What Is Psoriasis And How Can It Be Treated? Doctor Gives This Advice...

The inflammatory skin disease psoriasis affects around 2% of people in the UK.

The condition causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin that are sometimes covered in silvery scales.

As well as being physically irritating, the condition can have an emotional effect on many sufferers.

In the above video, Stephanie Lamp, who suffers from psoriasis, says: “There’s really nothing about every day that isn’t affected by it. Relationships suffer a lot, you can’t do a lot of the things people want to do, or you’re embarrassed to do them.”

So how can psoriasis be treated?

The good news is that it’s not life-threatening. The bad news is that there is no complete cure.

Dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee shares three treatment options which can help suffers manage symptoms.

She recommends a brand new pill named Otelzla which inhibits the inflammatory process within cells.

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An alternative could be light based therapy or “phototherapy.”

"It’s one of the few times as dermatologists that we actually recommend people expose themselves to ultra violet rays” says Dr lee.

"This light helps to decrease the size and thickness of the plaques and limit inflammation of the cells.”

Having said that, she does not advise tanning booths and recommends that patients visit their doctor for light laser treatment instead.

The last form of treatment Dr Lee recommends is a product called Derma Rescue, it helps to decrease flaking and increase penetration of topical steroids.

Different treatments will work for different people, so visit your GP to discuss the best option for you if think you may be suffering from psoriasis.

The Best And Worst Ingredients For Psoriasis

Salicylic Acid(01 of09)

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat psoriasis, "sal acid," as it's commonly called, is available in a variety of products, including shampoos, ointments, lotions, creams, soaps, and pastes. Salicylic acid helps to soften scales and exfoliate or lift them off your skin. Sal acid can be helpful as long as you use it according to directions. Too much salicylic acid, or salicylic acid left on the skin (or scalp) for too long, can cause irritation or stinging. If your shampoo has salicylic acid, focus it on your scalp rather than your hair, because it can weaken shafts, leading to breakage and hair loss (hair should return to normal once you stop using it). (credit:Alamy)

Sulfates(02 of09)

Most shampoos contain sulfates to create a rich, foamy lather -- without the froth, it seems, people don't think their shampoo is working. However, sulfates can irritate the scalp. If you have a sensitive scalp and psoriasis, look for sulfate-free shampoos. Sulfates may be listed under ingredients as sodium laureth (or lauryl) sulfate or ammonium lauryl sulfate. (credit:Flickr: takot)

Coal Tar(03 of09)

Coal tar is another ingredient approved by the FDA to treat psoriasis, including scalp psoriasis. However, you might want to test coal tar on a small area of your skin to be sure it doesn't cause irritation or redness. Because coal tar can make your skin more sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet rays, be sure to apply sunscreen to treated areas if you're going to be outside for any length of time. "Coal tar can be messy, so some people don't like to use it," says Stefan Weiss, MD, of the Weiss Skin Institute in Boca Raton, Fla. Refined coal tars such as liquor carbonis detergens (LCD) have less odor and cause less staining, but they're also less effective and can be harder to find. (credit:Flickr: Jon Evans)

Tea Tree Oil(04 of09)

"At one time, tea tree oil was seen as the panacea for psoriasis," Dr. Weiss says of the oil that's extracted from the leaves of a tree native to Australia. "Now, not so much." Some people report that tea tree oil helps relieve symptoms of their scalp psoriasis, and others find they're allergic to it. (credit:Flickr: .angels.)

Zinc(05 of09)

The trace element zinc is found in many topical psoriasis treatments and some shampoos. A study from the Skin Disease and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Research Center in Mashhad, Iran, found that a topical emollient containing zinc pyrithione proved to be an effective treatment for localized psoriasis. (credit:Flickr: Hello Turkey Toe)

Argan Oil(06 of09)

Extracted from the nuts of the argan tree of southwestern Morocco, argan oil is rich in antioxidants and has been popularized as a food, a health treatment, and a beauty ingredient. However, according to a recent review in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, there's a lack of clinical studies to definitively support its effectiveness. (credit:ShutterStock)

Shea Butter(07 of09)

Shea butter is full of moisture, which can make it an effective ingredient in skin care products. When you have psoriasis, it's important to keep your skin moisturized, Weiss says. Skin creams made with shea butter tend to be thicker, he says, and when it comes to moisturizer, the thicker, the better. Heavy moisturizers for psoriasis help lock in the skin's natural moisture. (credit:Flickr: daveynin)

Anti-Itch Ingredients(08 of09)

Several ingredients have been approved by the FDA for treating itch: calamine, hydrocortisone (a weak steroid), camphor, diphenhydramine hydrochloride (HCl), benzocaine, and menthol. Try them with caution, however, because some of them can increase skin irritation and dryness. (credit:ShutterStock)

Fragrance Or Alcohol(09 of09)

If you have sensitive skin, look for fragrance-free skin care products and shampoos. Scents added to make products smell good or just to neutralize their odor can be irritating ("unscented" might not be fragrance-free). Also, Weiss advises avoiding products that contain alcohol, because it is drying. (credit:ShutterStock)

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