Psoriasis Diagnosis And Treatment Types

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition which has far-fetched debilitating effects. It is a painful and stressful skin condition. Psoriasis is more common in adults rather than kids, but, Guttate psoriasis, a form of psoriasis is very common in kids.

There is no complete cure for psoriasis as of date, though, there are many treatment options available which help manage psoriasis from aggravating further, help reduce the severity of psoriasis, soothe the skin, and make psoriasis manageable. Here let us have a quick look at the psoriasis diagnosis and treatment types.

Psoriasis Diagnosis

Medical practitioners generally examine the skin, nails, and scalp to help understand the skin health better to come to a conclusive psoriasis diagnosis. They look out for signs and symptoms suggestive of psoriasis and the type.

Questions related to the overall health of the person, medicine intake/usage, symptoms and signs, presence of family history, recent illness, side effects and or allergies, and stress are asked to understand and initiate treatment accordingly.

A small sample of the skin may be taken for skin biopsy. Skin biopsy examination under the microscope helps better determine the psoriasis type and rules out any other skin disorders.

Psoriasistreatment Types

The main treatment options remain the medicines both local and oral, phototherapy, alternative medicines, which further branch into many other sub branches. Let us have a look.

1. Medications

Oral and Injectables.

• Immunosuppressants. Used mostly for severe cases to suppress the immune system.
• Methotrexate. This helps suppress the immune system and slow down the growth of cells and division. This is available both in the form of oral and injection.
• PDE4 inhibitors. These help in suppressing the rapidskin cells turnover and also the inflammation.
• Retinoids. These are used in combination with phototherapy for moderate to severe psoriasis.
• Biologic response modifiers. These are injections used to block certain immune molecules. They help in stopping or decreasing inflammation.

Topical therapies

There is a multitude of ointments, creams, lotions, shampoos, solutions, containing corticosteroids which is used for treating mild to moderate psoriasis. Even medicines based of retinoids, vitamin D, coal tar, salicylic acid,anthralin, etc., as well are used for local application in the treatment of psoriasis.

2. Phototherapy

This method involves the use of light for treating psoriasis. This mode of treatment is generally used when the psoriasis is spread widely. It is used to treat large areas of skin affected by psoriasis. More recently, user friendly UV combs (UV 311), UV lamps are available for treatment of psoriasis.

• Sunlight(heliotherapy). This is a continuous but brief period of daily exposure to sunlight.
• Light therapy. It is a first line treatment option used most often for moderate to severe psoriasis. It is used either alone or along with medications.
• Goeckerman therapy. This is a combination of coal tar treatment with light therapy.
• UVB narrowband. UVB narrowband light therapy is administered two or three times a week.
• UVB broadband. This is used in treating widespread psoriasis and is provided in controlled doses.
• PUVA - Psoralen plus ultraviolet A. This treatment uses a light-sensitizing psoralen before initiating exposure of the UVA light to the affected skin.
• Excimer laser. This treatment uses strong UVB light which targets only the affected skin and requires lesser sessions.

3. Alternative Medicine

The use of alternative therapies (ayurveda, homeopathy) is not new. Some of these ayurvedic, home remedies, homeopathy have been found beneficial in psoriasis treatment. These could be categorised asa diet regimen or certain dietary changes, usage of herbal products both orally and for local application, acupuncture, naturopathy, etc.

• Fish oil supplements. It has been noted that taking fish oil orally along with UVB therapy reduces the extent of scales and rashes. Local application of fish oil is also beneficial.
• Aloe vera cream. Aloe vera cream derived from the extract of aloe vera may help significantly reduce itching, scaling, and inflammation. It may provide a soothing effect to the irritated area.
• Oregon grape. This is also used for local application to reduce psoriasis severity.

Conclusion

Psoriasis, as we know is a skin condition which adds a lot of stress, irritation and debilitates smooth functioning of regular life. It is prudent to approach a right medical practitioner for psoriasis diagnosis and treatment types to ensure better results.

Treatment options and modes depend on various factors of psoriasis. Successful treatment ensures a smooth life. Reach out to the right help to manage psoriasis successfully and lead a good regular life.

In any case, the aim of the treatment is to reduce the speed of skin cell turnover along with providing soothing effect with the least amount of side effects from the treatment. Irrespective of the treatment mode, (even if going with alternative approach), consult the medical practitioner before

Innovations and breakthrough findings in the field of healthcare has made psoriasis management easier. There has been multitude of options available for the treatment of psoriasis like advanced medical tools and equipments, creams and ointments, oral medicines, etc., which further branch out.

An array of brands are offering a wide variety of treatment products in terms of oral medicines, local applications (lotions, soaps, shampoos), tools and equipments (phototherapy: UVB combs and lamps), the list is endless. Some of the pioneer leaders strengthening the psoriasis treatment both through the corrective and preventive measures are C Cube Advanced Technologies, Philips, Cureka, Glenmark, etc.