It can be challenging to find the right psoriasis treatment for you. Sometimes a combination of treatments will work the best. What can add more frustration is the fact that a treatment or a combination of treatments that works great for a friend may not work as well for you. This is why it is important to take the time to learn about the latest psoriasis treatments and work in conjunction with your skincare professional to find a treatment that can either minimize your symptoms or eliminate them completely.
An example of a psoriasis treatment that might work in your case is biologic drugs. These drugs are administered via IV or injection. These are protein-based drugs that are created from living cells at a laboratory. The use of biologics in medicine is not new. It has been a common practice for over a century. What is a new and what is especially beneficial for psoriasis sufferers is that biologics can be tailored to attack specific parts of the immune system as opposed to providing a systematic psoriasis treatment.
When used to help psoriasis sufferers, biologics target a specific immune cell called a T-cell. These are the cells that play a big part in the development of psoriasis. Our medical professionals can discuss these options with you to let you know if they may work in your case.
Systemic medications are more traditional medications. These are drugs that are designed to work on your entire body. Systemic medications may be prescribed for a person who has moderate or even severe psoriasis. Usually, systemic medications are only prescribed after less invasive treatments, such as topical medications or light therapy, are used. Systemic medications can be administered orally or via injection. They have been utilized as psoriasis treatment for more than a decade.
Topical treatments are medications that are applied directly to the skin at the location of an outbreak. These are usually the first type of psoriasis treatment our doctors will most likelyl prescribe in trying to help you treat a psoriasis outbreak. Topical treatments serve the purpose of slowing down cell reproduction. For an individual with psoriasis, this slowdown can be enough to make their cell reproduction normal.
There are a variety of effective topical treatments for psoriasis. Some of them are available at your local drugstore as an over-the-counter medication, and others require prescriptions. Corticosteroids are among some of the most popular topical treatments used for psoriasis. Their effectiveness comes from their ability to reduce swelling and reduce the redness of lesions. Other topical treatments that contain salicylic acid and coal tar can be effective and have received approval by the FDA. Itching can be minimized using treatments such as Oliveira, zinc, and capsaicin.
There are a number of alternative therapies, including acupuncture, aromatherapy, special diets, and herbs, that have helped some minimize some of their symptoms connected to psoriasis.
Battling psoriasis can be a challenge. But it is a challenge that can be successfully overcome. Learn more about psoriasis treatment options that are available. Contact Dundee Dermatology today to schedule your consultation! We are conveniently located in West Dundee, IL.
