Psoriasis treatments can be divided into three main types: topical treatments, light therapy and oral medications. Additionally, combination psoriasis treatments combine multiple types of psoriasis treatments to achieve a synergistic effect and produce a more rapid outcome.

Topical Psoriasis Treatments

Anthralin, calcipotriene, coal tar, and topical steroids are the most-used topical psoriasis treatments.

Anthralin

Anthralin therapy is a psoriasis treatment generally reserved for more severe forms of psoriasis. Anthralin is a synthetic substitute of chrysarobin, a substance found in the bark of a South American tree, and has been used a treatment for psoriasis for over 100 years. Anthralin works by reducing the rapid growth of skin cells which cause plaques to develop.

Anthralin, commercially available as the brand-name medicine Dritho-Scalp or Psoriatec, can remove scale and smooth skin, but it stains nearly everything  it touches, including skin, clothing, countertops and bedding. Doctors usually prescribe anthralin to be applied for short periods of 10 to 30 minutes and then removed or washed off completely. If this psoriasis treatment is not properly applied bya trained therapist, however, it may irritate healthy skin and leave stains on the skin that can last several weeks. Although it is not as strong as topical steroids, anthralin has no long-term side-effects.

Calcipotriene

Calcipotriene is a vitamin D3 analog available in cream and ointment formulations. Calcipotriene, commerically available as either Dovonex or Taclonex, has been approved by the FDA as a psoriasis treatment. Topical calcipotriene is often used in combination with topical corticosteroids to speed clearing of the lesions and maintain control after the initial phase of treatment is completed. This psoriasis treatment has a slow onset of action, and patients should be aware that the effects of calcipotriene may not be noticeable for up to six to eight weeks after therapy has begun. Data suggest that topical calcipotriene is inactivated by UVA, so it is best not to apply it immediately before ultraviolet treatment. Additionally, topical calcipotriene can absorb UVB, so it is best not to apply a thick layer just before going out in the sun or before getting into a UVB lightbox. Topical calcipotriene may be the safest treatment for long-term control of face or genital psoriasis because there is no risk of atrophy (the thinning of the skin, a side-effect of corticosteroids). The only external side effect of calcipotriene is local skin irritation, which occurs in approximately 15 percent of patients.

Coal Tar

Topical coal tars have helped treat psoriasis for centuries and can be used by themselves or combined with UVB. Coal tar is a viscous, black fluid that was first used in 1925, when it was combined with ultraviolet light for the treatment of psoriasis. Coal tar has few known side effects, but it's messy, stains clothing and bedding, and has a strong odor. Coal tar is most effective when it is used in combination with other agents, especially UVB light. The minor side effects of coal tar include folliculitis, a pimple-like rash that affects hair follicles.

Corticosteroids

Topical corticosteroids are the most commonly prescribed treatment for mild-to-moderate psoriasis. Corticosteroids can clear up psoriatic lesions quickly, but aren't good at maintaining remissions. These range in strength from weak, over-the-counter steroids such as 1% hydrocortisone to super-potent corticosteroids.

Corticosteroids act by slowing down the growth of skin cells and decreasing the inflammation of lesions in patients with psoriasis. Although corticosteroids are rapidly effective in psoriasis treatment, they are associated with a rapid flare-up of disease after discontinuation, and they have many potential side effects.

Potential side effects from corticosteroids include cutaneous atrophy (thinning of the skin), telangiectasia and striae, acne eruption, glaucoma, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression and, in children, growth retardation.

Combination Psoriasis Treatments

Combination therapy has also been shown to be effective, especially UV phototherapy in combination with topical anthralin, coal tar or calcipotriene. Topical calcipotriene is best used in combination with potent topical corticosteroids. It is also effective in combination with UVB and PUVA. Coal tar is most effective when it is used in combination with other agents, especially ultraviolet B light. Coal tar shampoo can be used in combination with a corticosteroid scalp solution for the treatment of psoriasis on the scalp. Different forms of psoriasis may require different forms of treatment or combination of treatments.

Phototherapy

Phototherapy is a psoriasis treatment consisting of exposure to UVA and/or UVB ultraviolet light. It is most often used in conjunction with a topical psoriasis treatment.

Oral Medication

For severe psoriasis, or for psoriasis that is resistant to other forms of treatment, oral medications may be prescribed. This is usually the last form of psoriasis treatment used because oral psoriasis medicines alone usually have toxic side effects. An often-used combination psoriasis treatment, oral psoralen and ultraviolet-A light, known as PUVA, carries the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer.

There as a multitude of internal psoriasis medications. The three that are typically taken orally are methotrexate, cyclosporine and acitretin (brand name Soriatane).

Conclusion

The proper psoriasis treatment regimen for you should be determined by you and your doctor. Each person is unique, and the psoriasis treatment for each person is unique as well.  If you're unsatisfied with the treatment options available, you might consider homeopathic psoriasis treatment.  Although most of the evidence is anecdotal, there are some homeopathic psoriasis treatments that are effectivein treating psoriasis.