How is moderate or severe plaque psoriasis treated?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Moderate or severe cases may require more firepower than mild cases. This could include prescription-strength topical steroids, or even injectable or oral immunosuppressive drugs. Examples of these include methotrexate, cyclosporine, alefacept, etanercept, and ustekinumab. These drugs are like linesmen on a football team. They block the action of specific immune cells and enzymes in your body that exacerbate psoriasis symptoms.
Moderate or severe cases may require more firepower than mild cases. This could include prescription-strength topical steroids, or even injectable or oral immunosuppressive drugs. Examples of these include methotrexate, cyclosporine,... More -
Dr. Douglas Severance answered:If you have moderate to severe psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe a combination of therapies to help you self-manage your condition. Along with over-the-counter (OTC) and prescribed lotions, ointments, creams and shampoos, your doctor may prescribe light therapy. This involves regularly exposing your skin to an ultraviolet light.
You may initially go to your doctor's office for phototherapy with medical supervision, but then you can do this at home with your own light therapy unit. For light therapy to work, you must do it regularly. Another treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis is medication, particularly a new class of drugs called biologics. Biologics treat both moderate to severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
If you have moderate to severe psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe a combination of therapies to help you self-manage your condition. Along with over-the-counter (OTC) and prescribed lotions, ointments, creams and shampoos, your doctor may... More
