1. Moderate to Severe Psoriasis Slideshow
2. Psoriasis Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ
3. How Much Is Psoriasis Affecting Your Life?

Medical Author:

Gary W. Cole, MD, FAAD

Gary W. Cole, MD, FAAD

Dr. Cole is board certified in dermatology. He obtained his BA degree in bacteriology, his MA degree in microbiology, and his MD at the University of California, Los Angeles. He trained in dermatology at the University of Oregon, where he completed his residency.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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The good news is that there is a lot that can be done for psoriasis aside from resorting to a physician. This is especially true for mild disease. There are many over-the-counter products available that are effective for psoriasis -- 1% hydrocortisone cream (Cortaid, Caldecort) is very safe topical steroid that can suppress mild disease. Preparations containing tar (that gunky, smelly stuff that is a byproduct of oil production) can be beneficial. Tar can be found in many ointments and shampoos so it can be effective in treating scalp disease. Sunlight has well-documented beneficial effects on psoriasis. Careful sunbathing (no sunburns) can be quite effective in controlling the disease during seasons when sunlight is abundant and the weather is tolerable. When treating this disease, it must be remembered that topical medications and light will have difficulty penetrating through thick layers of scale. This scale must be gently removed by gentle washing techniques so as to minimize irritation. In plaques of psoriasis, the small cutaneous vessels are very close to the surface of the skin, just under the scale. If the scale is removed, vigorous bleeding will occur, producing irritation and trauma that actually tends to activate psoriasis.

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