Almirall
Psoriasis

Psoriasis treatments

How is psoriasis treated?

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Although psoriasis has no cure, it can be effectively managed through a holistic approach. A healthy lifestyle—balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management—can help improve overall well-being and may reduce flare-ups. However, most people will also need medical treatment to control symptoms effectively. Treatment is individualized. 

The choice of therapy depends on the type of psoriasis, involvement of high-impact areas, its severity, and how much it affects your daily life. A dermatology expert will recommend the best option for you. Psoriasis treatments are grouped into 3 main categories: topical therapies, phototherapy (light therapy) and systemic therapies.

Topical therapies

Topical therapies are applied directly to the skin as creams, ointments, lotions, gels, or foams. They are first-line treatment for mild psoriasis. For moderate-to-severe cases, they are often combined with phototherapy or systemic medications to improve results.

Topical therapies of psoriasis include: moisturizers and emollients, topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, salicylic acid, vitamin D analogues, vitamin A derivatives, anthralin and coal tar. 

Additionally, innovations in fixed-combination  topical therapies include combining calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate. These formulations improve patient adherence and provide superior outcomes compared with monotherapie. When prescribed with topical treatments, ask your dermatologist how often you need to apply them and make sure to include this in your daily routine.

Phototherapy (light therapy)

Phototherapy uses ultraviolet (UV) light, a specific part of natural sunlight that is invisible to the eye, to treat psoriasis. The two main types are:

  1. UVB therapy: ultraviolet B (UVB) light, which is also found in natural sunlight, is the most common form of phototherapy for psoriasis. It penetrates the skin and helps reduce inflammation and scaling. Treatment involves exposing the skin to an artificial UVB light source for a set time on a regular schedule under medical supervision.
  2. PUVA therapy: PUVA combines UVA light with a medicine called psoralen, which makes the skin more sensitive to light. It is usually used for certain types of psoriasis, such as guttate psoriasis or plaque psoriasis on the palms and soles. PUVA also works by slowing down skin cell growth. 

Advanced targeted oral therapies such as PDE4 inhibitors (e.g., apremilast) and TYK2 inhibitors (deucravacitinib) Several oral small-molecule agents are available to treat psoriasis.

Systemic medications

Systemic medications work throughout the entire body, not just on the skin. They are typically used for people with moderate-to-severe psoriasis or when other treatments, such as topicals or phototherapy, are not effective. These medications are taken orally or by injection. They can be divided into two main groups: conventional (including small molecules) systemic medications and biologics.

Conventional systemic medications

Conventional systemic medications help control psoriasis by reducing or modifying the activity of the immune system. Common options include:

  • Methotrexate
  • Acitretin
  • Ciclosporin
  • Fumarates

Biologics

Biologics are advanced treatments derived from living organisms or cells that target specific parts of the immune system involved in psoriasis inflammation. Depending on the target, biologics are grouped into:

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF α)-alpha inhibitors
  • Interleukin-12/23 inhibitors
  • Interleukin- 17 inhibitors
  • Interleukin-23 inhibitors 

FAQs

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