What Treatments are Available for Psoriasis?

Treatments for psoriasis are often very effective, but are time consuming to apply. A wide number of treatments are available for psoriasis, and there have been huge advances in the last decade in the management of severe psoriasis. Some of the new injected treatments for very severe psoriasis have revolutionised treatment and are among the most exciting developments in dermatology.

Mild and moderate psoriasis is often best treated using topical creams, gels or lotions which can be highly effective. Several different types exist and these often work best in combination. Your dermatologist will advise you on which combination is most likely to help you. Treatments include topical vitamin D-like treatments, corticosteroids, coal-tar based preparations, vitamin A-like preparations and dithranol an effective plant-derived treatment.

More severe psoriasis, or psoriasis that is having a major impact on quality-of-life is often best treated with specialised ultraviolet light treatments, oral treatments which control the body’s tendency to cause psoriasis inflammation or, for patients who do not respond, injectable ‘biological’ treatments which are often highly effective. Dermatologists will be able to discuss the pros and cons of these treatments with you and help you select the treatment that is most appropriate for you.