Psoriasis: Diagnosis and treatment

Many patients use this medication to treat psoriasis. A corticosteroid works quickly and is available in many strengths, which makes it beneficial for treating all types of psoriasis from the very mild to thick plaques.

For more information about this medication, go to Psoriasis treatment: Corticosteroids you apply to the skin.

Also called a vitamin D analog, this medication differs from the oral supplements that people take when they need to get more vitamin D. This synthetic form has been tweaked to treat psoriasis.

To find out how it’s used, go to Psoriasis treatment: Synthetic vitamin D.

This medication is often used to treat psoriasis in areas with thinner skin, such as the face, neck, or body folds. In these areas, a TCI can be quite effective.

For more information, go to Psoriasis treatment: Tacrolimus ointment and pimecrolimus cream.

An effective acne treatment, salicylic acid has also been used to treat psoriasis for many years. It helps to reduce the scale and soften psoriasis plaques.

Salicylic acid is often prescribed along with another medication like a corticosteroid.

This medication should not be used to treat a child.

If you’re pregnant, talk with your dermatologist before using salicylic acid. Low concentrations of this medication can be safe to use during pregnancy. Your dermatologist can tell you how much you use.

A retinoid that you apply to your skin, tazarotene can be used alone or along with a corticosteroid to treat plaque psoriasis.

To learn more about this medication, go to Psoriasis treatment: A retinoid applied to the skin.

Roflumilast works by decreasing the inflammation that leads to psoriasis. Having less inflammation can significantly reduce itchiness and signs of psoriasis, such as discoloration and plaques. Some patients see clear or almost-clear skin.

If roflumilast is right for you, your dermatologist may prescribe a cream or a foam. Both the cream and foam are applied once a day, as instructed.

These medications can be used for as long as needed.

Roflumilast cream: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this medication to treat patients 6 years of age and older who have plaque psoriasis on their skin. It’s prescribed to treat mild, moderate, or severe disease.

Roflumilast cream can also effectively treat a type of psoriasis called inverse (aka intertriginous or flexural) psoriasis, which affects areas of the body where skin touches skin, such as the armpits or groin.

In the studies that led the FDA to approve roflumilast cream, this medication worked quickly to reduce the itch and clear psoriasis.

Possible side effects of the cream include diarrhea, headache, and feeling sick to your stomach (nausea).

Roflumilast foam: The FDA has approved this medication to treat plaque psoriasis on the scalp and body. It’s approved to treat patients 12 years of age and older.

Studies show that applying roflumilast foam once a day can reduce signs and symptoms on the skin and scalp, including itch. Roflumilast foam may be all the treatment some patients need to control psoriasis on their body and scalp.

Possible side effects of the foam include mild upper respiratory infection like a cold, feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), and headache.

• Brand name: Zoryve

This cream is prescribed for adults who have mild, moderate, or severe psoriasis. It can be applied anywhere on the body, including the face. It’s usually applied once a day to skin with psoriasis.

In the studies that led to this medication’s approval, about 40% of the patients were clear or almost clear after 12 weeks of using this medication. When patients cleared and stopped using the cream, on average, they stayed clear for 12 weeks. The most common side effect is a skin reaction.

This medication has been used for more than 100 years to treat psoriasis. Today, you’ll find coal tar in many different products used to treat psoriasis.

To learn more about using coal tar to treat psoriasis, go to Psoriasis treatment: Coal tar.

This is a pill that’s taken twice a day. Apremilast is used to treat plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. It can be taken by patients with complex medical issues who cannot be prescribed other medication that works throughout the body.

You’ll find information about how to take this medication, possible side effects, and more at Psoriasis treatment: Apremilast.

For many people, taking a biologic is life-changing because it helps control psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or both when other treatments fail. A biologic may be prescribed alone or along with another psoriasis treatment. To learn more about biologics, go to Psoriasis treatment: Biologics.

A biosimilar is a medication that is very similar to a biologic, but may cost less than the original biologic. For more information about biosimilars, read Biosimilars: 14 questions patients ask their dermatologist.

This medication comes in pill form and is prescribed for people who have extensive or disabling psoriasis. It tends to work quickly.

Find out how long people typically take cyclosporine, what to avoid when taking it, and more at Psoriasis treatment: Cyclosporine.

Used for more than 40 years to treat psoriasis, this medication is prescribed to treat severe, disabling psoriasis. If this medication is part of your treatment plan, you should not drink alcohol while on methotrexate.

To find out what else you should know, go to Psoriasis treatment: Methotrexate.

An oral peptide is a class of medication. When taken to treat psoriasis, it works by blocking signals in your body that lead to inflammation. Decreasing inflammation can reduce psoriasis symptoms and lead to clearer skin.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the oral peptide, icotrokinra, for patients who are 12 years of age and older who have moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. A patient must also weigh at least 88 pounds and have psoriasis that could benefit from light treatments or medication that works throughout the body.

The oral peptide icotrokinra is a once-a-day pill. You take it on an empty stomach when you wake up. After taking icotrokinra, you wait at least 30 minutes before eating.

During clinical trials, both adults and children aged 12+ received this medication. Results from several trials indicate that icotrokinra can effectively treat plaque psoriasis. This includes areas that are more difficult to treat, such as the genitals, scalp, hands, and feet. After taking icotrokinra for 16 weeks, 76.5% of patients with genital psoriasis were clear or almost clear, as were 65% of patients with scalp psoriasis and 42% with hand and foot psoriasis.

In clinical trials, the most common side effects were mild — headache, nausea, cough, fungal infection, and feeling tired. Side effects were the same for adults and children.

• Brand name: Icotyde

Approved to treat severe psoriasis, acitretin can effectively treat different types of psoriasis like plaque, guttate, and pustular psoriasis.Unlike many psoriasis treatments that work throughout the body, acitretin doesn’t suppress your immune system.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should not take acitretin.

You’ll find information about how to take it, possible side effects, and more at Psoriasis treatment: Oral retinoids.

Deucravacitinib is a medication that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults who have moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. This medication belongs to a class of medication called a TYK2 inhibitor. Deucravacitinib works on your immune system, helping to prevent the inflammation that causes psoriasis. Decreased inflammation can lead to clearer skin.

If you haven’t gotten the results you want from other treatments for moderate-or-severe psoriasis, this medication may be an option.

Deucravacitinib is a pill that you take once a day, with or without food.

In clinical trials, about half the patients taking deucravacitinib had 75% or greater clearing of their psoriasis after taking this medication for 16 weeks. By continuing to take deucravacitinib, many patients were able to maintain clearer skin and have fewer symptoms like less itching.

During clinical trials that ran for as long as 4 years, the most common side effect was the common cold. Deucravacitinib may also increase an enzyme in your blood called creatine phosphokinase (CPK). This increase can indicate that you have muscle damage. Tell your dermatologist right away if you develop muscle problems (any pain, weakness, or tenderness in your muscles) have a fever, feel very tired, or see dark-colored urine. Other possible side effects include shingles and mouth sores.

• Brand name: Sotyktu