Conventional Treatments for Psoriasis - and why they could making you worse!

 You make an appointment to see your doctor because your psoriasis is flaring. He takes a look and then whips out his prescription pad to order one of the following:

. A prescription strength topical treatment

. phototherapy

. oral and injection therapy

. over the counter drugs

Any of these treatments (or a combination of them) may work fine to relieve your symptoms and make you feel better - for now. The trouble with conventional treatment methods is that they rarely work to cure the underlying cause of this skin condition; and that can leave you suffering repeat attacks. Still it is important to know what helps are available, and how they may help - or hurt - your chance of treatment success.

Topical Ointments

Topical ointments are used at the first sign of psoriasis. If caught early enough they can sometimes stave off a full-blown attack. Unfortunately, most people report becoming immune to them when used often, which makes them useless for long term use. Still, using the occasional cream or gel can help relieve some of your symptoms. Steroids

Both topical and internal steroids can be prescribed to help ease psoriasis swelling inflammation and itching. Immunomodulators (TIMS)

A non-steroidal treatment for psoriasis, TIMS work by inhibiting a key step in the activation of the T-lymphocyte, a cell found in the immune system that causes some of the changes seen in psoriatic skin lesions and plaguing. Oral and Injection Therapies Oral and injection therapies used for psoriasis are usually reserved for hard to treat cases and include three main oral and injectable medications: Methotrexate (MTX)

MTX is a type of chemotherapy drug that has been shown to help relieve severer psoriasis. This heavy duty drug works in two major ways: 1. to stop plaque building cells from regenerating at such a fast speed 2. to stop inflammation on white blood cells, which keeps psoriasis lesions from growing. Cyclosporine

An immune suppressing drug that was originally used to help transplant patients beat organ rejection, Cyclosporine helps to inhibit T lymphocyte production so that scaly plaque is unable to grow on the surface of the skin. Oral Retinoid

Retinoid are Vitamin A based synthetic drugs that fall under two main groups: Isotretinoins and Acitretins.

Side Effects to Watch Out For When Using Drug Therapies

Psoriasis drug therapies may offer some relief from your symptoms, but they can also cause some nasty side effects. Although irritation is the most common side effects of these medications, a few more serious ones may include: . thinning of the skin - when left go, this can become a real health hazard

. stretch marks

. acne like eruptions

. dermatitis

. increased lightening or darkening of the skin

. inflammation of the hair follicle

. increased blood vessel formation

. infection

. rebound psoriasis

. loss of effect over time (the drugs simply stop working)

Phototherapy

One of the most effective (and safest) forms of psoriasis treatment help is natural sunlight. When used properly (and in conjunction with other treatment methods), sunlight can help to heal sore and damaged skin as well as rid the body of psoriasis.

Phototherapy, combines UVB and UVA rays with topical steroids or other ointments for best results. Dead Sea Salts

Although a common psoriasis healing help in Asia, Dead Sea Salt water is just now becoming popular amongst American dermatologists. Simply soaking in a bath filled with a cup of these slats can offer tremendous relief. With so many different types of conventional psoriasis therapies available, it can be difficult for patients to gauge whether the relief offered is worth the risk. Discuss both the pros and cons of all medications with your doctor before undergoing any psoriasis treatment.