Itchy, flakypsoriasisis never fun, but it can also sometimes be downright painful.
What you should try first usually depends on the severity of your symptoms.
Over 10 percent is considered severe psoriasis.
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(For reference, the size of your hand isroughly one percentof your BSA.)
When figuring out your treatment plan, your dermatologist will use these measures to score your psoriasis.
Here are a few of the options out there that they might consider.
Topicals are a great option because theyre more targeted than other types of treatments.
In general, corticosteroids are a go-to for those with flare-ups who need results quickly.
These are fast-acting and have anti-inflammatory effects, and psoriasis tends to clear quickly with them, Dr. Khattri.
Theyre also available in different potencies, with milder topical corticosteroids less likely to cause side effects.
So, these medications arebest saved for an acute situationwhere you need fast relief, Dr. Khattri says.
Vitamin D analogs (such as calcitriol) also work byregulating the production and developmentof skin cells.
But that should subside quickly as you adjust to the treatment.
Coal tar is another potential option thats been used fornearly a century.
But using it on other areas of the body can be messy.
Light therapy
For more widespread psoriasis, including moderate-to-severe cases, light therapy may be prescribed.
It’s common to need treatments three times per week for a few months.
These days, light therapy involving narrowband UVB is most common.
The light therapy slows cell proliferation and has anti-inflammatory effects.
Oral PUVA therapy does have a potential to cause skin cancer with long-term use, says Ward.
Its important to note, though: Light therapy is not the same as a tanning bed!
It should not be used as such, or substituted with tanning bed use.
For instance, you will likely need consistent monitoring and may not be able to get certain vaccines.
Remember, psoriasis treatment is individualized.
Psoriasis treatments are not one-size-fits-all.
They are very individualistic, and also involve an increased focus on overall good wellness practices.
