Treating Psoriasis

Treatment for psoriasis is temporarily effective, and may need to be continued for quite a while. You will find it reassuring to know that (1 ) diet does not affect psoriasis, (2) psoriasis will not cause your hair to fall out, and (3) psoriasis is not caused by nerves. A nervous upset sometimes worsens psoriasis—just as nervous upsets may worsen almost any other illness.

If you have psoriasis of the scalp, it helps to wash your hair often. A medicated shampoo isn't necessary. Some other treatments used in psoriasis are the following:

1. Moderate sunlight exposure is often helpful. Don't get sunburned, since psoriasis may settle in areas of injured skin.
2. Ultraviolet light by itself often helps psoriasis. Ultraviolet light is even more effective when used with tar or anthralin.
3. Cytotoxic drugs such as methotrexate, given by mouth or injection, are used only for very severe psoriasis. Cytotoxic means poisonous to cells, and these drugs are used only with special precautions.
4. PUVA treatment combines a psoralen (an internal medicine) with ultraviolet light A (PUVA = Psoralen + UltraViolet A). This new therapy is available only at certain centers, as it requires specialized light equipment. While PUVA is an effective treatment for extensive psoriasis, like all other treatments it is only of temporary benefit.

While psoriasis is an unsightly nuisance, it should not prevent you from leading a full, active life.



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