There is no cure for psoriasis. However there is hope with a couple new prescription creams that have hit the market that have made huge difference. In clinical studies, almost 10% of patients had clear or almost clear skin after 2 weeks.  Over 40% of patients had clear or almost clear skin after 8 weeks.  The studies also show that after 4 weeks post treatment, 33% of patients still had clear or almost clear skin, and that less than 2% of patients experienced skin thinning. 

Hopefully, new innovative drugs like Siliq and Duobrii will provide patients of psoriasis with new treatment options that are both effective and less expensive, as well as having less potential side effects than currently available systemic and biologics drugs.

Disclaimer: The following images of skin conditions may be graphic to some viewers

Typical Plaque Psoriasis on Chest.

Psoriasis is a debilitating skin disease that afflicts 125 million people worldwide. 

Severe Psoriasis on Leg.

8 million people in the United States suffer from this condition.

Typical Plaque Psoriasis on Face and Hand.

150,000 new cases of psoriasis are diagnosed every year.

Typical Plaque Psoriasis on Hands and Toenails.

Psoriasis is a long-lasting autoimmune disease that can adversely affect a patient’s quality of life. 

Typical Plaque Psoriasis on Arm.

Psoriasis often causes thick patches of red skin with silvery scales that feel sore or itch. 

Plaque Psoriasis on Elbow with Bleeding.

The skin may become dry and cracked, resulting in bleeding. 

Typical Plaque Psoriasis of the Back.

Psoriasis can develop at any age, but often appears between the ages of 15 and 25.

Severe Plaque Psoriasis on Hands.          

One-quarter of psoriasis patients have cases that are moderate to severe. 

Plaque Psoriasis of Arm and Elbow.

Plaque psoriasis (also known as chronic stationary psoriasis) is the most common, making up about 80 to 90 percent of cases.

Plaque Psoriasis on Arm.            

Plaque psoriasis can be painful and itchy and causes red skin lesions, raised areas of inflamed skin covered with silvery-white scales.

Plaque Psoriasis of the Knees and Leg.

These plaques areas are commonly found on elbows, knees, the scalp, and the back.

Scalp Psoriasis.

Psoriasis can appear anywhere on the body; on the ears, mouth and lips, on eyelids, scalps, hands, feet, and nails. 

Typical Plaque Psoriasis of the Back.

Periods of remission will often be followed by flare-ups, which may be brought on by emotional stress, alcohol, certain drugs, infection, irritation or changes in the weather.

Psoriatic Arthritis of the Feet.

Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis with symptoms including joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.  This condition can affect any part of the body.

Erythrodermic Psoriasis on Torso.

Erythrodermic psoriasis, a rare but severe type of psoriasis, affects 3% of patients. 

Severe Erythrodermic Psoriasis.

This potentially life-threatening condition can affect the whole body and causes severe dryness, itching and pain, making the skin come off in sheets.  

Erythrodermic Psoriasis on Hands.

This condition may be triggered by psoriasis that has spread, sunburn, phototherapy treatment, and the abrupt withdrawal of systemic medications such as glucocorticoids.  Patients who develop this condition should see a doctor immediately.

Abdominal Plaque Psoriasis.

While the exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, psoriasis is generally thought to be a genetic disease that is triggered by environmental factors. 

Typical Plaque Psoriasis with Bleeding.

Risk factors may include exposure to certain medications, smoking, skin that have been injured or traumatized, and obesity.

Complete Clearance of Psoriasis following Treatment

No current cure for psoriasis exists.  There are, however, several effective treatments.  These are divided into three main types (1) topical treatments, (2) systemic (oral) medications, and (3) biologic (injectable) drugs. 

*Siliq results after 3 months. 

Biologic medications, which include Siliq (brodalumab), Taltz (ixekizumab), Cosentyx (secukinumab), Stelara (ustekinumab), Humira (adalimumab), Enbrel (etanercept), Remicade (infliximab), Tremfya (guselkumab), Cimzia  (certolizumab pegol), Ilumya (tildrakizumab-asmn), and Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa); and systemic drugs such as Otezla, are among some of the most powerful and effective drugs available to patients.  They are capable of rapidly achieving PASI 75-100 results, in many cases achieving complete skin clearance. 

* Siliq results after 3 months. 

However, these extremely expensive drugs are considered to be treatments of last resort.  Because they are systemic in nature, they may subject patients to more negative side effects since they are administered to the body as a whole and not just to the affected areas.

* Siliq results after 3 months.

Topical steroid drugs, while inexpensive, only played a limited role in the treatment of psoriasis in the past.  Patients could only use them continuously for a few weeks before having to discontinue use due to thinning of the skin and inflammation side effects.  This was typically not enough time to bring the psoriasis under control.

** Duobrii results after 8 weeks on the Waist

Recently, the FDA approved the drug Duobrii (halobetasol propionate and tazarotene) for treatment of psoriasis.  Duobrii is a major advance for topical psoriasis treatments. 

** Duobrii results after 8 weeks on the Elbow

Unlike other topical steroid treatments, Duobrii can be used continuously, not just for a few weeks but for up to 24 weeks of continuous use, and up to 52 weeks of as-needed use according to the FDA-approved label.

** Duobrii results after 8 weeks below the Knee

This is ample time to achieve a successful treatment outcome. And since it is a topical treatment, not systemic, it has a major advantage compared to other systemic medications and biologics as it only targets the affected area (and thus reduces unwanted side effects to the body as a whole).