One person in 50 has some form of psoriasis. It's a chronic, inflammatory, non-contagious skin disease and, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), the most common autoimmune disease in the United States. In 2009 the NPF said the disease affected 7.5 million Americans. The majority seek professional help and prescription drugs but many try self-medication and over-the-counter preparations, says dermatologist Dr. Richard Langley, author of "Psoriasis: Everything You Need to Know."

Self-medication

With the right combination of ointment and creams, as well as sunlight, diet and alternative medicine, you can keep mild psoriasis under control. The NPF says over-the-counter topical applications can contain two drugs approved by the FDA: coal tar and salicylic acid. While a dermatologist may prescribe strong topical steroids, you can buy some weaker ones, such as 0.5% hydrocortisone, over the counter in America. Moisturizers are good for keeping the skin lubricated and ready to heal. The NPF also recommends bath salts and solutions, especially Dead Sea Salt treatment, and scale lifters that loosen and remove scale to let medications penetrate. Sunbathing, in natural sunlight, is great for psoriasis, says Dr. Langley. Ultraviolet light rays, absorbed into the skin, soften the faulty signals from the immune system that makes the skin produce more skin than necessary--causing psoriasis. Sunbathing is the only non-prescription form of phototherapy. Few dermatologists recommend sun-tan clinics because they cannot guarantee dosages. Watch your diet. You can take dietary supplements or trial various food types to see which ones "excite" your psoriasis, as NPF recommends. Or you can study such authors as Dr. John Pagano," Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative"

Dermatologist

Consulting a physician or a dermatologist is still treating psoriasis yourself. You will have access to a wider range of drugs, treatment options and expertise. After a consultation you can self-treat the symptoms with greater knowledge. Physicians will treat mild psoriasis with topical steroids, especially corticosteroids, which are only available on prescription, and UV light therapy (phototherapy). They will treat moderate to severe psoriasis with a variety of remedies, including phototherapy, combinations of phototherapy and light-sensitizing drugs, systemic drugs and biologic drugs. Since the mid-1990's dermatologists have concentrated on the immune system in seeking control of psoriasis, says Dr. Langley. They favor immune-suppressant drugs like cyclosporine, first used to stop rejection of transplanted organs, and anti-inflammatories like methotrexate, which is highly effective, says the NPF. Research continues to produce new drugs for containing psoriasis, but, as of the end of 2009, no lasting cure.

Source:

NPF: statistics

Psoriasis: Everything You Need to Know, Dr. Richard Langley, Firefly Books, 2005

NPF: Over-The-Counter

More Information:

NPF: topical steroids

NPF: Complementary and natural approaches

Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative, Dr. John Pagano, Wiley, 2009