Treatments for Psoriasis.

There is no cure for psoriasis and the purpose of psoriasis treatment is to reduce the symptoms of psoriasis. That means, the treatment of psoriasis aims to do the following.

• To stop the excessive production of skin cells, thereby reducing inflammation and formation of plaques.
• To remove the scales and smoothen and normalize the skin appearance as much as possible. This will help normalize the quality of life of the psoriasis patient as much as possible. Very often, treatment cannot completely clear the psoriasis lesions and some amount of erythema may remain.
• Minimize the side effects of the psoriasis medications used.

Educating the Psoriasis Patient.

Though this does nothing to treat the disease, yet this is an important aspect of treating the psoriasis patient, considering the social stigma attached to psoriasis and the depressive attitude that comes with it.

The following points are explained to the patient to put him at ease.

• Firstly, that it is not contagious.
• Secondly, that it is quite common. Prevalence of psoriasis explains this.
• Thirdly, that he or she has learn to live with it as psoriasis cannot be cured but can only be controlled.
• Fourthly, the causes and trigger factors that can trigger an onset or recurrence are explained.
• Fifth, the psoriasis risk factors.
• Last but not the least, the complications that can arise due to psoriasis.

Psoriasis Therapy.

There are three forms of treatments for psoriasis and each psoriasis remedy has its own indications. The most suitable treatment is decided by your dermatologist who takes into consideration three things to decide on the type of treatment.

• Type of psoriasis.
• Severity of psoriasis.
• Total proportion of the body involved.

Psoriasis Remedies.

The three remedies for psoriasis are:

1)      Topical treatments for psoriasis.

2)      Phototherapy or Light therapy.

3)      Systemic treatment with oral pills and injections and biologic medications.

Cost of Psoriasis Treatment.

The cost of systemic psoriasis therapy is rising very fast and the biology medicines can be costly. Annual approximate expenses for treatment of psoriasis are given below.

• Systemic psoriasis therapies can cost between $1200 (methotrexate) to $27500  (two 12 week courses with alefacept)
• Cost of photo therapy range from $3000 to $7000.
• Cost of treatment with biology medicines range from $18,400 to $27,500.

Summary:

In the treatment of psoriasis, therapies which have the least side effects are preferred. However in more severe resistant psoriasis, therapies with more serious side effects have to be deployed.  Medications with serious side effects are reserved for the severe and unresponsive forms of psoriasis. This treatment pattern is called psoriasis treatment ladder.

First step. Topical treatment using psoriasis creams and ointments.

Second step. It the topical treatment does not give the desired results, the psoriasis is treated with phototherapy or light therapy.

Third step. This step involves use of systemic treatment in which oral pills and injections and biologic medications are used to treat psoriasis.

Related posts:

1. Oral and Injection Treatment for Psoriasis.
2. Biologic Drugs for Psoriasis.
3. Statistics for Psoriasis.
4. Symptoms of Psoriasis.
5. Complications of Psoriasis.
6. Risk Factors That Can Give You Psoriasis.
7. Psoriasis Pictures.
8. Tests and Diagnosis for Psoriasis.