality of life. The treatments for extensive and severe forms of psoriasis have long-term side effects.

Alternative Psoriasis treatments

The use of alternative psoriasis treatments are becoming more common as more and more people choose to treat their condition in more nontraditional ways. They have become tired of finding a traditional therapy that works, or may be concerned about the side effects many of those therapies produce. Alternative psoriasis treatments are in most cases perfectly safe.

Alternative psoriasis treatments include:

• Acupuncture
• Ayurveda
• Manipulation Treatment
• Osteopathy
• Climatotherapy
• Diet
• Dietary Supplements
• Homeopathy
• Water Therapies (Balneotherapy, Heliotherapy, Phytotherapy, Thalassotherapy)
• Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatments
• Meditation and Relaxation
• Herbology
• Hypnosis
• Moisturizing Products
• Magnets
• Epsom salt
• Neem oil
• Fasting

psoriasis

Types of Psoriasis

Several types of psoriasis exist, each with unique signs and symptoms. These include:

• Plaque psoriasis (psoriasis vulgaris) is the most common form of psoriasis. It causes dry, red skin lesions (plaques) covered with silvery scales. The plaques itch or feel sore and may occur anywhere on your body. About 80% of people who develop psoriasis have plaque psoriasis.
• Nail psoriasis produces a variety of changes in the appearance of finger and toe nails (pitting, abnormal nail growth, discoloration). Psoriatic nails may become loose and separate from the nail bed (onycholysis). Severe cases may cause the nail to crumble.
• Scalp psoriasis occurs in at least half of all people with psoriasis. It can range from very mild with fine scaling to very severe with thick, crusted plaques.
• Guttate psoriasis primarily affects people younger than 30 and is usually triggered by a bacterial infection such as strep throat. It is characterized by numerous small oval spots that appear over large areas of the body, such as the trunk, limbs, and scalp.
• Inverse or Flexural psoriasis mainly affecting the skin in the armpits, groin, under the breasts and around the genitals. It appears as smooth inflamed patches of skin and is aggravated by friction and sweat.
• Pustular psoriasis appears as raised bumps that are filled with non-infectious pustules. Yellow round pustules appear on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, or generalised with widespread patches occurring randomly on any part of the body. They gradually turn brown and are shed as scales reach the surface. Generalized pustular psoriasis can also cause fever, chills, severe itching, weight loss and fatigue.
• Erythrodermic psoriasis is the least common type of psoriasis but very serious and may require admission to hospital. Erythrodermic psoriasis can cover entire body with a red, peeling rash that can itch or burn intensely. This form of psoriasis can be fatal, as the extreme inflammation and exfoliation disrupt the body's ability to regulate temperature and for the skin to perform barrier functions.
• Psoriatic arthritis is condition that causes deterioration, pain, and stiffness in the joints. Symptoms range from mild to severe. Psoriatic arthritis most commonly involves the fingers and toes. Joints in the neck, back, knees, ankles, and other areas also may be affected. In addition to being painful and stiff, the involved areas usually feel hot. Although the disease usually isn't as crippling as other forms of arthritis, it can cause stiffness and progressive joint damage that in the most serious cases may lead to permanent deformity. About 10-15% of people who have psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis.

Is psoriasis contagious?

Psoriasis is not contagious. You can't catch psoriasis from another person or give it to someone by touching them, and you can't spread it to other parts of your body.

What Causes Psoriasis?

The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood. Recent research indicates that it is likely a disorder of the immune system in which the excessive reproduction of skin cells is secondary to factors produced by the immune system.

Scientists now think that, in psoriasis, an abnormal immune system causes activity by T cells in the skin. Normally, T cells help protect the body against infection and disease, but in the case of psoriasis, they mistakenly attack skin cells instead. The body then produces other immune system responses, leading to swelling and rapid production of skin cells.

In areas affected by psoriasis, there seems to be a rapid increase in the speed at which skin cells are replaced. Skin usually takes about 28 days to mature and shed, but in areas affected by psoriasis it only takes three or four days. The dead cells build up on the skin, forming thick, flaky patches called plaques.

It is not known what initiates the activation of the T cells.

Several factors are thought to aggravate psoriasis:

• Infections
• Diseases that weaken the immune system
• Stress
• Certain medications
• Smoking
• Certain chemicals
• Severe sunburn

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is probably one of the longest known illnesses of humans and simultaneously one of the most misunderstood.

Psoriasis is a disease which affects the skin and joints and commonly causes red scaly patches to appear on the skin. The scaly patches caused by psoriasis are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production. Between 10- 30% of people who develop psoriasis get a related form of arthritis called psoriatic arthritis, which causes inflammation of the joints.

Psoriasis can cause pain, itching, burning and emotional distress. It affects both sexes equally and can occur at any age, although it most commonly appears for the first time between the ages of 15 and 25.

Today more than seven million Americans suffer with psoriasis. Recent studies show that there may be an ethnic link. It seems that psoriasis is most common in Caucasians and slightly less common in African Americans. Worldwide, it is most common in Scandinavia and other parts of northern Europe. It appears to be far less common among Asians and Native Americans.

There are many psoriasis treatment options including medications, light therapy, and alternative therapies. Psoriasis is a persistent, long-lasting (chronic) disease.

Here is a picture of a young man whose back and arms are affected by psoriasis:

Psoriasis Treatment Blog

Welcome to the psoriasis treatment blog. Here you will find information on the psoriasis treatment and learn about the symptoms and causes of psoriasis, a skin condition characterized by dry red patches covered with scales.