Information About Treatment For Psoriasis

There is a chronic disease called psoriasis that negatively affects the life term of skin cells. It creates a fast accumulation of cells on the surface of the skin. Dry, red, itchy patches or thick, silver scales will form on the skin. There are prescription medications as well as over the counter medication and home remedies that can be used as a treatment for psoriasis.

All the treatments will interrupt the cycle that causes the production of the skin cells to increase. It also aids in the reduction of inflammation and plaque formation. It will help with smoothing the skin and removing the excess skin. This is especially true in the case of topical treatments that you can apply directly onto the skin.

Treatment plans consist of three main types. Light therapy, oral medications and topical treatments form part of the main types of treatment. Artificial UV or natural light is used during light therapy. For an easy treatment option, you should expose the skin to a restricted amount of natural sunlight. Artificial UV light could be utilized on its own or in combination with other medications.

When the activated cells are exposed to the UV rays in sunlight or in artificial light, they will die. This, in turn, slows down turnover of skin cells and thus reduces inflammation and scaling. Be careful when using natural sunlight as overexposure can damage your skin and may worsen the symptoms. A combination of light therapy and other treatments like retinoids often improves the effectiveness of photo-therapy.

If you suffer from a mild or middling case of psoriasis, you might find relief by applying creams and ointments directly to the skin. If the disease is serious, the ointments could be combined with oral medication or light therapy in order for it to be more effective. Topical corticosteroids are often prescribed for the disease in mild cases as it is a powerful anti-inflammation drug.

The growth of additional skin cells can be slowed down with the use of creams which have synthetic vitamin D added. The ointment will suit mild to moderate instances of this condition. It can be combined with other medications or light therapy in more severe instances. A treatment that has been used for centuries is coal tar. This is a thick, black derivative of petroleum and coal products. It will aid in the reduction of scaling, inflammation and itching. Not many side-effects have been reported. It can be messy and can cause bedding and clothing to become stained. It also possesses a very strong odor. It can be obtained over the counter as an oil, cream or shampoo.

If you suffer from a severe case of this disease, a retinoid could be prescribed. It will reduce the development of excess skin cells. According to research, it has been discovered that the disease symptoms may return shortly after this therapy is stopped. The side effects to using retinoids include hair loss, itching and dryness of the skin.

Pregnant women or those who think they may be pregnant should avoid retinoids as it has been known to cause severe birth defects. Women who have been on retinoid therapy should avoid becoming pregnant for at least three years after the treatment. If you can find out what triggers the disease, try to avoid it. Stress, infections and smoking could be triggers.