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How to Treat Psoriasis

Last Update: March 12, 2009

Video By: LIVESTRONG.COM

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that affects the skin and joints. Learn how to treat psoriasis in this video clip from a professional dermatologist.

Take Action

  • Raised red areas with scale on elbows & knees
  • Use a topical steroid medication
  • Use natural UV therapy

About this Author

Lisa Rhodes, M.D. received her medical degree from the University of Texas Health and Science Center in San Antonio, where she graduated valedictorian. She completed her dermatology residency at North Western University in Chicago and currently works in Austin, Texas. Her favorite part of her job is diagnosing skin conditions and treating them in order to help patients live better lives.

Member Comments

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by WabidWabbit on May 21, 2008 at 6:27 PM

If you have not taken steroids before, they can rapidly clear outbreaks but if you stop taking them, the psoriasis often returns more strongly than before. There are risks from taking steroids on a long term basis. Over time, steroids can be less effective as a treatment.

Psoriasis is not a curable disease. Whatever you can do to treat the disease without using steroids should be attempted.

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by WabidWabbit on May 21, 2008 at 6:30 PM

The UV suggestion in the video is a good one. Keeping the skin as moist as possible is also important.

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by AirBorne on July 26, 2008 at 9:00 AM

I am too afraid of Humira's side-effects to try it for my plaque psoriasis. But the herbal cream and spray for psoriasis from http://www.champori.com/ has been keeping my p. in check for the last 8 months. I can't recommend it highly enough!!

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Video Transcript

DR. LISA RHODES: Hi, I'm Dr. Lisa Rhodes with Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. Psoriasis is a common skin condition which usually shows itself as red, raised areas with scale on the elbows and knees. It can also affect the nails, scalp, more extensive areas of the skin and the joints. There are many treatment options available for this disease, and the more aggressive your disease is, the more aggressive the medications are. A good first step is a topical steroid medication, and we often recommend getting a little bit of natural UV therapy, so a little ultra-violet light out in the sun. You don't want to get excessive sun, but a little bit of sun can help decrease the inflammation of the psoriasis.

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