Is there effective treatment for psoriasis?
Doctors generally treat psoriasis in steps according to the severity of the disease or responsiveness to initial treatments. This is sometimes called the “1-2-3” approach. In step 1, medicines are applied to the skin (topical treatment). Step 2 involves treatments with light (phototherapy). Step 3 involves taking medicines internally, usually by mouth (systemic treatment). Over time, affected skin tends to resist some treatments. Also, a treatment that works like magic in one person may have little effect in another. Thus, doctors commonly use a trial and error approach to find a treatment that works, then switch treatments every 12 to 24 months to reduce resistance and adverse reactions. Selection of treatment depends on the location of lesions, their size, the amount of the skin affected, previous response to treatment, and a patient’s perceptions about their skin condition and patient preferences for treatment. In addition, treatment is often tailored to the specific form of the dis
