Effective Treatments for All Types and Severities of Psoriasis

By | September 22, 2022

Psoriasis is a type of skin ailment that causes skin cell multiplication up to 10 times more than the normal rate. In this condition, the skin builds up patches on the skin covered with white scales. Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body but usually, the patches appear on the elbows, scalp, knees, and lower back. This is a non-transmittable condition but it can be genetic. This condition usually appears in early childhood and covers a few areas. But if a person is facing a severe psoriasis case, the patches can appear on large parts of the body. He should get a proper psoriasis treatment Pennsylvania. These patches of psoriasis can heal and come back throughout life. 

Effective Treatments for All Types and Severities of Psoriasis

Symptoms of Psoriasis disorder

The symptoms of this condition depend on their type. But there are few common symptoms of psoriasis disorder. 

  1. Plaques of red skin often covered with silvery scales
  2. The plaques can be painful and itchy
  3. Small crack and bleed
  4. Discoloration and pitting of the nails
  5. Nails may detach from the bed or may get crumble
  6. Cyclic rash that appears for few weeks or months 

Sometimes, people with this condition may also get a type of arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis. In this condition, the joints get swollen and cause pain.

Common causes of Psoriasis

There is no particular reason behind Psoriasis. Some research shows that the condition can appear due to a combination of several things. Any wrong message to the immune system can cause inflammation and trigger new cell formation. The skin cells get replaced in 10 to 30 days. But when a person has psoriasis, the skin starts to be replaced every 3-4 days. Due to this, the cells start building up on one another which creates the silver scales. This skin condition can run in families. 

Common triggers for Psoriasis:

  1. Some common infections like a skin infection or strep throat can trigger psoriasis
  2. Smoking or secondhand smoke
  3. Weather changes, usually cold and dry conditions
  4. Alcohol abuse
  5. Any skin injury like a cut, severe sunburn, or bug bite
  6. Certain medications like high bp drugs, lithium, antimalarial drugs, etc

Types of Psoriasis disorder

Pustular Psoriasis: In this condition, the skin and scaly with tiny pustules on the palms and soles.

Inverse Psoriasis: The skin gets bright red and shiny lesions to appear on skin folds like the groin, under breasts or armpits, etc.

Guttate Psoriasis: This type of psoriasis mainly starts in childhood and can cause red spots in the torso and limbs. Guttate psoriasis mainly appears due to stress or any kind of skin injury. 

Erythrodermic Psoriasis: This condition causes redness in the skin. The scales start shedding in sheets. Erythrodermic psoriasis is mainly triggered by infection and severe sunburn.

Common treatment options for Psoriasis

There is no permanent cure for this skin condition. However, few treatment options can reduce the symptoms and recurrence. 

Topical treatments

These are those medicines that you can directly apply to the skin. Topical treatments help deal with mild to moderate psoriasis. People usually apply moisturizers to reduce itchiness and inflammation. Your doctor may suggest certain OTCs like ointment, creams, gels, etc. 

Steroid creams

Applying steroid creams to the skin can slow down the immune cells of the skin. These creams help in reducing redness and swelling. Mild creams are available as OTCs and you can easily get them from any drug store. For strong steroid cream, you need a doctor’s prescription. Don’t use steroid creams in sensitive areas like the face and genitals.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid can soften the skin and reduce the scales. But if you have dry skin, it may irritate. In some cases, salicylic acid can weaken hair follicles and cause temporary hair loss. Some other topical treatments for this condition are Calcipotriol, Tapinarof, Tazorac, Immunosuppressants, Coal tar ointment, shampoo, etc.

Phototherapy for Psoriasis

You can also get a phototherapy treatment for reducing the symptoms of psoriasis.

Light Therapy

This therapy can slow down the speed of new cell generation. For this therapy, you have to visit the dermatologist a few times a week. Some at-home kits can be used for light therapy. But you must visit the doctor before using any light-therapy kit. 

Narrowband UVB and Broadband UVB Therapy

These are the types of targeted UV light. In narrowband therapy, you have to stand in a light box and the doctor will pass light over the body from another source. In broadband UVB therapy, it sends a wider range of UVB light. 

Systemic treatments

The doctor suggests systemic treatment only when the condition is severe are these drugs can cause various side effects.

Immunosuppressants

If other types of treatment are not providing positive results, the doctor may provide you with certain drugs that can slow down the entire immune system. These are available in pills as well as in shots. Methotrexate is only suggested when the condition is very severe. Cyclosporine and cyclosporine are also some immunosuppressants used to treat this condition. 

Enzyme inhibitor

This drug can target and slow down psoriasis causing immune cells. It is available in pills and considered as safe. But some research shows that it can have side effects like mood changes. Some oral retinoids are available to treat psoriasis.