Treatment of Psoriasis

Find out the latest and most effective treatment options for psoriasis. 

Are you dealing with plaque or red, itchy skin that you think could be psoriasis? If so, our team of skincare experts at North County Dermatology Center can diagnose and help you better manage your psoriasis symptoms.

What is psoriasis? 

This condition affects millions of American adults. While psoriasis does affect the skin, it is actually an immune disorder that causes skin cells to multiply faster than they should. The rapid cell turnover leads to raised red patches also known as plaques. While psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body it is most common on the elbows, scalp, knees, and stomach.

While there are several different kinds of psoriasis the most common type is plaque psoriasis. What makes this condition so frustrating is that symptoms can flare up at random, and when symptoms flare up they can be rather embarrassing. Fortunately, our Encinitas, CA, dermatologists are here to provide you with the treatment you need to reduce the frequency and severity of your psoriasis outbreaks.

How do you treat psoriasis? 

There are many ways to manage your psoriasis symptoms and our goal is to find the right treatment to fit your needs. Everyone is different and we know that not all patients respond the same way to treatment. Therefore, there is sometimes a trial-and-error period when it comes to trying to figure out which option or options will work best.

Psoriasis treatment can be categorized into topical medications, oral medications, and light therapy. If you only experience mild symptoms then topical treatment may be all that is needed. Of course, those with moderate-to-severe symptoms will often be given topical medications along with other treatment options.

Common topical psoriasis medications include corticosteroids, calcipotriene, retinoids, and salicylic acid. Common oral or injectable medications used to treat psoriasis include retinoids, methotrexate (which reduces the production of skin cells), and biologics (which suppress the immune system). For more severe or extensive psoriasis, there are injectable and oral medications available. 

Light therapy is another easy but effective way to reduce scaly plaques and inflammation. There are multiple different light therapy options out there for treating psoriasis symptoms, from natural ultraviolet light to artificial light. We will sit down and discuss these different therapies to help determine which one will give you the most relief.

You don’t have to deal with psoriasis alone. It’s important that you have a dermatologist in Encinitas, CA, that can help. To discuss treatment options, call North County Dermatology Center at (760) 230-2805.

Contact Us

Find us on the map

Office Hours

Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed