Treatment for Psoriasis

Read about Treatment for Psoriasis presented in simple easy to understand language

Treatment for the Psoriasis is specified depending on the sternness, location and history of the psoriasis. And there is no common treatment for all the psoriasis patients because treatment given to one person may not work for other. Treatment for Psoriasis mainly slows down the growth of the skin cells it does not cure the psoriasis completely.
The Types of Treatment include the Following

1) Ointments and Creams: Ointment such as Calcipotriene (Dovonex) is a most prescribed medicine for the treatment for Psoriasis which contain vitamin D. This helps to control the rapid production of skin cells. Creams such as, coal tar, anthralin are the types of topical medicines.

2) Light Therapy: There are many types of Light Therapy for the treatment of Psoriasis which includes,
• Ultraviolet B (UV-B)
• Narrow-band ultraviolet B
• PUVA
• Goeckerman treatment
• Exposure to natural sunlight
Ultraviolet B (UV-B): This therapy is mainly used to treat chronic plaque and guttate psoriasis. But the prolonged use of this treatment may cause the skin cancer.

PUVA: This treatment is a mixture of ultraviolet A light and light-sensitizing medications. This is mainly helpful in reducing the rapid growth of skin cells in extreme psoriasis.

3) Oral Medications: The oral medications are mainly useful in treating the severe psoriasis but the side effect caused by these is liver or kidney toxicity. Medicines include the following,

Methotrexate: This is an anti-cancer medicine that stops the rapid growth of the skin cells.
Cyclosporine: This is an anti-rejection medicine which suppresses the immune system and is used in organ transplants.
Retinoids: This medicine minimizes the production of skin cells. But if it is taken during pregnancy will cause the birth defects.

4) Immune-modulating drugs (biologics): The Biologics include Alefacept, Efalizumab and Etanercept. These are the immune-modulating drugs which are used in the case of severe psoriasis. They include. These medicines are given in the form of injection.