The good news about psoriasis is that there are a lot of therapy options available -- from home therapy treatments to injectable treatments that can only be given in a doctor's office.
The home treatments involve using OTC hydrocortisone cream, coal tar preparations, including shampoos, and emollients that keep the skin soft and smooth.
The scales are easier to come off using these treatments and the itching is better controlled.
For really getting at the psoriasis and resolving the lesions, you need to consider using prescription psoriasis therapy options.
These can include very strong corticosteroid creams or ointments, strong corticosteroid shampoos and related items that cut down on the irritation of the skin and block some of the inflammation.
Corticosteroids have been in use for a long time and are tried and true psoriasis treatments.
Many corticosteroid creams also add salicylic acid to get at some of the scales and to absorb the corticosteroids better.
Steroids can be injected into the lesion itself and can work to reduce inflammation and irritation.
Light therapy is another good form of psoriasis treatment.
There is UVB therapy which can be used as lamps you use at home or treatment at the dermatologist's office every few days until the lesions heal.
UVA light is used with psoralens, medications that sensitize the psoriasis lesions to UVA light.
The resultant treatment is called PUVA.
The downside of light therapy in general, and especially with PUVA, is that there is a risk of getting skin cancer years down the road after receiving this therapy.
You can also get sunburned from this form of psoriasis therapy.
Other topical therapy employs the use of vitamin A and vitamin D analogues.
A medication like calcipotriene, which is a vitamin D3 analog, comes as Dovonex or Taclonex.
This medication slows the rate of cell growth, removes the scaliness of psoriasis and flattens the lesions.
It doesn't do much to relieve inflammation but the reddened areas of the skin gradually fade over the course of time.
Dovonex can be used along with topical corticosteroids.
In fact, one can use the steroids during the day and put on the Dovonex at night.
It also works well as an adjunct to light therapy.
Dovonex cannot be used with salicylic acid as the acid inactivates the Dovonex.
Taclonex is a newer form of calcipotriene that combines the drug with betamethasone (a corticosteroid), giving you the best of both forms of treatments.
Topical retinoids are vitamin A analogues and include Tazorac.
It can be used for the nails, the scalp and the face, as well as the usual places for psoriasis and results may be seen within 2-12 weeks.
You cannot use retinoids in pregnant women because of a risk of birth defects.
Biologics are even newer forms of treatments for psoriasis.
These include Enbrel and Humira.
They are injectable forms of therapy that attack an aspect of the immune system.
Injections are given every two weeks for up to three months and in two-thirds of people, a remarkable improvement in their psoriasis is seen.
The treatment lasts for many months afterward before the treatments need to be begun again.