Traditional Treatments
Modern Medicine
Mild Cases
Lubricating creams or oils can be used to treat mild cases.
Topical steroid based creams and ointments and topical applications containing coal tar are often used to treat less severe cases of psoriasis.
Long term use of topical steroid based creams should be avoided, as they can cause side effects such as stretch marks and irritate healthy skin.
Suddenly stopping the treatment can make the condition worsen and the skin can become thinner, increasing the risk of infections.
Studies have shown that in large amounts, some chemicals in coal tar can cause cancer. The US FDA maintains that products containing .5% to 5% coal tar are safe, and that people using products with coal tar should be aware of the signs of skin cancer, and to have a skin cancer check with their dermatologist.
Information about a coal tar lawsuit in California is now difficult to find (see research links).
Severe Cases
Ultraviolet light therapy is used for more severe cases, but side effects include redness, itching and nausea.
Long term treatment may cause premature ageing of the skin and possibly, cataracts. Increased risk of skin cancer is possible, but not confirmed. Sunlight can also be beneficial.
Anthralin is also used as a topical treatment, but it should be used with caution, as it can be irritating. It is advised to use a short contact treatment where anthralin is washed off 30 minutes after application.
Oral retinoids such as Soriatane (acitretin) is used to treat severe forms of psoriasis.
However, side effects include severe birth defects if taken during pregnancy, and pregnancy is not advised for three years after discontinuing this treatment.
It is not yet known whether pregnancies occurring where the male partner is undergoing this treatment, are likely to result in birth defects.
Patients undergoing treatment are also not permitted to donate blood for at least three years after discontinuing treatment.
Topical retinoids such as Tazorac warn of similar side effects to oral retinoids i.e. birth defects.
Very Severe
For more severe cases, oral cortisone based drugs are often prescribed. However, common side effects include weight gain, disturbed sleep patterns, indigestion, increased blood sugar and blood pressure, development and aggravation of peptic ulcers and thinning and bruising of the skin.
For more resistant cases, immunosuppressants have been used, although these types of drugs have not been approved for treatment of psoriasis in the US.
Anti cancer drugs such as Methotrexate have been used to treat stubborn cases, but side effects include nausea, loss of appetite, possible hair loss, birth defects and liver damage.
Anti rejection drugs, such as Cyclosporine, given to organ transplant recipients are believed to be effective, but side effects can result in increased hair growth, shaking hands, kidney damage and high blood pressure, and the long term effects are still being studied.
See also relevant sections in our links pages.
