Treatment Suggestions for Different Types of Psoriasis

Treatment selection for psoriasis will be influenced by the extent of coverage, severity and location of lesions.

Experience with previous therapies and patient preferences play a significant role in selecting the most appropriate treatment for each person. Some individuals with minimal disease may be very unhappy with their condition, while others with extensive psoriasis seem to adapt and live relatively undeterred by it. Proximity to treatment centers that offer UV light therapy and day care facilities may also influence the adopted therapeutic approach. Patients who have kidney or liver disease will not be good candidates for some of the systemic drugs. Medications that you are taking for other illnesses must be reviewed with your doctor in order to avoid potential drug interactions that can worsen your psoriasis.

As a general rule, chosen medications should offer maximum benefits with minimum side-effects. To achieve this, topical and oral drugs can be combined or used on a rotational basis. This may not only enhance treatment efficacy, but also reduce side-effects and toxicity by keeping the total dose of each drug as low as possible. Maintaining a strictly topical therapeutic approach can be particularly challenging for physicians, especially if a patient's psoriasis progressively worsen. Some patients prefer to avoid oral drugs altogether, even when faced with large surface area involvement. Consequently, physicians must consider a multitude of factors when making the appropriate treatment decision.