Psoriasis treatment has come a long way in the past 10 years. That's welcome news for the 7.5 million Americans with this complex skin disease.
"Every year, we've had either a new medication or a new use for one of these medications," says Michael P. Heffernan, MD, with Central Dermatology in St. Louis. That's led to "a marked improvement in successful treatments."
Could one of the newer medications or a drug in the research pipeline help you? That may depend on how severe your psoriasis is. Many people can control the disease with medicine they apply to their skin, called topicals, or treatment with ultraviolet light, called phototherapy. Others need something more powerful.
Doctors tend to use a step-by-step approach to treatment. They start by prescribing milder creams and phototherapy. If those don't work, they move on to meds that affect your whole body.
"You'll often be asked to try older, less expensive medications before getting access to newer ones," Heffernan says. So if you want to try a new option sooner, let your doctor know. "You have to be your own best advocate with your physician and the insurance company," he says.
