Psoriasis Treatment

Treatment for psoriasis includes topical ointments or creams on the rash, and systemic medications taken by mouth or by injection. Most topical creams and ointments are steroid-based (cortisone-like). Ultraviolet light either as sunlight or as phototherapy is also helpful, as are Retin-A products.

Systemic medications include nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), mild forms of chemotherapy (also used in RA), and biologic drugs, which are medications that are aimed at specific substances that bring on the psoriasis inflammation. NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Chemotherapy includes methotrexate given as tablets or injection once a week, cyclosporine, azathioprine, leflunomide (all of them are also used in RA) and injections of biologics. Some of these are the same as we use in RA, for example, etanercept (Enbrel), Infliximab (Remicade), and adalimumab (Humira). Other biologics (alefacept, efalizumab) have been tried primarily for the skin lesions of psoriasis.

credits: everyday health