The purpose of all psoriasis treatments is to reduce inflammation and slow down rapid skin cell division. Topical medications can offer considerable relief and side effects are usually limited to the areas of the skin where they’re applied. The disadvantages are that they’re often messy and may be difficult to apply to large body areas and those that are difficult to reach. Also, when they are applied to large areas of the body, or for long periods of time, they can cause significant side effects.

If your skin does not respond to topical treatments, your dermatologist may recommend using ultraviolet (UV) light, also known as phototherapy. Phototherapy is safer than sunlight exposure when used under a dermatologist’s care. However, all UV light exposure can cause sunburn, skin wrinkles, eye damage and skin cancer. The dermatologist may also prescribe pills or topical medications that increase the effectiveness of the UV light. Phototherapy is usually very effective and remissions may last a long time. However, to achieve these results requires several trips each week to special facilities for treatment.

Systemic Medications: These are drugs that work from the inside out to help control this disease. They are usually taken orally, although some must be given by injection. There are several systemic medications, each with unique actions and side effects. Some offer rapid clearing, but are not recommended for long term use. Others result in slower clearing but are better suited for maintaining remission. The big advantage of systemic medications is the fact that taking a pill is generally more convenient than topical or light therapies.

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