Psoriasis treatment

Topical treatments

Everybody who has psoriasis will use topical treatments, and for some people this type of treatment will be sufficient to keep symptoms under control. Topical treatments for psoriasis fall into two groups:

Emollients are moisturisers and cleansers designed for very dry and sensitive skin. They are beneficial for people with psoriasis as they reduce dryness, scaling, cracking and itching. In addition, they can make it easier for the skin to absorb medicated creams.

Emollients come in a variety of forms. Some are designed as soap substitutes and bath oils for cleansing the skin when you’re bathing. Others are moisturisers, which should be applied to dry skin several times a day. Moisturising emollients come as ointments, creams and lotions – with ointments being thick and greasy, and lotions being watery and light.

Your GP may prescribe emollients, but you don’t need a prescription to buy them in a pharmacy. If you’re choosing your own emollient you should ideally look for a product that is non-fragranced and hypoallergenic, such as dermalex psoriasis or grahams natural psoriasis cream this will reduce the chances of skin irritation. If your skin is extremely dry, opt for ointments, as these contain a high quantity of fats and are very effective at moisturising the skin.

Emollient moisturisers should be applied at least twice a day – and ideally more if you can manage it. With effective emollient treatment, it’s sometimes possible to keep psoriasis symptoms under control.

Medicated topical treatments for psoriasis tend to contain the following:

These ingredients mostly work by slowing down skin cell production and reducing inflammation. Some can be found in over-the-counter products, while others are only available with a prescription. Dithranol is usually only administered in a hospital environment.

If emollient therapy is not sufficient in treating your psoriasis, your doctor will probably prescribe topical treatments containing vitamin D and or steroids. If these prove ineffective, other topical treatments might be necessary.

Some medicated treatments suitable for psoriasis such as hydrocortisone are available over the counter in your local pharmacy or online. However it’s best to speak to your doctor before you start using this kind of topical treatment.

Phototherapy

If emollients and medicated creams haven’t worked to bring your psoriasis symptoms under control, you may need to be referred to a dermatologist for phototherapy. This is where ultraviolet light is directed at affected areas of skin.

Phototherapy typically falls into three categories:

If you have psoriasis you should not self-medicate by using a sunbed, as this can put you at risk of skin cancer. Instead, speak to your doctor about safely receiving phototherapy from a dermatologist.

Systemic treatments

Systemic treatments are only recommended for people with very severe psoriasis that is not responding to other treatments. Systemic treatments can be biological or non-biological, and work throughout the entire body. They can be effective in treating severe psoriasis but can have serious side effects which you’ll have to talk through with your doctor.

Typically non-biological treatments are given as tablets and capsules, and biological treatments are given as injections.