Psoriasis is caused by a skin condition in which skin cells multiply up to ten times faster than they normally would. This causes abnormally blushed, itchy patches of skin around the body that are often covered with white scales. Although these patches of skin can be restricted to certain areas of the body, they can be present all over the body for some people. They can also sometimes appear to have healed, only to come back later in life. If you have psoriasis, you were most probably born with it. The good news is that there are options for effective psoriasis treatment.
Typical Treatments for Psoriasis
There is no real cure for psoriasis, but it can be managed and the symptoms can be minimized significantly with the right kind of psoriasis treatment. Moisturizing the skin with a high quality topical corticosteroid cream moisturizer is helpful for many psoriasis sufferers. The creams reduce the inflammation and itching associated with psoriasis. If you smoke, quitting smoking can help reduce the symptoms. There are chemicals and toxins found in cigarette smoke that can aggravate the condition. Taking appropriate measures to reduce the stress of everyday life can help, too. Psoriasis flare-ups can be triggered by stress.
If you need a stronger, prescription strength corticosteroid cream, we can prescribe them for you. These are more effective for flare-ups that don’t respond to over-the-counter corticosteroid creams, ointments or lotions.
Sometimes, topical retinoids might be more effective for treating psoriasis. The vitamin A derivative contained in such medications has been shown to reduce inflammation. They have a tendency to increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight, so we advise our patients who use this medication to apply sunscreen while using it.
Light Therapies for Psoriasis
Therapy that involves either natural or artificial forms of light is called phototherapy. Exposing the skin to various forms of light has the effect of slowing the growth rate of skin cells and reducing symptoms of psoriasis. Although natural sunlight can be used for phototherapy psoriasis treatment, our sessions involve the use of artificial light that is carefully controlled by skilled professionals.
It’s always best to start with the mildest treatments at the beginning of your psoriasis treatment to see if they have a significant effect. These include topical creams and phototherapy treatments.
Here at Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta, we don’t want our patients to experience undesirable side effects, considering the discomfort they have to live with on an almost daily basis. Let us help you control your psoriasis flare-ups. Contact us today to book a consultation at our office in Alpharetta so that you can learn about all of your treatment options.