How do medications treat psoriasis?

Medications used to treat psoriasis fall into two major categories: topical drugs and oral medications. There are several in each category.

Topical Drugs

• Corticosteroid cream-reduces inflammation by slowing cell production.
• Anthralin-helps regulate DNA in your skin cells and removes plaques
• Salicylic acid-helps remove dead skin cells
• Vitamin D-slows skin cell growth

Oral medications

• Cyclosporine-helps regulate your immune system by slowing cell production, reducing inflammation
• Immunomodulator-helps regulate your immune system by slowing cell production, reducing inflammation
• Methotrexate-reduces skin cell production
• Retinoid-reduces skin cell production

Some oral medications can be injected into the skin as well.