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PSORIASIS
Last updated:
1/6/02
During the past several years,
other medications have been introduced, such as
Anthralin, Vitamin D3, Pycnogenol, Salicylic Acid
and Topical Retinoid Therapy. Sunbathing and baths
with Epsom salts, Dead Sea Salts and ollated oatmeal
are in wide use. There are also dozens of creams and
ointments on the market that claim to be remedies
for psoriasis. What one individual finds of benefit
may not help the majority. Very often treatments are
hit and miss, and if a treatment is found to be
beneficial, that may not be of lasting effect as
they become accustomed to the treatment. They then
need to find another treatment, before returning to
the treatment that was beneficial.
With moderate psoriasis, the
use of phototherapy (UVB) has been a staple, and is
used in widespread or localized unmanageable
psoriasis. The side affects after long-term usage
can be the risk of skin aging, cancer and also
thinning of the skin. The patient can use
phototherapy at home when they purchase a home
therapy unit, usually under the prescription and
supervision of a Dermatologist. Photochemotherapy (PUVA)
is used in combination with the drug Psoralen, which
is taken orally. Psoralen has the effect of
enhancing the affect of the phototherapy. Psoralen
can also be used as body paint or placed in a bath
just before the phototherapy treatment. Here again,
there can be long term side affects, such as aging
of the skin, non-aggressive forms of skin cancer,
pigmented areas, freckles, redness, itching,
cataracts, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, hair
loss, liver and kidney abnormalities. It can cause
severe gingivitis that can result in tooth
extractions, and at times can result in nausea.
Fetal malformation can be another result.
For severe psoriasis, the more
potent types of drugs are used. Methotrexate,
Retinoids, Cyclosporin, IL-2 Fusion Protein and
Hydroxyurea are some of these drugs. These drugs can
have very severe side effects and can have
devastating effects on the liver and other body
organs. Many of these drugs are used in a program of
using one of the drugs for several months, then
switching to another. This is known as Rotational
Therapy.
The prognosis of psoriasis
usually depends on the severity of the condition and
at the age of onset. Although acute attacks may
clear up faster with the simplest forms of
treatment, the long-term prognosis is not usually
permanent. People with psoriasis generally will be
on one form of treatment or another since the onset
of the disorder. Finding a treatment that works can
be a lifelong chore for the psoriatic patient.
Finding effective treatments has been my goal for
over 39 years. What I have learned is that not all
treatments will be effective in all cases. The
important thing is that the treatment should do no
harm. Side effects can be more devastating than the
condition itself and must be avoided if at all
possible.
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