This article explores OTC medicines and other products for treating and easing psoriasis symptoms. It also looks at the various types of psoriasis, including its causes, diagnosis, and treatments.
A doctor or dermatologist will decide how to treat psoriasis according to the severity and location of the affected area. Treatments for mild psoriasis may include OTC and non-prescription medicine — people may benefit from the sole or combined use of these various options.
Ingredients in OTC products
Some OTC medications may include active ingredients such as coal tar and mild corticosteroids. We explore more details about these products and their main ingredients below.
Coal tar
Manufacturers include coal tar in OTC and prescription products for psoriasis, including creams, shampoos, ointments, and bath solutions. Doctors and dermatologists have recommended it as a beneficial treatment for psoriasis for years, which can help:
- reduce swelling, scaling, and redness
- reduce itching and flaking
- slow overproduction of skin cells
Mild corticosteroids
Corticosteroids may help reduce inflammation and itching. A person can buy solutions, ointments, and creams containing mild corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone, without a prescription. Hydrocortisone is effective in treating a few small patches of psoriasis, although individuals with more severe symptoms will probably need a prescription corticosteroid.
Moisturizers
These products may help with skin healing and relieve skin dryness. Some moisturizers may partially seal water onto the skin, helping people with mild or severe psoriasis. Dermatologists recommend applying moisturizer once a day, or more often in cases of very dry skin. People should choose a heavy, fragrance-free ointment or cream instead of lotion.
Scale softeners
These products may help soften and remove scales, and they may be available OTC and with a prescription. They often contain salicylic acid to reduce swelling. Other scale-softening ingredients may include urea and lactic acid.
Anti-itch
Products with anti-itching ingredients, such as menthol, camphor, and calamine, can reduce itching.
There are alternative treatments for psoriasis, including the below.
Biologics
These medicines can target the overactive part of the immune system. Doctors administer them intravenously or as injections to people with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
Prescription oral medicines
Doctors or dermatologists may prescribe oral medicines for psoriasis, such as apremilast, which can help reduce scales and redness, oral retinoids, which can reduce swelling and redness and stop the overproduction of skin cells, or methotrexate, which can suppress the overactive immune system.
Phototherapy
This therapy involves exposing parts of the skin to a certain type of UV light, which may help with:
- suppressing an overactive immune system
- reducing or stopping itching
- reducing inflammation
- slowing the growth of skin cells
Diet
A person can limit consumption of foods with a high glycaemic index, such as carbohydrates. They can also eat more anti-inflammatory foods, including:
- nuts and seeds
- fruits and vegetables
- beans
- oily fish
- fibre
Psoriasis occurs due to issues in the immune system, which causes inflammation in the skin. It is a chronic autoimmune condition, meaning that once a person has psoriasis, they may have the condition for life.
An overactive immune system speeds up the growth of skin cells — while these cells normally grow and shed over the course of a month, new skin cells grow in 3–4 days. The skin cells do not shed but pile up and lead to the formation of scales and plaques, which may be painful or itchy. Psoriasis can develop anywhere on the skin, but it most commonly occurs on the knees, scalp, and elbows.
The condition presents as dark brown, grey, or violet patches with silvery scales on the skin of people of colour. In contrast, it develops as red patches with silvery scales on white skin.
Conditions that have links with psoriasis
People with psoriasis are more likely to have certain other disorders. These include:
- celiac disease
- inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease
- psoriatic arthritis
- pustulosis
- uveitis, an inflammation of the eye
- metabolic syndrome
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