Topical therapy is usually the first treatment used for mild Pso.[2] There is a wide variety available, including:[2]
Topical treatments containing emollients may hydrate the skin and stop it drying out, or contain other ingredients, like vitamin D, coal tar or corticosteroids, but can take time to apply.[2] If you’re taking corticosteroids, these can cause side effects, like thinning of the skin, so ask your healthcare professional whether you should take breaks from applying these.[2]
If your Pso has not improved as much as you or your healthcare professional would like with treatments applied to your skin, you may be offered short wave ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy 2-3 times a week.[3] Another type of phototherapy you could be offered is long wave ultraviolet A (UVA) light in combination with a chemical called psoralen in tablet form.[3] This is called P-UVA and is often used to treat pustules on the palms and soles of the feet, although it can’t be used in pregnant women or some people who are at a higher risk for skin cancers.[3]
The first systemic therapy you would usually be offered is methotrexate,[4] which suppresses inflammation in psoriasis.[1] If you and your healthcare professional decide that methotrexate isn’t appropriate, or it isn’t effective, some other options may include:
Your dose will probably be started low and slowly increased until you reach the dose that helps you with your symptoms.[4]
Biologic medications are a type of treatment for Pso that work throughout your body.[4] They are grown in a lab using living cells and target specific parts of the immune system.[6] These should only be prescribed by a specialist doctor with experience treating Pso or PsA, although your symptoms and side effects may be monitored by a clinical nurse specialist.[1][4]
There are a number of different types of biological treatment that the treatments above fall into:
If you’re going to be taking a biologic, you will probably need to be tested for tuberculosis (TB) and have blood tests before and during treatment.[7]
Make every moment of the consultation really count.
Work out how much your psoriasis might be affecting you.
You're not alone - there are other patients with psoriasis, just like you out there.
References