Today there are various treatments available for psoriasis, from creams to home remedies. Laser treatment is an FDA approved procedure performed at the dermatologist’s office. What is psoriasis laser treatment and does it actually help treat psoriasis?

Living with psoriasis can cause a lot of pain, discomfort and embarrassment. The skin becomes itchy, red and scaly. Psoriasis can affect any area on the body from face and head to torso and hands.

What is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic genetic inflammatory disease characterized by plaques of scaled thickened skin. The scales result from rapid skin cells proliferation. This proliferation is caused by inflammatory chemicals produced by lymphocytes.

Psoriasis Facts

  • Chronic inflammatory skin disease
  • Plaque psoriasis is the most common type
  • Psoriasis is common in people with obesity, diabetes and heart disease
  • People are genetically predisposed to psoriasis
  • It is not contagious
  • Environmental factors can trigger psoriasis
  • Today it is not curable but can be controlled with medication and treatments

Psoriasis Treatments

Today there are plenty of treatments available for psoriasis. These include steroid creams, other medicated creams, oral medication as well as light therapy. Moreover there are various claims that natural remedies work well for psoriasis. For instance turmeric, kombucha, milk thistle extract, hemp oil and coconut oil. While these treatments might work for some and do not work for others, there is an alternative FDA approved treatment available: laser treatment.

What is Laser Treatment For Psoriasis?

Laser treatment is performed at dermatologist’s office. Active skin lesions of psoriasis are treated with excimer laser. It uses focused doses of laser ultraviolet light to help control areas of mild to moderate psoriasis. It is similar to traditional light therapy, however it uses targeted intense doses that reach deeper into the area.

How Does Laser Treatment For Psoriasis Work?

The treatment is performed at doctor’s office and takes only a few minutes. Excimer laser aims ultraviolet B directly at the affected area at 308 nanometers wavelength. Patients usually have 10 sessions: 2 sessions per week to get desirable results. Doctor determines the required dose of laser light based on the thickness of psoriasis lesions.

Does Laser Therapy Really Work?

Usually patients with mild to moderate psoriasis see real improvements after 8 to 10 sessions. Because the laser treatment is targeted it is not effective for people with large areas of affected skin.

The research is still underway on the effectiveness of laser therapy of psoriasis, however numerous people see improvement that lasts from couple of months to a year. Considering the discomfort and embarrassment that go hand-in-hand with psoriasis, the relief is definitely worth it.

‘Most patients notice improvement in just 8 or 10 sessions. Sessions are quick, painless and have little to none side effects’ says surgeon from Dubai’s You New Plastic Surgery Clinic.

Risks, Contraindication and Side Effects for Laser Treatment of Psoriasis

While laser therapy is safe as it does not affect the healthy areas of skin, there are certain factors you should consider before starting laser therapy. Lupus, scleroderma, sun sensitivity, history of skin cancer or other conditions that make your skin sensitive to sun are contraindications for laser therapy. Before starting discuss any concerns with your doctor.

Side effects are usually very mild and do not deliver much more discomfort than psoriasis itself. While not very common, these may include redness, itching, burning, blistering, darkening or lightening and scarring.