How We Can Help You Treat Your Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an extremely personal skin disorder that can cause embarrassment that drives you to cover up with long sleeves and pants, even during summer weather. Suffering from this chronic disorder and its revealing patchy, red lesions can lead to reduced self-esteem and even depression. 

But you don’t have to fret and suffer in silence. The experienced medical team at Orange Coast Dermatology provides advanced treatment for psoriasis at our offices in Rancho Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo, California. Don’t hide from the sun or the public when help is available to treat all types and levels of psoriasis. 

You can live your best life in spite of psoriasis with your own custom treatment plan from our practitioners. Our dermatologists work with you to create a treatment plan that attacks your psoriasis from multiple sides. You can expect your plan to include some of the elements outlined below. 

Lifestyle changes 

Certain lifestyle changes can help reduce psoriasis outbreaks and improve your skin condition. For example, avoiding situations that trigger outbreaks is key to managing your condition. This can include avoiding excessive heat or sunlight, avoiding rough clothing, reducing stress, and quitting smoking. 

We may also recommend some important dietary changes. Eating more anti-inflammatory foods and avoiding dairy, alcohol, gluten, and refined sugars can help your body naturally fight psoriasis. Foods to incorporate into your diet include: 

• Tomatoes 
• Olives and olive oil
• Leafy greens like kale and spinach
• Almonds and walnuts
• Fatty fish
• Fresh fruit

We will also prescribe some important changes or additions to your home skin care routine. Lukewarm oatmeal baths can soothe inflamed and itchy skin. Certain bath oils and moisturizers can also increase skin health and prevent outbreaks. Using an appropriate sunscreen can protect your skin and help stave off psoriasis flare-ups. 

Topical treatments

We’ll likely prescribe some topical treatments to help relieve your itchy, painful, inflamed skin during a flare-up. Topical creams and ointments can also help replenish your skin and keep it healthy as you heal. 

Corticosteroids

Anti-inflammatory corticosteroids are very effective for mild to moderate psoriasis and come in a variety of forms. They are available in ointments, creams, and even shampoos for scalp psoriasis. We recommend which is best for your particular condition. 

Regular use can even prevent psoriasis outbreaks. 

Vitamin D

Both natural and synthetic forms of vitamin D boost your immune system and slow the growth of skin cells. We may prescribe vitamin D supplements or shots, as well as increasing dietary forms of vitamin D. 

Salicylic acid 

Some shampoos and other dermatological scalp solutions are made with salicylic acid, which is proven to alleviate itching and pain in scalp psoriasis. We make specific recommendations about which brands or types to use. 

Retinoids 

Retinoids are a popular skin care solution that boosts the production of new skin cells to help you have younger-looking, healthier skin. They are an excellent treatment for psoriasis because they speed up cell turnover, so you get rid of patchy, scaly skin more quickly.

Oral medications

If topical treatments haven’t helped or for more severe psoriasis, we may prescribe oral or injectable medications to control itching and inflammation. 

Most oral medications can only be taken for a short period because of some possible negative side effects. 

Laser therapy 

We also offer advanced psoriasis treatment with the revolutionary excimer laser. Phototherapy using UV light targets damaged skin from psoriasis while leaving healthy skin unaffected. 

This treatment is proven to help eradicate scaly, patchy skin while boosting the production of healthy skin cells. It is completely safe and painless. 

We may recommend a series of laser treatments over time to produce the best results. 

For more information about how we can help you treat your psoriasis, call the nearest office or schedule a consultation online today. Telehealth appointments are available.