Psoriasis Treatment
Are you one of the many people that suffer from psoriasis? Although psoriasis is not curable there are several options that you can take to get relief during a flare-up.
Knowing what kind of psoriasis you have helps you and your doctor create an effective psoriasis treatment plan. Most people only have one type of psoriasis but sometimes a different form of psoriasis will come up in response to a trigger.
Some of the most common triggers of psoriasis include:
- Stress
- Medications
- Infection
- Allergies
- Diet
- Weather
Plaque Psoriasis
One of the most common forms of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis, affecting 8 out of ten cases. If you have plaque psoriasis, you may notice raised, inflamed skin covered by a silvery, white scales.
Guttate Psoriasis
This rare psoriasis often appears in children or young adults. It only occurs in 2% of people affected by psoriasis. Pustular Psoriasis
This uncommon form of psoriasis appears mostly in adults, causing pus-filled bumps surrounded by red skin.Although this type of psoriasis may show up only in one area such as your hands or feet, during severe flare-ups, it can cover your entire body. If this does happen, seek medical attention right away.
Inverse Psoriasis
Inverse psoriasis usually is accompanied by patches of skin that are bright red, smooth, and shiny but not scaly. Symptoms worsening if you sweat or touch the affected area.Erythrodermic Psoriasis
This is one of the rarest and severe types of psoriasis. When you're suffering from a flareup, you will notice that your skin looks burned and the affected area covers most of your body.Accompanying symptoms include:
- Itching killing or burning skin
- Increased heart rate
- A change in your body temperature
Types of Psoriasis Treatments
Topical
- Salicylic acid: Do you experience inflamed and scaly skin? If so, salicylic acid might be the best option for you. A salicylic ointment will smooth your skin through peeling and helps to soften the scales associated with psoriasis.
- Steroid based creams: Using steroid creams will help reduce your inflammation and relieve your itching symptoms.
- Coal shampoos and ointments: These products will slow the growth of your skin and help to reduce symptoms.
Phototherapy
Believe it or not, receiving doses of sunlight can help alleviate psoriasis symptoms.- PUVA: This is one of the most effective treatments in reducing psoriasis symptoms.
- UVB: Using ultraviolet light is good for trading psoriasis. Your doctor may prescribe a lightbox paired this with other therapies such as coal tar ointments.
- Narrow-band UVB therapy: Narrowband UVB therapy is one is the best treatment options for psoriasis. It is very effective and not harsh on your skin.
Medications
If all else fails, your doctor will prescribe medication orally or through an IV. Some of these include:- Oral retinoids: Oral retinoids are very helpful to people with severe psoriasis because they reduce swelling and redness.
- Biologics: These medications are given by injection or IV and will target specific areas of the immune system to block the proteins that cause flare-ups.
