New Delhi

LGF, Local Shopping Complex Sector B1, Jal Board Road Near HDFC Bank and Safel Outlet, Pocket 1, Sector B, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, Delhi-110070

Psoriasis Treatment

Psoriasis is one of the most depressing skin conditions that one can encounter in today’s day and age. In the ancient times, people in the meditrrean region were treated by asking them to have a bath in sea water. The salinity and ph levels of sea water were just right to cure eczema, psoriasis and other skin complications. But in today’s day and age when most big cities of the world are fighting dust, air, water and food pollution, keeping yourself away from skin diseases is quite a challenge. Obtaining maximum knowledge about healthy eating habits and the kind of low sugar diet required to get rid of psoriasis is important for recovery.

Causes and symptoms:

Drug induced psoriasis characterized by red patches is quite common. Often a history of asthma treatment done through drugs like penicillin triggers psoriasis. Stress will aggravate any kind of disease and psoriasis is no different. Depending on the severity of the symptoms creams, oral treatments, injections or UV light treatments are used in order to ensure full clearance of the skin from psoriasis. Most often it affects the thighs, back, trunk and in some cases even the face. Comments from onlookers and social rejection can be traumatic during the treatment period. but it is patience that will help you come out stronger, wiser and ready to face any kind of skin complications that may arise in old age.

Treatment options for those suffering from psoriasis

Most Dermatologists in delhi work in a systematic manner going from mild treatments to intense treatment depending on the responsiveness of the patient to the first set of creams, and oral formulations. Psoriasis, if it affects the scalp requires a shampoo and an ointment and is fairly common in men and women.

Emollients:

it is often an intense moisturing lotion that keeps the skin hydrated by arresting water loss and putting a protective film on it that reduce itching and you can go about doing your routine activities. Development of scaly skin is stopped by these emollients.

Use of topical corticosteroids is critical in the treatment of psoriasis as they reduce the production of skin cells which in turn reduces itching. These topical corticosteroids should be used for a limited period only else they will cause thinning of skin and decrease collagen levels in the skin. It takes six weeks to see improvement in the condition of the patient through topical corticosteroids. High strength topical cortico-steroids are used on small areas of the skin that are affected by thick patches of red scaly skin.

Vitamin D Analogue creams include formulations like calcipotriol, calcitriol, tacalcitol and each of these has anti-inflammatory properties.

Tacrolimus ointment or calcineurin inhibitors: They constitute the second line of attack after the skin has been sufficiently cleaned through olive based body washes for two weeks along with intense moisturizing lotions. tacrolimus selling under the brand name of tacroz or tacrotor suppresses the activity of the immune system in order to reduce inflammation. sometimes it is also used in eczema treatment in conjunction with floucinolone acetonide cream.

Phototherapy is used as a secondary measure BY dermatologists in Delhi when primary measures like creams, emollients, oral medications do not yield the right results. Certain types of ultra-violet light is found to have a healing effect when applied on the affected areas of the skin under controlled conditions. UVB light phototherapy uses a specific wavelength of light that is invisible to human eyes and this kind of ultra violet light inhibits the production of skin cells that cause itching. three sessions spanning over 6-8 weeks of UVB treatment are required to cure psoriasis

Psoralen + UVA:

The patient is asked to ingest psoralen tablet orally or psoralen is applied directly making it more sensitive to light and thereby get better results. Typical side effects of UV treatment include short term nausea, itching, burning and headaches.

Ingram method:

Here ultra-violet light is used in conjunction with dithranol cream to make the skin more receptive to ultraviolet light.IN SOME CASES, UV LIGHT IS USED along with coal tar to yield the desired results. Coal tar application is for less than an hour before it is washed off. Other chemical formulations used to inhibit the formation of skin cells include:

  • Methotrexate
  • Ciclosporin
  • Acitretin

New age biologics treatment have surfaced in the western countries wherein inflammation is reduced in the skin by suppressing the overactive cells in the immune system through injections. High success rate of this treatment have made doctors cautiously optimistic but a differential diagnosis approach is the key to curing psoriasis. injectibles include chemical compounds like Etanercept, Adalimumab, infliximab, Ustekinumab

book appointment