What are the treatment options for psoriasis?

From the Guidelines

Treatment options for psoriasis include topical therapies, phototherapy, and systemic medications depending on severity, with the most recent guidelines recommending a personalized approach based on the type and severity of psoriasis, affected body areas, comorbidities, and patient preferences 1. The treatment of psoriasis can be divided into several categories, including:

• Topical therapies, such as corticosteroids, vitamin D analogs, and retinoids, which are typically used for mild to moderate cases
• Phototherapy, including UVB and PUVA, which can be used for more widespread or resistant cases
• Systemic medications, including oral retinoids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, and biologics, which are used for severe or unresponsive cases Some key points to consider when selecting a treatment option include:
• The type and severity of psoriasis, with more severe cases requiring more aggressive treatment
• The affected body areas, with treatment tailored to the specific areas of involvement
• Comorbidities, such as liver or kidney disease, which may impact the choice of treatment
• Patient preferences, with some patients preferring topical or oral treatments over injectable biologics The most recent guidelines recommend a step-wise approach to treatment, starting with topical therapies and progressing to phototherapy and systemic medications as needed, with biologics reserved for severe or unresponsive cases 1. In terms of specific treatment options, some of the most commonly used medications include:
• Methotrexate, which is often used as a first-line treatment for moderate to severe psoriasis
• Cyclosporine, which is used for severe cases or those that are unresponsive to other treatments
• Biologics, such as TNF inhibitors, IL-17 inhibitors, and IL-23 inhibitors, which are used for severe or unresponsive cases It's worth noting that the treatment of psoriasis is highly individualized, and what works for one patient may not work for another. A personalized approach to treatment, taking into account the patient's specific needs and preferences, is essential for achieving optimal outcomes 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

HULIO is used: • To treat moderate to severe chronic (lasting a long time) plaque psoriasis (Ps) in adults who have the condition in many areas of their body and who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills).

The treatment option for psoriasis mentioned in the drug label is adalimumab (HULIO), which is used to treat moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in adults. Key points to consider:

• Systemic therapy or phototherapy may be beneficial for adults with the condition in many areas of their body.
• Adalimumab (HULIO) can be used to treat this condition 2.

From the Research

Treatment Options for Psoriasis

The treatment options for psoriasis can be categorized into several types, including:

• Topical treatments, such as corticosteroids, calcipotriene, tazarotene, topical tars, anthralin, and keratolytics, which are effective for mild to moderate psoriasis 3, 4, 5
• Systemic therapies, including methotrexate, acitretin, cyclosporine, and hydroxyurea, which are used for moderate to severe psoriasis 3, 6, 7
• Biologic agents, such as etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, and ustekinumab, which are used for severe and extensive disease 6, 7
• Phototherapy, including ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy, which is effective for patients with more than 10% affected body surface area who have not responded to topical treatments 6

Topical Treatments

Topical treatments are the first line of treatment for mild to moderate psoriasis, and can be used in combination with other treatments, such as phototherapy or systemic therapy. The most commonly used topical treatments include:

• Corticosteroids, which are effective in reducing symptoms and can be used in combination with other topical treatments 3, 4, 5
• Vitamin D3 analogs, such as calcipotriene, which are effective in combination with corticosteroids 4
• Retinoids, such as tazarotene, which are effective in reducing symptoms 3, 5
• Tars, anthralin, and keratolytics, which can be used in combination with ultraviolet light and corticosteroids 3, 5

Systemic Therapies

Systemic therapies are used for moderate to severe psoriasis, and can be used in combination with topical treatments or phototherapy. The most commonly used systemic therapies include:

• Methotrexate, which is effective in reducing symptoms and can be used in combination with other systemic treatments 3, 6, 7
• Acitretin, which is effective in reducing symptoms and can be used in combination with other systemic treatments or phototherapy 6, 7
• Cyclosporine, which is effective in reducing symptoms and can be used in combination with other systemic treatments 3, 6
• Hydroxyurea, which is effective in reducing symptoms and can be used in combination with other systemic treatments 3

Phototherapy

Phototherapy, including UVB phototherapy, is effective for patients with more than 10% affected body surface area who have not responded to topical treatments. UVB phototherapy can be used in combination with topical treatments or systemic therapies, and is generally well-tolerated 6