Plaque Psoriasis Medication: Control The Skin Enemy

Introduction:

Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. There are many plaque psoriasis medication are available, as well. But before taking any medicine must consult with a doctor. However, about 80-90 percent of people having psoriasis suffering mainly from plaque psoriasis. There are many other types of psoriasis available such as nail psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, pustular psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis.

Plaque psoriasis causes the buildup of dead skin cells on the outermost layer of skin (epidermis), produces skin to raised, red patches, scaly. Patients feel itchy, burning, skin tightness, pain and sometimes may cause bleed when cracked. Plaque psoriasis is seen almost everywhere of the skin of the whole body such as the scalp, knees, elbows, and lower back. Moreover, it also appears in genitals and soft tissue inside the mouth.

Plaque psoriasis medication

Plaque psoriasis medication starts with a mix of different class drug and these are topically used steroid drugs, calcipotriene and tar. Complicated psoriasis condition might be managed with other medical aid, such as tazarotene or anthralin. Treatment’s initial objective is to take care of the management of the lesions. Fully healing is rarely achieved, but patient can suppress it by medicine. If the psoriasis problem turns to bigger then, other treatments such as phototherapy, systemic drugs may be tried. Here, describing all drugs are fully prescription oriented. That’s why, don’t use without the direction of a registered physician.

1) Clobetasol Propionate:

Clobetasol propionate is the most common topical plaque psoriasis medication in the US. It is a highly powerful drug from the class of topical corticosteroids. Conventional dermatologic wisdom says, ointment preparations containing Clobetasol, provides the highest potency (due to their occlusive nature and moisturizing ability) and are best suited for psoriasis.

Clobetasol works by slowing down the immune process of the human body. Clobetasol has many characteristics of anti-inflammatory, anti-itching, anti-redness and hence it helps to reduce symptoms of plaque psoriasis. Clinical study says, it is safe and effective in the treatment of plaque-type psoriasis when applied twice daily for two weeks. But higher doses (50g/week) may cause adrenal gland hormone insufficiency.

2) Calcipotriene:

It is a synthetic topical form of vitamin D used to treat symptoms of plaque psoriasis: skin redness, thickness, regular loss of the outer layer of skin. In USA, this Calcipotriene was first launched in the name of Dovonex.

Basically it stops overproduction of skin cells by binding with vitamin D receptor and closes the function of T helper cell, which is a key part of the immune system. Thus it suppresses the function of the immune system. Some adverse events were found but those are minor.

Calcipotriene is a safe and effective and promising as plaque psoriasis medication. The study says, after 8 weeks of treatment, Calcipotriene shows 75% or more improvement among 70% of treated patients.

3) Methotrexate:

Methotrexate is an FDA approved the oral medication for psoriasis to treat severe plaque psoriasis. It is also used in pustular psoriasis, nail psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis as well.

Methotrexate binds to the specific enzyme in human body and slows down the skin cell growth. It also works against the overactive immune system to halt it.

According to study, Methotrexate is effective in extensive and severe types of psoriasis including plaque psoriasis with low doses (<15-20mg/week). It showed 76% good, 18% moderate and only 6% poor treatment effect on 157 patients. It has also been seen that 61% of patients experienced side effects of liver anomaly.

4) Acitretin:

It is an orally administered plaque psoriasis medication available in capsule form (10mg & 25 mg). Acitrein is a vitamin-A derivative retinol drug at a dose of 0.25mg-1mg per kg body weight per day.

Basically Acitretin works by inhibiting excessive cell growth which leads skin becomes plaque, scaly and thick. Scientifically, it inhibits some specific skin receptor RXR, RAR which are involved to make the growth of cells.

Study says, acitretin is effective systemic therapy for psoriasis and tolerable when used at low doses. It can be given combination with UVB phototherapy to increase efficacy. Another study revealed, psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) 75% achieved in 67.3% patients.

5) Apremilast:

Apremilast (Otezla) is ar plaque psoriasis medication belongs to the class of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug. According to national psoriasis foundation it is the new pill for psoriasis as well. It is used for those patients who have arthritis from psoriasis.

Apremilast works against inflammation causes during plaque psoriasis. Inflammation of plaque psoriasis occurred for an enzyme called Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4). This drug works as PDE-4 inhibitor and reduces overactive inflammation.

It has taken the attention of dermatologists due to its remarkable safety profile. Study says, it is superior to placebo (a pharmaceutical inert substance). It is also known from study that, Apremilast cured half of studied patients with PASI-75%.

6) Infliximab:

Infliximab is a Psoriasis medication injection first approved by USFDA in 1998. It is specially specified for several chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis and plaque psoriasis.

It works against the immune system’s activity. We have already come to know from earlier that, plaque psoriasis is occured due to wrong direction of immune system. Infliximab blocks major mediators of the immune system. As it significantly reduces the activity of the immune system, patients with an infectious disease must not use this drug.

According to Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, Infliximab is suitable, long-term use drug for chronic plaque psoriasis. After administering this drug on patients and followed up of 10 weeks, PASI-75% achieved in 82% and 73% of patients in two different groups.