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Dermatology Blog

By Heather Brannon, MD, About.com Guide to Dermatology since 2002

Two Medications Combined are the Most Effective Topicals for Psoriasis

Monday April 27, 2009
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder that affects 1% to 3% of the world's population. It is characterized by periodic flare-ups of well defined, red patches covered by a silvery, flaky scale on parts of the body and the scalp. There are several types of psoriasis but the most common type is chronic plaque psoriasis.

There are many different topical treatments for psoriasis, but a Cochrane review found that two often used topicals work best together. Based on 131 studies the review found that Vitamin D products like Dovonex combined with high-strength corticosteroids, groups I & II were the most effective topical treatments.

This is good news for people who have mild psoriasis because these are medications most primary care physicians feel comfortable prescribing. But for people who have numerous plaques, it's difficult to apply topical medications on every plaque.

Comments

May 28, 2009 at 10:20 am
(1) Juan Jose says:

In my personal experience the only real, effective and radical cure for psoriasis and also arthritis consist in a diet free of sugars and carbohidrates and rich in proteins. NO ALCOHOL AND PORK AT ALL. We sufferers of this chronic condition have a liver that can’t work well with this kind of foods, neither eliminate well toxins and other by products by the usual channels. Skin is the last scape for this body toxins. So we need to eat well and detox our liver. Period. That’s true, my friends and we need willpower to diet to be cured, not pills and creams.

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