Psoriasis

What is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a disorder of the skin, which typically consists of red patches covered by silvery-white scales. These red scaly patches are usually found on the elbows, knees, lower back and scalp although not infrequently patches appear elsewhere including the nails. When psoriasis involves the groin, armpits, genital area and beneath the breasts it tends to be less scaly and have a glazed appearance. Psoriasis infrequently affects the face. It does not cause scarring and rarely results in hair loss.

Treatments
Topical Preparations
These treatments should be performed under the direction of a certified Dermatologist.
Crude coal tar
Dithranol
Topical steroids
Vitamin D-like Compounds

Ultraviolet Radiation
UVB
UVB or Narrowband UVB treatment is most useful during the winter months. A six week course three times weekly often results in substantial improvement or clearance. 

PUVA
Psoralens plus long wave Ultra Violet Aradiation, known as photochemotherapy or PUVA, is more effective than UVB. It can cause burning and skin cancer too but is a popular treatment because of its ease and efficacy.

Oral medications
Methotrexate
Acetretin
Cyclosporin

Other medications showing promise for severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis include mycophenolate mofetil, etanercept and inflixamab.