Treatment for psoriasis varies depending on the type, location and severity. Potential precipitating factors should also be elicited and addressed accordingly. These include:
- Drugs e.g. beta-blockers, anti-malarials, withdrawal of oral or potent topical corticosteroids
- Stress
- Environmental factors e.g. heat
- Trauma (Köbner phenomenon) - physical, chemical, electrical, surgical, infective and inflammatory
- Infection e.g. streptococcal throat infection
- HIV infection
- Metabolic e.g. hypocalcaemia (in pustular psoriasis)
Your doctor will assess your condition carefully before recommending the appropriate treatment. Regular use of moisturizers is important in reducing itching and scaling.
Mild psoriasis is usually treated with topical creams, ointments or scalp solutions. These include coal tar, dithranol, salicylic acid, corticosteroids, or vitamin D-type drugs (calcipotriol or calcitriol).
More severe psoriasis may require phototherapy with ultraviolet A (UVA) or B (UVB) light, which requires coming two to three times a week for treatment. Severe psoriasis not responding to the above may need tablets such as methotrexate, acitretin and cyclosporin. Unfortunately, oral medications can cause side effects such as bone marrow damage, liver damage and kidney damage, and requires regular blood tests to detect these side effects. New injectable biologic agents which are safe and effective are also available for patients who do not respond to conventional therapy.