Comprehensive Treatment Strategies for Severe Psoriasis
Discover effective treatment options for severe psoriasis, including topical therapies, phototherapy, and systemic medications. Learn how these methods help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Consult a healthcare professional for personalized guidance on psoriasis care.

Comprehensive Treatment Strategies for Severe Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the development of dry, itchy, and scaly skin patches. It occurs when skin cell growth accelerates abnormally, leading to inflammation and skin buildup.
Therapies for managing psoriasis
While a cure remains elusive, various treatments can effectively manage symptoms. These are generally grouped into three main categories.
Topical Treatments
- Corticosteroid creams – Mild steroids help reduce swelling, redness, and itching, especially on delicate areas like the face or skin folds.
- Vitamin D analogs – Synthetic vitamin D compounds, such as Calcipotriene, help slow down excessive skin cell growth in mild to moderate cases.

- Moisturizers – Applying emollients like petroleum jelly can soften skin and lessen plaque buildup.
- Anthralin – This medication helps slow skin cell growth and reduce scales, but should be washed off to minimize scalp or skin irritation.
- Salicylic acid – Known for promoting removal of dead skin cells, it’s effective in medicated shampoos and scalp solutions, especially when combined with other treatments.
- Coal tar – Derived from coal, this reduces inflammation and scaling, available as creams, shampoos, or oils, though it has a strong odor.
- Topical retinoids – Vitamin A derivatives that decrease inflammation; caution is advised when exposed to sunlight.
Phototherapy Options
- Sunlight exposure – Controlled sun exposure can slow skin cell growth, but excessive rays pose risks.
- UVB therapy – Precise UVB light treatments help target localized psoriasis patches; available as broadband or narrow-band types.
- Goeckerman therapy – Combining UVB with coal tar enhances effectiveness for certain cases.
- PUVA therapy – Pre-treatment with psoralen makes the skin more responsive to UVA light, penetrating deeper than UVB.
Systemic Treatments
If other therapies are ineffective, oral or injectable medications are prescribed:
- Methotrexate – Suppresses inflammation and regulates skin cell production.
- Cyclosporine – Modulates immune responses but is not recommended for long-term use.
- Other options – Medications like Etanercept, Infliximab, Adalimumab, Ustekinumab, Golimumab, Apremilast, Secukinumab, and Ixekizumab are options when standard treatments fail.