Psoriasis Treatment

Phototherapy psoriasis treatment utilizes the ability of ultraviolet light to slow down the abnormal rate of skin cell growth experienced by people suffering from this autoimmune disease. Phototherapy psoriasis treatment can be conducted with either ultraviolet type B or type A light (UVA/UVB).

UVB phototherapy psoriasis treatment

UVB is omnipresent in sunlight; therefore if a person suffering from psoriasis is lucky enough to live in a corner of the earth where sunlight is abundant, they can undergo “natural” phototherapy by simply exposing the affected areas of the skin to direct sunlight.

It is recommended that the patient follows a pattern of multiple but short exposures to direct sunlight. This should start with roughly minutes of exposure at noon, and should be gradually increased if the skin can withstand it. It is important that the affected areas are naked, but unaffected areas should be covered with a cloth or that, at the very least, sunscreen is applied on them.

This process has to be followed for several weeks before actual improvement is noticed. Care should be taken to avoid excessive exposure and possible sunburns. It should also be noted that risk of sunburn may be higher if the patient has been using some medications for psoriasis such as elidel (pimecrolimus) or coal tar. If this is the case, a doctor should be consulted prior to the patient’s exposure to the sun.

If getting enough sun is an issue due to location, season or time constraints, patients can resort to artificial phototherapy psoriasis treatment. This can be done in a clinic or at home, if an artificial UVB light source can be found. Phototherapy equipment needs to be prescribed, but thankfully some insurance companies can cover the cost of purchase.
Undergoing home phototherapy can be quite cost-effective, but still requires that a strict treatment program be followed. For this reason a patient should always consult their doctor in order to determine the required duration of exposure in each session, and the number of total sessions needed. Also, it is recommended that the patient’s condition is evaluated regularly throughout the duration of phototherapy psoriasis treatment.

UVA phototherapy psoriasis treatment

On its own, the UVA band is not as effective as UVB. Therefore, a light-sensitizing substance called psoralen is applied locally or given orally to the patient, in order to maximize the efficiency of UVA treatment. This method of treatment is called PUVA and can achieve similar results.

Unless otherwise directed, by your doctor, artificial and natural phototherapy psoriasis treatment should never be combined, because too much ultraviolet radiation can cause damage to the skin.

When a person first develops psoriasis, and, more generally, in cases where psoriasis is only affecting a relatively small area of the patient’s body, topical psoriasis treatment is usually recommended. Topical medications are available in many different forms and can utilize different mechanisms that decelerate abnormal skin growth and reduce inflammation induced by psoriasis. Many of these products are available over the counter, but some are only available by prescription.

Corticosteroids

The most commonly used substances fall into the category of corticosteroids (or simply “steroids”). They are also referred to as anti-inflammatories due to their ability to reduce swelling and redness of the skin.

Corticosteroids are classified according to their strength or potency, and range from class 1 (very strong/superpotent) to class 7 (very weak/least potent). The stronger a corticosteroid is, the more effectively it can clear psoriasis from a patient’s skin. The greater the strength of the steroid though, the higher risk of side effects.

Topical steroids cannot be used alone in order to adequately treat moderate or severe cases of psoriasis. If this is the case, they will have to be combined with other topical psoriasis treatment methods.

Continuous use of higher-strength steroids, or improper use of steroids (for instance, application of a steroid ointment in the wrong areas) can cause various side effects, which usually come in some form of skin damage. These can go away once a person stops taking steroids, but in some cases damage may be permanent.

Tips for all forms of topical psoriasis treatment

Topical psoriasis treatment medications come in various forms, such as creams, ointments, lotions, gels, and so on, and their form determines the rate at which the substance is absorbed by the skin. Typically, they are applied a couple times per day, however this may vary and you should always ask your doctor to determine proper dosage. It is also important that they are applied only to psoriasis lesions, so as to avoid the irritation of neighboring healthy skin tissue.

Furthermore, these medications should also not be applied to sensitive areas (such as the genitals or eyes) unless specifically directed by your doctor. Also, if you have been prescribed multiple topicals, it is important to remember that not only that you should not be applying them at the same time, but also that they may need to be applied in a particular order. Again, ask your doctor for details.

Lastly, it is crucial that all topical psoriasis treatment medications are applied consistently throughout the prescribed period. It is only then that they can be truly effective.

Usually, it is only in moderate to severe cases of psoriasis, that you may need to use injected and oral pills/capsules for psoriasis treatment. These medications can be highly effective but carry a much higher risk of side effects. Some of these substances used for psoriasis treatment can come in either form (injected and oral pills/capsules), however some others can only be administered with an injection. Injected and oral pills/capsules for psoriasis treatment are never sold over the counter; they are strong drugs that need to be prescribed.

Methotrexate

Methotrexate is a substance that can come in either form and can be used for the treatment of pustular psoriasis, plaque psoriasis as well as psoriatic erythroderma. However, it can also cause nausea and irregularities in the production of blood cells, while prolonged use may cause permanent damage to the liver. For this reason, methotrexate should not be used by any patient with liver disease and should also not be combined with alcohol. Lastly, it can cause harm to a fetus, so it is important that pregnant women do not use methotrexate and that men and woman alike use contraceptive measures during methotrexate therapy and for at least three months after it stops.

Acitretin

Acitretin comes only in the form of pills and can be used to treat severe cases of psoriasis by effectively halting the reproduction of skin cells. It is a strong retinoid that can cause extreme skin dryness and should only be used if other treatments fail. Therapeutic effects usually begin to show two to four weeks after treatment, but longer periods of time may be required. Because acitretin interferes with gene transcription, it is crucial that patients who undergo acitretin treatment refrain from donating blood for at least 3 years to avoid the risk of birth defects.

