Psoriasis Treatments Reviewed

We inspected hundreds of the best selling psoriasis treatments and chose the most effective solutions. We do the research, check the quality, and determine the top products on the market. Our goal is to remove the guesswork from product shopping, because when you’ve got health problems you need a cure fast, not a cabinet full of products that don’t work.

Psoriasis Treatments (in order of superiority):

Betamethasone

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that occurs when new skin rises to the surface more quickly than normal. Normally, old skin slowly flakes off as new skin develops beneath, but if the new skin develops too quickly, you may develop thick, flakey areas called “plaques”. Psoriasis can be limited to small patches on the body or much larger areas. Many mild cases do not bother people, but some cases may be uncomfortable or outright painful.

Psoriasis can look like other skin disorders, so it’s vital that a doctor properly diagnoses you to avoid missing a potentially dangerous skin disease.

Luckily, psoriasis is easy and safe to treat. Betamethasone is a common corticosteroid that causes new skin cells to grow more slowly, as well as reducing irritating and swelling of the area. It can produce rapid and effective results, but care should be taken not to get it in the eyes, mouth, groin, or underarms. It can also be absorbed through the skin, which can cause a reaction.

One of betamethasone’s more unsual side effects is that it can cause growth problems in children. If you or your child experience unusual symptoms, or your child’s weight or height seem strange, you should inform your doctor immediately. Whether betamethasone is right for you will depend on your medical history as well as other medications you’re taking, especially oral corticosteroids.

Methotrexate

Psoriasis may run the gamut from truly painful to a simple embarrassment, but treating it does not need to be difficult. It occurs when new skin grows under old skin too rapidly, not allowing old skin to flake off before the new appears. The patches of skin where this occurs are called plaques.

Other more serious medical conditions can be mistaken for psoriasis, so a doctor visit is necessary to make the right diagnosis. Untreated psoriasis can become worse over time, and relatively harmless cases can become irritated or painful.

The first line of attack is often a topic cream applied to the area, but these don’t work for everyone. If that’s the case, your doctor may try a general treatment like Methotrexate, which is given as a weekly injection or a pill. The pill may be taken once a week or three times a day, depending on the formulation and your needs.

Methotrexate is more powerful than a topic corticosteroid, and as such the risk of side effects is elevated. Nausea, vomiting, bloody stool, sun sensitivity, and headaches have all be reported. It may also damage the liver, so your doctor may want to perform regular tests to monitor the effects of Methotrexate on the body. Before even prescribing Methotrexate, your doctor might wish to do blood and liver tests to make sure the treatment is safe for you.

Alcohol should be avoided for the same reason when taking Methotrexate, to avoid damage to the liver. Methotrexate may interact negatively with other conditions or cause problems for those with underlying diseases. Although there are risks associated with its use, it can be helpful for many people with their doctor’s assistance.

Tazorac

Psoriasis can be a simple annoyance or a great discomfort. If left untreated, it may clear up and reappear later, and it may become worse over time. The problem stems from new skin cells growing rapidly and coming to the surface of the skin before old ones are gone.  It’s important not to ignore the symptoms psoriasis, as they may point to a more severe skin condition.

Your people with more severe psoriasis, Tazorac may be a solution. Tazorac belongs to the family of drugs known as retinoids, and is applied topically. Tazorac helps control the growth and shedding of skin cells, hopefully balancing the rate at which both processes occur to restore the skin to its previous condition.

Tazorac can irritate the skin, but a doctor may also prescribe a corticosteroid to both ease that annoyance and further treat the affected area. If Tazorac is prescribed alone, you may be able to use moisturizers or creams to moderate the irritation problems you may see, though it’s important to speak to your doctor to make sure there will be no unsafe interactions.

Tazorac sometimes greatly increases sensitivity to sunlight. Using sunlight when you otherwise might not may be a good idea, and you should minimize the time you spend in the sun. If you are using other products that result in sun sensitivity, the problem could compound. If you develop a sunburn, stop using Tazorac and speak with your doctor.

Furthermore, Tazorac is unsafe for pregnant women. Many doctors recommend a negative pregnancy test two weeks before taking Tazorac, as well as using birth control during treatment.

Tazorac is a serious medication that may have some serious side effects, but it can be safe when used in an educated manner based on your doctor’s specifications. It may help clear up cases of severe psoriasis when other medications fall short.