Psoriasis Treatment

Oxford Online Pharmacy Psoriasis Service and Information

If you have Psoriasis, our online pharmacy has an online doctor and online pharmacy service. Please select your treatment, or ask us for advice, and complete the online questionnaire. Your answers are confidential and will be assessed by our GMC registered doctor. If approved a prescription will be issued.

If you already have a private or NHS prescription, simply select the medication, as per the prescription, and send it to us.

Your medication will be dispensed and sent in plain packaging when we have received your prescription.

Introduction/Symptoms

Psoriasis affects about 2% of people in the UK and mainly affects adults aged under 35. Psoriasis symptoms are crusty, flaky, red patches of skin with silvery scales mainly on knees, elbows, lower back and scalp. These may be itchy and sore and maybe a minor problem, or can affect the quality of life. Psoriasis is not contagious.

Causes

Psoriasis sufferers experience an increased production of skin cells. Normally skin cells are replaced every three to four weeks, but with psoriasis, the process lasts about three to seven days. The build up of skin cells causes the psoriasis patches.

It is thought that it is caused by a problem with the immune system, where the immune system attacks healthy skin cells by mistake. Psoriasis often runs in families and can be caused by certain triggers. These may be an injury to the skin, a throat infection, or use of certain medicines.

Psoriasis Treatment

There is no cure for psoriasis, but a range of medication can improve the symptoms and appearance of affected skin patches. These include various topical creams and ointments, which are applied to the affected skin.

In severe cases, Phototherapy can be used. This involves exposing the skin to certain types of ultraviolet light.

Other treatments for severe psoriasis cases include systemic treatments, where medicines are taken orally or injected and these work throughout the whole body.