Aggressive Psoriasis Treatment
More than 3 percent of the United States population has psoriasis, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Physicians offer several aggressive treatments for moderate to severe symptoms of this chronic, inflammatory, but non-contagious skin disorder.
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Chemophototherapy
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Although phototherapy that uses artificial UV light is effective, the Mayo Clinic says chemophototherapy---which combines UV light and medications---is more aggressive and effective. For example, in the PUVA treatment the light-sensitizing drug psoralen and UVA light are used in tandem.
Biologics
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Biologic drugs use protein from living organisms and must be injected, as oral ingestion destroys their potency. According to the Mayo Clinic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved several biologics to aggressively treat psoriasis, including alefacept (Amevive), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) and ustekinumab (Stelara).
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Methotrexate
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Methotrexate is an immune-suppressant that stops signals from the immune system to the skin that create an excess of skin cells, the cause of psoriasis, according to the New Zealand Dermatological Society. However, some methotrexate side effects can be serious, and patients should undergo regular blood tests during treatment. Doctors often prescribe folic acid to help counter methotrexate side effects.
Retinoids
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Another aggressive treatment for psoriasis that hasn't responded to other therapies involves taking a prescription retinoid such as acitretin (Soriatane). However, these drugs can cause birth defects, so pregnant women and women who may become pregnant should avoid them. Also, the majority of patients experience a recurrence of the skin condition when they discontinue use of the retinoid.
Cyclosporine
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Cyclosporine is an oral medication that suppresses the body's immune system, helping reduce the accelerated turnover of skin cells that causes psoriasis. It is often prescribed for people with severe psoriasis who can't tolerate, or haven't been helped by, other systemic therapies; however, cyclosporine has several major side effects, including chest pains, muscle cramps, mental confusion and mood changes.
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