Relieve Psoriasis Symptoms with Safer, More Effective Treatment Options.

How to treat psoriasis—and options to avoid.

The three main types of psoriasis treatment include:

• Topical therapy—a cream or ointment you apply directly to the affected area. This approach is better suited for patients with early localized psoriasis or mild symptoms.
• Light therapy—regular exposure to ultraviolet light, which can be done at our outpatient dermatology clinic or at home using a special unit. Not many facilities have light boxes on site, but we have a full-body machine that patients can use multiple times each week. I often recommend this approach to patients with moderate to severe symptoms for whom biologic therapies are not an option and topical therapy is not feasible.
• Biologic therapy—often recommended for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. These injectable medications target a specific part of the immune system to help decrease inflammation.

A decade ago, we were limited to only a few options for biologic therapy. Now we have nearly 11 choices available, thanks to a tremendous amount of research on psoriasis causes and triggers. Because these new medications effect only one part of the immune system instead of its entirety, they are safer and have fewer side effects. 

Newer biologics include Cosentyx®, Taltz®, Tremfya®, Skyrizi®, and Siliq®. These have all come to market in the past several years. They are highly effective with long-lasting results, and generally very well tolerated.

Patients often seek complementary and alternative therapies, but we don’t have robust data pointing to their success. Furthermore, many supplements and herbal remedies are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). So, you can’t be sure that the product you get is what you’re expecting. It’s better to stick to what we know is effective and helpful instead of experimenting and potentially making things worse.

Some studies do show a benefit to turmeric supplements which can offer anti-inflammatory benefits. Other than that, meditation, weight loss, and stress relief methods have been shown to be helpful. 

A holistic approach.

At MedStar Health, we evaluate each patient thoroughly, taking all their medical conditions into consideration and discussing how the disease affects their life. 

Our collaborative team approach allows us to work closely with rheumatology because many people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis—joint pain, swelling, and stiffness that can intermittently flare up damage the joints. Approximately 30% of patients with even mild psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis, as reported by the National Psoriasis Foundation. 

Increasingly clearer is the connection between the skin and mental health. Stress can make skin diseases worse, particularly in psoriasis. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, triggered many psoriasis flare-ups, and we continue to see more links between psoriasis and depression. 

This is why, in addition to medical therapy, we often recommend behavioral therapy. Stress relief techniques, such as yoga, meditation, and exercise, are an important part of a holistic psoriasis treatment plan.

As we are learning more about psoriasis, we have realized that this is a systemic inflammatory condition that goes beyond the skin and joints. Patients with psoriasis are also at increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and fatty liver disease. So, it’s also important to see your regular primary care physician for routine health screenings.