Psoriasis Psoriasis Treatment

Working Psoriasis Treatment into Everyday Life

Treating psoriasis can take a lot of your time. People who use topical treatments must apply them very slowly and carefully to cover all of the affected skin areas without touching the unaffected skin. And for people who use light therapy, getting to and from the dermatologist's office can be a hassle. Here are some tips on working treatment into your life.

The Time Commitment
Treatments with psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) last for just a few minutes, but most people need two or three treatments a week, for a total of 20 or 30 treatments to effectively clear the skin. After that, many people require maintenance treatments. Some people need just one treatment a month, while others may need more frequent maintenance.

People using broadband UVB therapy require three to five treatments a week, while those using narrowband UVB therapy require two to three treatments a week. The skin usually clears up after about 15 to 25 treatments, but maintenance treatments need to begin as soon as lesions reappear. A typical maintenance schedule consists of two treatments a week.

Treatments with excimer lasers last just a few minutes each. Most patients need a total of eight to 15 treatments, at a rate of about two a week. Remission can last for several months.

A typical treatment session with a pulsed dye laser lasts between 15 to 30 minutes, and most people need between four and six sessions, spaced three weeks apart. Remission can last for about a year.

Traveling to Therapy
Getting to a treatment center two or three days a week for months at a time can be an inconvenient and expensive proposition. Some patients who are not near a treatment center are able to get permission from their physician to administer UVB treatments at home. This requires training in the use of home phototherapy equipment, but patients must continue seeing their dermatologist for regular skin examinations.

People who work full-time may find getting to treatments especially disruptive. If you have a full-time job, speak to your supervisor about the possibility of arranging a flexible work schedule. For example, you may be able to work from home on the days you need to get to treatment, reducing the amount of time you spend on the road. Another option might be to shift your schedule so that you work more hours on the days you don't have treatments and fewer hours on the days you do.

Flexible work schedules are common in the workplace. Although only 10 percent of companies provide formal flextime programs, more than one-quarter of all full-time employees have flexible work schedules, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Questions to ask your doctor:

1. How long can I expect treatment to last?
2. Am I a candidate for home phototherapy?
3. What treatment options are available for me and how long do they last?