Treatments for Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis

How Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Are Treated 

Doctors may recommend one or more of the following medications to manage psoriasis symptoms: 

• Ointments containing corticosteroids can be applied directly to rough patches of skin. Doctors may also prescribe topical retinoids, synthetic vitamin D creams, and coal tar (a byproduct of coal manufacturing). 
• Oral retinoids may be recommended if topical solutions don’t work. This is often the case when people experience severe psoriasis.  
• Injectable medications, such as methotrexate and biologics, also help reduce inflammation, which can alleviate psoriasis symptoms.  

Some psoriasis medications carry a risk of serious side effects. Accordingly, patients must understand these risks before starting a new medication regimen.  

As for psoriatic arthritis, treatments include: 

• NSAIDs, which are available in over the counter and prescription forms, reduce inflammation in the joints. This alleviates pain and stiffness.  
• DMARDs are medications that reduce the rate at which psoriatic arthritis progresses. They can also prevent permanent joint damage from occurring.  
• Biologic agents are a type of DMARD that impacts how the immune system functions to manage psoriatic arthritis symptoms.  
• Apremilast medications work by reducing enzyme activity associated with the body’s inflammatory response. This treatment is often recommended when a person can’t take DMARDs or biologic agents.