Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis is a painful and reoccurring condition that can be extremely difficult to prevent and treat. While there is no one Psoriasis Treatment that can help everyone, adding further to frustration is that a treatment that may have worked in the past, could have no effect on a current flare, but then work again in the future. This may make it necessary for sufferers to rotate through different treatments, or even combine them. Unfortunately, as yet there is no cure so these treatments will help prevent flare-ups and provide some relief but not get rid of the condition. However there are some Psoriasis prevention tips that can help prevent flare ups from occuring

 Topical Treatment

 Mostly available over the counter, and should be used for mild cases, include bath solutions, creams, ointments, medicated shampoo and the use of moisturizers. They generally consist of: cortisone- a type of steroid; tar- distilled from wood and coal, can make the skin more sensitive to the sun and tends to smell; calcipotriol- related to vitamin D is fairly effective; and dithranol- taken from tree bark, can cause a temporary discoloration of the skin.

 Phototherapy

 A long known Psoriasis Treatment is the exposure to sunlight. The use of the benefits of the suns rays is now being used in hospitals and clinics. Sunlight contains many different sorts of wavelengths of light, but the one being used for Psoriasis Treatment is ultraviolet, otherwise known as UV light. Ultraviolet wavelengths have been split up into three different levels, UVA, UVB and UVC. UVB is the type used to treat psoriasis. There are three different light treatments used. Wide Band UVB, Narrow Band UVB and PUVA.  The Band refers type to the lamp being used to administer the UV light. Wide Band is stronger and only needs to be used for a short period of time, while Narrow Band isn't as strong but is considered safer.  There is also PUVA, which combines the exposure to UVA, not UVB, and the administration of psoralen, which occurs naturally in some seeds. However this treatment does have the highest risk of side effects.

 Other Treatments

There are a number of different treatments available using pills or injections. The pills work to alter the immune system and have to be monitored very carefully. Patients generally have to have regular blood and liver tests to watch out for the serious side effects that can occur. The injections are a relatively new Psoriasis Treatment, that work by trying to normalize the immune system to target the abnormal cells that cause the psoriasis. The injections are very expensive, and have to be injected into a vein or muscle. They are currently only used for extreme cases.

 Alternative Therapies

 If your looking for bit more natural Psoriasis Treatment, if you ask me, you may have to travel. In certain countries they have outdoor pools of what they call 'doctor fish.' If you soak in these pools the fish will nibble off the only the affected areas of skin, giving you some temporary relief, but is a tad creepy if you ask me.