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Psoriasis Treatments

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder characterized by raised lesions with silvery scale that most often occur on the scalp, elbows, knees and lower back. It can range from a very mild, hardly noticeable rash to a severe eruption that covers large areas of the body. In some patients, psoriasis causes nail changes and joint pain (psoriatic arthritis).

Psoriasis affects 2% of people and is not contagious, but may be inherited. The first episode usually strikes between the ages of 15 and 35. It is a chronic condition that will then cycle through flare-ups and remissions throughout the rest of the patient’s life.
In normal skin, skin cells live for about 28 days and then are shed from the outermost layer of the skin. With psoriasis, the immune system sends a faulty signal which speeds up the growth cycle of skin cells. Skin cells mature in a matter of 3 to 6 days. The pace is so rapid that the body is unable to shed the dead cells, and patches of raised red skin covered by scaly, white flakes form on the skin.

What causes psoriasis?

The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood but has to do with hyperactivity of white blood cells (T-cells) that trigger inflammation in the skin and cause increased turnover. The skin starts to “pile up” in certain areas resulting in the lesions of psoriasis.
Psoriasis triggers are specific to each person. Some common triggers include stress, injury to the skin, medication allergies, diet, and weather. Flares of psoriasis may occur in the winter, during times of stress, after trauma to the skin, after an infection like strep throat, and with certain drugs such as beta-blockers, lithium, and anti-seizure medications.
People who have psoriasis are at greater risk of contracting other health problems, such as heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and diabetes. It has also been linked to a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, depression, obesity, and other immune-related conditions.

Types of psoriasis

There are five distinct types of psoriasis:
  • Plaque Psoriasis (Psoriasis Vulgaris): About 80% of all psoriasis sufferers get this form of the disease. It is typically found on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back. It classically appears as inflamed, red lesions covered by silvery-white scales.
  • Guttate Psoriasis: This form of psoriasis appears as small red dot-like spots, usually on the trunk or limbs. It occurs most frequently among children and young adults. Guttate psoriasis comes on suddenly, often in response to some other health problem or environmental trigger, such as strep throat, tonsillitis, stress or injury to the skin.
  • Inverse Psoriasis: This type of psoriasis appears as bright red lesions that are smooth and shiny. It is usually found in the armpits, groin, under the breasts and in skin folds around the genitals and buttocks.
  • Pustular Psoriasis: Pustular psoriasis looks like white blisters filled with pus surrounded by red skin. It can appear in a limited area of the skin or all over the body. The pus is made up of white blood cells and is not infectious. Triggers for pustular psoriasis include overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, irritating topical treatments, stress, infections, and sudden withdrawal from systemic (treating the whole body) medications.
  • Erythrodermic Psoriasis: One of the most inflamed forms of psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis looks like fiery, red skin covering large areas of the body that shed in white sheets instead of flakes. This form of psoriasis is usually very itchy and may cause some pain. Triggers for erythrodermic psoriasis include severe sunburn, infection, pneumonia, medications or abrupt withdrawal of systemic psoriasis treatment.

How to treat psoriasis

Psoriasis is not curable but is controllable. No single approach works for everyone. Therapy is individually tailored and based on your health, goals and a careful assessment of potential risks and benefits of treatment. Treatment of psoriasis depends on a patient’s overall health, presence of joint pain and severity of skin involvement.
Psoriasis is a genetic disease (it runs in families) but is not contagious. There is no known cure or method of prevention. Treatment aims to minimize the symptoms and speed healing. In mild cases, topical corticosteroids and medications are prescribed. Psoriasis is classified as mild-to-moderate when it covers 3% to 10% of the body and moderate-to-severe when it covers more than 10% of the body. The severity of the disease impacts the choice of treatments.
Mild-to-moderate psoriasis can generally be treated at home using a combination of three key strategies: over-the-counter medications, prescription topical treatments and light therapy/phototherapy.

Light Therapy/Phototherapy: At Affiliated Dermatology, we are proud to offer cutting-edge Excimer Lamp Therapy, a transformative solution for both pediatric and adult patients suffering from psoriasis. The Excimer Lamp represents a leap forward in dermatological treatments. This sophisticated technology uses controlled ultraviolet light, targeting affected skin areas with precision. The result is a treatment that’s not only effective but also safe and minimally invasive.

  • Precision and Efficacy: Specifically designed to target affected areas, this therapy minimizes exposure to healthy skin, enhancing effectiveness while reducing side effects.
  • Minimal Discomfort: Patients experience little to no discomfort during treatments, making it an ideal choice for both children and adults.
  • Quick and Convenient: Sessions are fast and efficient, easily fitting into your busy schedule.
  • Insurance Coverage: Recognizing the efficacy of Excimer Lamp therapy, most insurance plans cover this treatment, making it accessible and affordable.

Learn more about the EXCI30 laser with these FAQs provided by Aerolase.

Over-the-Counter Medications: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved of two active ingredients for the treatment of psoriasis: salicylic acid, which works by causing the outer layer to shed, and coal tar, which slows the rapid growth of cells. Other over-the-counter treatments include:
  • Scale lifters that help loosen and remove scales so that medicine can reach the lesions.
  • Bath solutions, like oilated oatmeal, Epsom salts or Dead Sea salts that remove scaling and relieve itching.
  • Occlusion, in which areas where topical treatments have been applied are covered to improve absorption and effectiveness.
  • Anti-itch preparations, such as calamine lotion or hydrocortisone creams.
  • Moisturizers designed to keep the skin lubricated, reduce redness and itchiness and promote healing.
  • Prescription Topical Treatments to slow down the growth of skin cells and reduce any inflammation.
  • Topical steroids, the most commonly prescribed medication for treating psoriasis. Topical steroids fight inflammation and reduce the swelling and redness of lesions.
  • Controlled exposure of skin to ultraviolet light has been a successful treatment for some forms of psoriasis.
  • Sunshine (both UVA and UVB rays). Sunshine can help alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis but must be used with careful monitoring to ensure that no other skin damage takes place. It is advised that exposure to sunshine be in controlled, short bursts.

Moderate-to-severe psoriasis treatments include prescription medications, biologics, and light therapy/phototherapy.

  • Oral medications. This includes acitretin, cyclosporine, and methotrexate. Your doctor will recommend the best oral medication based on the location, type, and severity of your condition.
  • Biologics. A new classification of injectable drugs, biologics are designed to suppress the immune system. These tend to be very expensive and have many side effects, so they are generally reserved for the most severe cases.
  • Sunshine (both UVA and UVB rays). Sunshine can help alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis but must be used with careful monitoring to ensure that no other skin damage takes place. It is advised that exposure to sunshine be limited to controlled, short bursts.

Request an Appointment

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a psoriasis specialist at one of our several dermatology offices in Arizona, please contact us by calling (480) 556-0446 or leaving us a message with the contact form below.

Schedule an Appointment

Whether you wish to receive treatment for a skin condition or an aesthetic procedure, you can be assured you will be treated with professional and personal care by one of our skin care experts. Please feel free to call us at (480) 556-0446 or leave us a message online using our Contact Us form.

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