Treating Psoriasis

People with psoriasis face the challenge of finding the right treatment among many choices. The severity of your condition and your response to previous treatment will help your dermatologist determine what treatment is best for you.

Treatment goals

• Achieve and maintain control of psoriatic lesions
• Maximize therapeutic efficacy and patient quality of life
• Minimize side effects

Treatments

• Topical therapies such as ointments and creams are often used to treat mild to moderate psoriasis. They may also be used in conjunction with other therapies to treat more severe psoriasis. Topical treatments include corticosteroids, which are anti-inflammatory ointments applied to the skin. They vary in strength and can relieve symptoms. However, resistance to corticosteroids may develop quickly, and symptoms can become more severe once treatment stops. Other topical medications include anthralin, coal tar, topical retinoids, and vitamin D analogs.

• Light therapy, in which your skin or just the psoriasis lesions are exposed to ultraviolet light (UVA and UVB rays). These light therapies are for moderate to severe psoriasis. One type of light therapy, PUVA (psoralen and UVA) combines medication with ultraviolet light. PUVA is used for patients with severe psoriasis. Treatment is usually administered in a dermatologist’s office or psoriasis clinic. They help slow down skin cell growth and kill T-cells.

• Systemic therapies circulate throughout the body. They can be taken orally in pill form or given by injection. Types of systemic medications include retinoids like Soriatane^® (acitretin)*, as well as medications that suppress your immune system, like Neoral^® (cyclosporine)* and methotrexate.

• Biologics are the latest advance in systemic psoriasis treatment. They are given by IV infusion or by injection to people with moderate to severe psoriasis. REMICADE is a biologic; it binds to the excess TNF-alpha produced by your overactive immune system – an underlying cause of the inflammation, redness, and scales of psoriasis. In clinical studies, most patients who were treated with REMICADE maintained skin clearance up to one year. Individual results may vary.

Is REMICADE right for you?

REMICADE is not for everyone; only your doctor can decide if REMICADE is right for you. REMICADE, like other medicines that affect your immune system, is a strong medicine that can cause serious side effects. Please read the Important Safety Information and the Medication Guide for REMICADE and discuss any questions or symptoms with your doctor.

REMICADE is approved for the treatment of adult patients with chronic severe (extensive and/or disabling) plaque psoriasis under the care of a physician who will determine if REMICADE is appropriate considering other available therapies.

NEXT: REMICADE for Plaque Psoriasis

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