Psoriasis is a chronic and incurable disease, however, it is possible to relieve symptoms and prolong the remission of the disease for extended periods with appropriate treatment.
Treatment of psoriasis depends on the type, location and extent of lesions, and can be used with creams or ointments containing corticosteroids and retinoids or oral medications, such as cyclosporine, methotrexate or l’acitretine, for example, on medical advice.
- In addition to pharmacological treatment.
- It is important to hydrate the skin on a daily basis.
- Especially in the affected areas.
- As well as to avoid highly abrasive products that cause skin irritation and excessive dryness.
Medications your doctor usually prescribes for the treatment of psoriasis include:
Topical corticosteroids are effective at treating symptoms, especially when the disease is limited to a small area and may be associated with calcipotriol and systemic medications.
Examples of topical corticosteroids used in the treatment of psoriasis include clobetasol cream, 0. 05% hair solution and 0. 1% dexamethasone cream, for example.
Who should not use them: people with hypersensitivity to components, skin lesions caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria, people with rosacea or uncontrolled peroral dermatitis.
Possible side effects: diet, pain and skin burns
Calcipotriol is an analogue of vitamin D that, at a concentration of 0. 005%, is indicated for the treatment of psoriasis, as it helps reduce the formation of psoriasis plaques. In most cases, calcipotriol is used in combination with a corticosteroid.
Who should not use them: people with hypersensitivity to components and hyperkalaemia.
Possible side effects: skin irritation, rash, tingling, keratosis, itching, rash and contact dermatitis.
Emollient creams and ointments should be used daily, especially as a maintenance treatment after corticosteroid use, which will help prevent recurrence in people with mild psoriasis.
These creams and ointments should contain urea in concentrations ranging from 5% to 20% and salicylic acid at concentrations between 3% and 6%, depending on skin type and scales.
Acitretin is a retinoid commonly indicated to treat severe forms of psoriasis when needed to prevent immunosuppression. It is available in doses of 10 mg or 25 mg.
Who should not use it: people with hypersensitivity to the components, women close to whom they want to be close, nursing women and people with severe hepatic or renal impairment.
Side effects: headache, dryness and inflammation of the mucous membranes, dry mouth, thirst, thrush, gastrointestinal disorders, cheilitis, itching, hair loss, flaking throughout the body, muscle pain, increased cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood and generalized edema.
Methotrexate is indicated for the treatment of severe psoriasis because it reduces the proliferation and inflammation of skin cells. This medicine is available as 2. 5 mg tablets or 50 mg / 2 ml bulbs.
Who should not use it: people with hypersensitivity to components, embarrassed and nursing, people with cirrhosis, alcoholic disease, active hepatitis, liver failure, serious infections, immunodeficiency syndromes, aplasia, spinal hypoplasia, thrombocytopenia, relevant anemia and severe ulcer.
Possible side effects: severe headache, neck stiffness, vomiting, fever, thinning of the skin, increased uric acid, decreased sperm count in men, canker sores, inflammation of the tongue and diarrhea, reduction of white blood cell and platelet content, kidney failure and pharyngitis.
Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive drug indicated to treat moderate to severe psoriasis, which cannot exceed 2 years of treatment.
Who should not use it: people with component hypersensitivity, severe, unstable and uncontrollable hypertension with medications, active infections and cancer.
Possible side effects: kidney disorders, high blood pressure and weakened immune system.
In recent years, interest in the development of biological agents with immunosuppressive properties has increased more selective than cyclosporine, with the aim of improving the safety profile of psoriasis drugs.
Examples of recently developed agents for the treatment of psoriasis include:
This new class of drugs consists of monoclonal proteins or antibodies produced by organisms, through the use of recombinant biotechnology, which will reveal a better injury and a reduction in their extent.
Who should not use them: people with component hypersensitivity, heart failure, demyelinating disease, recent history of neoplasm, active infection, use of live attenuated vaccines and women on board.
Possible side effects: injection site reaction, infections, tuberculosis, skin reactions, neoplasms, demyelinating diseases, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, diet, muscle aches and fatigue.