Topical treatment is generally the first line of treatment that doctors prescribe for those people who have been suffering from plaque psoriasis. In the case that plaque psoriasis is not regulated by topical treatment alone, your dermatologist may prescribe phototherapy or other sorts of medications that directly target the body’s immune system as well as the affected regions of the skin.
There are many topical treatments available to help control plaque psoriasis. Let’s figure out how to get the most out of these methods.
About Plaque Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that greatly affects the skin. This means your immune system attacks the cells in your body. During flare-ups, you may experience raised red or silver scaly patches commonly found on your elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp. Plaque psoriasis cannot be cured, but treatment can clear or condition the skin.
The triggers of plaque psoriasis flare-ups can be cold weather, unnecessary stress, dry skin, upper or lower respiratory infections, or some foods and drinks. Triggers may vary from person to person, which is one of the multiple reasons why there is no universal cure.
If you have been diagnosed with plaque psoriasis recently, your doctor might suggest you use one or more treatments such as ointments or creams on your skin – these are known as topical treatments.
Fact: Plaque psoriasis can appear on the skin, but in some cases, it can also affect your mood and how you feel about yourself. If your mood is being affected by plaque psoriasis, you can talk to your psychologist about using a mental health plan.
Topical Treatments for Plaque Psoriasis
There are 3 kinds of topical treatments that are recommended by dermatologists in order to treat your plaque psoriasis. These include:
1. Corticosteroids – Topical Steroids
These are medicines that are directly applied to the skin in order to reduce inflammation and treat dermatologic conditions.
When it is used as prescribed, the chances of skin thinning and other adverse effects are very low. If you have been using corticosteroid ointments or creams constantly for more than a month and there is no improvement in your skin condition, talk to your doctor immediately.
What is the preferable time to apply Corticosteroids?
A corticosteroid ointment or cream must be applied to the affected part of the skin once or twice a day. Many people apply corticosteroid ointment in the morning or evening. This treatment is continued until the inflammation completely goes away.
2. Calcipotriol
Calcipotriol is an artificial form of vitamin D that promotes healthy skin growth. It may be more effective in treating psoriasis when it is used with corticosteroids and reduce the risk of thinning skin.
Side effects of Calcipotriol:
In some cases, calcipotriol can cause side effects. These mainly include:
- Skin Irritation
- Redness
- Swelling
- Itching or dryness
- A burning or stinging feeling
To reduce the chance of these side effects, use only the recommended dose of calcipotriol for psoriatic plaques.
3. Salicylic acid:
Salicylic acid is available without prescription which softens a protein present in the skin called keratin. According to reported research, using salicylic acid to treat the symptoms of psoriatic plaques is one of the effective agents.
How to apply salicylic acid?
All you need to do is to apply a few drops of salicylic acid to the patches of psoriasis up to several times each day. In case of no improvement, you should consult a dermatologist for better directions to use.
Note*: It may take a few days before you see any positive improvement
Useful Tips:
- Try to keep your skin moist in order to avoid irritation.
- A soap-free cleanser is the best solution. You should apply the cleanser on the affected parts and wash with a fragrance-free moisturizer two times per day.
- Start applying moisturizer after a bath or shower as it quickly absorbs when the skin is moist.
- Use extreme caution or protective measures when using topical treatments on the face, genitals, or skin folds. Ask your dermatologist for further guidance to reduce irritation.
- Plaque psoriasis and its symptoms can be changed over time and may not always respond to a similar treatment. It is essential to monitor your condition and consult your doctor if there is no improvement.
In Conclusion
Plaque psoriasis always affects everyone differently, so there are multiple treatment options to control the symptoms of plaque psoriasis permanently or temporarily based on your skin condition. Topical treatments (creams, ointments, gels) are considered to be effective in order to treat psoriasis at an earlier stage. You should consult a psychologist in Lahore during your treatment duration.
FAQs:
1. What is the fastest way to treat plaque psoriasis?
The best way to treat psoriasis is to use topical creams or ointments. In case of severe symptoms of psoriasis, you may have other options for treatments that can be done under the guidance of a dermatologist.
2. Can I put vaseline on my psoriasis?
It is a good option to apply vaseline (oily and thick emollient) on psoriasis as it protects the skin barrier function.
