How Is Psoriasis Diagnosed?

Psoriasis can be hard to diagnose because it can look like other skin diseases. The doctor might need to look at a small skin sample under a microscope.

How Is Psoriasis Treated?

Treatment depends on:

All treatments don't work the same for everyone. Doctors may switch treatments if one doesn't work, if there is a bad reaction, or if the treatment stops working.

Topical Treatment:

Treatments applied right on the skin (creams, ointments) may help. Treatments can:

Bath solutions and lotions may feel good, but they rarely make the skin better. They are often used along with stronger treatments.

Light Therapy:

Natural ultraviolet light from the sun and artificial ultraviolet light are used to treat psoriasis. One treatment, called PUVA, uses a combination of a drug that makes skin more sensitive to light and ultraviolet A light.

Systemic Treatment:

If the psoriasis is severe, doctors might prescribe drugs or give medicine through a shot. This is called systemic treatment. Antibiotics are not used to treat psoriasis unless bacteria make the psoriasis worse.

Combination Therapy:

When you combine topical (put on the skin), light, and systemic treatments, you can often use lower doses of each. Combination therapy can also lead to better results.

What Are Some Promising Areas of Psoriasis Research?

Doctors are learning more about psoriasis by studying:

For More Information on Psoriasis and Other Related Conditions:

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
National Institutes of Health
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892¨C3675
Phone: 301¨C495¨C4484 or 877¨C22¨CNIAMS (226¨C4267) (free of charge)
TTY: 301¨C565¨C2966
Fax: 301¨C718¨C6366
E-mail: NIAMSInfo@mail.nih.gov
www.niams.nih.gov

The information in this publication was summarized in easy-to-read format from information in a more detailed NIAMS publication. To order the Psoriasis Q&A full-text version, please contact NIAMS using the contact information above. To view the complete text or to order online, visit http://www.niams.nih.gov.

For Your Information

This publication contains information about medications used to treat the health condition discussed here. When this publication was printed, we included the most up-to-date (accurate) information available. Occasionally, new information on medication is released.

For updates and for any questions about any medications you are taking, please contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at 1¨C888¨CINFO¨CFDA (1¨C888¨C463¨C6332, a toll-free call) or visit their Web site at www.fda.gov.

May 2005