Topicals10
Topical treatments are applied directly to the skin and are usually the first line of defense for treating psoriasis. Treatments include corticosteroids, vitamin D3 and coal tar.
- Corticosteroids: routinely used to treat psoriasis; potency varies from mild to very strong; they work by reducing the swelling and redness of lesions
- Anthralin: used to treat plaque psoriasis by reducing psoriasis lesions; does not work as quickly or thoroughly as corticosteroids
- Calcipotriene Calcipotriol (vitamin D3): slows rate of skin cell growth, flattens and removes scales in mild-to-moderate psoriasis
- Tazarotene: derivative of vitamin A (retinoid); tazarotene is a water-based emollient that slows the rapid growth of skin cells found in psoriasis
- Coal Tar: treats scaling, inflammation and itching, and slows skin cell growth
- Salicylic Acid: helps remove scales and is often combined with topical steroids, anthralin or tar
- Combined Calcipotriol & Betamethasone Product: treats stable plaque psoriasis vulgaris amenable to topical therapy