Topical Treatments

Topical treatments are applied directly to your skin.  People with mild psoriasis most commonly use topical treatments only. People who have more severe psoriasis may also use topical treatments but are likely to receive additional treatments such as phototherapy or systemic medications.

Topical treatments come in several different preparations. These include creams, lotions, sprays, ointments, mousses and gels. It is very important to apply your topical treatment correctly to your skin as this will improve the chance of your treatment working effectively.

There are several different categories of topical treatments:

• Emollients (also known as moisturisers)
• Topical Steroids
• Vitamin D Derivatives
• Dithranol Preparations
• Tar Preparations
• Topical Retinoids (Vitamin A Derivatives)
  

If your psoriasis is very widespread or doesn’t respond adequately to these therapies alone, your healthcare team may prescribe other treatments such as phototherapy or systemic treatments that can be used at the same time as your topical treatment.

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