Etanercept

Etanercept is another drug used in the treatment of severe plaque psoriasis cases. Initially, it was available as lyophilized powder in small vials, which the patient would typically reconstitute at home with a diluent before proceeding to inject them subcutaneously.

Etanercept is an immunosuppressant, and this means that its use will generally deteriorate the immune defenses of the patient, exposing him/her to a greater risk of other health problems. For this reason, patients undergoing etanercept treatment should exercise extreme caution and be regularly screened by their physician.

There are just a few basic examples of the various injected and oral pills/capsules used for psoriasis treatment. As evidenced, it is important to understand what the main function of each drug (immunosuppressant/corticosteroid/retinoid etc) is and understand the side effects associated with all injected and oral pills/capsules for effective psoriasis treatment.

Symptoms of psoriasis can be treated with various products, and lots of them come in the form of a psoriasis shampoo or psoriasis cream. Many are available over the counter, while others have to be prescribed by a doctor, and some of them come in a ready-to-use form, while in other cases your doctor will prescribe specific instructions so that your pharmacist can produce them by mixing the appropriate substances together.

Tar shampoos

Tar shampoos are probably the most commonly used psoriasis shampoos. Tar can be derived from wood or coal, but coal tar is preferred for psoriasis treatment. Owing to its chemical composition, a psoriasis shampoo with tar can decelerate the abnormally rapid skin cell growth rate associated with psoriasis and assist in the restoration of the skin’s normal appearance. Furthermore, tar can also halt the expansion of symptoms, and is therefore a good means to keep the affected area in check. Tar psoriasis shampoos can also reduce skin inflammation, redness and itching caused by psoriasis.

When a tar shampoo is used, it needs to be left on the affected area for five to ten minutes before it is rinsed. Please note that tar remains active for hours after it has been washed off, and makes your skin a lot more sensitive to sunlight. Therefore, you should not to expose the treated area to the sun without sufficient protection.

Psoriasis creams

Apart from shampoos, a psoriasis treatment product may come in the form of a psoriasis cream. These creams can be based on various substances, such as corticosteroids, coal tar, salicylic acid, vitamins A and D, and so on. The main advantage of a psoriasis cream is that, since it is a relatively greasy product, it can essentially entrap water into the skin and act as a heavy-duty moisturizer. The resulting improvement in skin lubrication can have a positive effect on the alleviation of psoriasis symptoms.

Argan oil in psoriasis shampoos and creams

Psoriasis shampoos and creams that contain argan oil as an active ingredient can be extremely effective. Argan oil is derived from the kernels of the argan tree and is extremely valued for its medicinal properties. It is an excellent moisturizing agent and can make a world of difference to psoriatic patients, as it can greatly reduce itching and redness and assist in skin healing. Seeing is believing, so if in doubt about the efficiency of argan oil as an ingredient of a psoriasis shampoo or psoriasis cream, we recommend reading this true story of an Irish person who found the solution to his psoriasis problems thanks to argan oil.

Can your diet affect your psoriasis? The question is the subject of much study and debate, but it stands to reason that diet alone can affect your health and psoriasis being a health condition your diet should by extension have an impact. It is always amazing to discover new ways in which the foods we eat can directly affect the way we look and feel. The saying, you are what you eat, has more truth to it than many of us want to admit.

Gluten Free Psoriasis Diet

The current trend of research toward a psoriasis diet is in those studying the impact of a gluten free dietary regimen. Gluten itself is found in wheat and other farmed grasses. Gluten is a cause of celiac disease and celiac disease is known for its affect on the skin. When a person that must avoid gluten due to celiac has a severe reaction to ingested gluten, this reaction manifests itself in a pustular rash on the skin. These same types of pustules are also seen in more severe cases of psoriasis and as a result some have made the connection that a gluten free diet can serve as the foundation for a psoriasis diet.

The research on the affect of this gluten free approach to a psoriasis diet has not been subjected to the rigors of a clinical trial and peer review, but some basic clinical studies have found that there is a high correlation between a strict gluten free diet and a reduction in symptoms of psoriasis.

History of Psoriasis Diet

The history of the search for a psoriasis diet has been marked with disappointing results. There was a time when it was thought that a diet rich in fish oil would reduce symptoms of psoriasis. This study followed the logic that Greenland Eskimos, who have a low occurrence of psoriasis within their population while in their native environment and eating a diet heavy in fish, saw a normalization of psoriasis levels across their population as they left their native land and migrated to urban areas where their diet was significantly changed. In other words, once they left their omega-3 rich diet, their rate of psoriasis within their population increased. The problem with using non-isolated variables to determine cause and effect is that just because there is a correlation between two things does not mean there is a causation connection. In the case of fish oil, there has not been any other evidence to substantiate a claim of a reduction in the symptoms of psoriasis by eating a diet that is rich in omega-3′s.

With this said, those studying the gluten free diet correlation are adhering to a more scientific approach and even though preliminary findings are showing a positive direct correlation, those studying the issue have yet to make any major claims. One thing is for certain, a diet that is gluten free cannot hurt your condition and if it even has the potential to make a positive difference it would be worth the effort of giving the gluten free psoriasis diet a try. Worst case scenario, you will experience the other proven benefits of the diet and your psoriasis will remain untreated. For other options on Psoriasis treatment click the link.

Psoriasis Diet Video

There are also some different opinions on Psoriasis diet, as you can see in the following video: