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Health

Treatment of psoriasis at the initial stage

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
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At the initial stage, psoriasis is characterized by the appearance of small papular plaques. Such papules are always distinguished by a shiny and smooth surface, and also have a pinkish tint. In just a couple of days, they will be covered with a silvery film and become scales that can be easily removed. At the same time, new papules begin to appear again.

If you start the correct treatment at the first stage of this pathology, then the therapy is more successful, and a positive result comes faster.

Since specialists still cannot fully determine the cause of psoriatic plaques, the treatment of this disease, even at the first stages, is far from ideal. As a rule, at this stage, the doctor can prescribe the patient various medications, which include tar, naphthalene oil, synthetic retinoids. Various cosmetics are often used to moisturize the skin, including moisturizing creams. They are usually applied after taking a bath.

Thanks to the use of such drugs, patients experience improvement in the following parameters:

  1. The inflammation begins to subside quickly.
  2. Skin cells regenerate and recover faster.
  3. The wounds are disinfected.
  4. The keratinization process returns to normal.

For effective treatment, tablets and capsules are prescribed, first of all, which will help slow down cell division (retinoids), restore their structure (medicines with vitamin D3), relieve inflammation and irritation (steroid hormones), and suppress cell division (immunosuppressants).

Also, various external agents (creams and ointments) are quite effective at the initial stage of psoriasis. Among them, the following are especially popular:

  1. Corticosteroid (relieves irritation and itching, reduces inflammation).
  2. Keratolytics (help exfoliate dead cells).
  3. Vitamin D (regenerates the skin).
  4. Tar (disinfection of inflammation sites).

In some cases, physiotherapy procedures may also be used:

  1. Ultrasound – reduces the intensity of pain, relieves itching and inflammation.
  2. Ultraviolet light quickly relieves the main symptoms of the disease, especially in the early stages.
  3. Laser – can only be used in severe cases and on a small area of skin.

Treatments for psoriasis at an early stage

Despite the fact that psoriasis is difficult to treat, modern means still help to solve this problem at least for some time. Among the most popular medical drugs for the treatment of psoriasis in the early stages are the following means.

Unna cream. The medicine contains the following active ingredients: olive oil, lanolin, Vaseline. Additionally, it contains water. Due to this, two hours after applying the product to damaged skin, the water begins to evaporate and the cream base penetrates the skin faster. It has a cooling effect, helps relieve inflammation.

The cream is prescribed when the patient's condition moves from the initial stage to the middle stage, and psoriasis becomes acute. Patients with intolerance to the components of the cream are prohibited from using it. No unpleasant symptoms were detected when using it.

Sulfur-tar ointment. As the name suggests, the medicine contains two active components: sulfur and tar. It has a disinfectant and antiseptic effect. When applied to the skin, the ointment must be thoroughly rubbed in with light massage movements. Use one to two times per 24 hours. Before this, it is important to thoroughly clean and dry the skin. Patients with intolerance to the components of the product are prohibited from using it.

Methotrexate. A specially developed drug that prevents psoriasis from progressing to a more severe stage. It is available in tablet form. The drug contains the active component methotrexate. It helps slow down the process of synthesis and mitosis of cells. It also has immunosuppressive properties.

For the treatment of psoriatic plaques, this drug is used once every seven days at a dosage of 10-25 mg. The dosage is gradually increased until the patient achieves a positive clinical result. After that, the dosage is reduced again.

Patients with impaired renal function, hematological disorders, acute infectious diseases, intolerance to methotrexate are prohibited from using the drug. Pregnant women, women who breastfeed, and children under three years of age should not use it.

Do not use Methotrexate with the following drugs: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, sulfasalazine, ethanol, azathioprine, dinitrogen oxide, theophylline, multivitamins.

Some patients experienced the following symptoms after starting therapy with this drug: headaches, nausea, anorexia, anemia, conjunctivitis, drowsiness, depression, pulmonary fibrosis, nephropathy, arthralgia, burning of the skin.

Neotigazon. A popular retinoid drug that contains the active ingredient acitretin. Thanks to it, the product helps to normalize the process of cell proliferation.

The dosage is prescribed by the attending physician, but it should not exceed 30 mg of the drug in 24 hours. The therapy lasts from two to four weeks, but this period can be increased. After receiving the first positive results, the drug is used only as a maintenance therapy.

Patients with severe liver and kidney dysfunction, chronic hyperlipidemia, and intolerance to acitretin are prohibited from using the product. It is not prescribed for the treatment of pregnant women. When using, some unpleasant symptoms may occur: peeling and excessive thinning of the skin, headaches, hypervitaminosis of vitamin A, erythema, dermatitis, pain in muscles and joints.

"Dermovate" cream. A popular drug for the treatment of early stage psoriasis, which contains the active component clobetasol propionate. Inhibits the synthesis of proinflammatory and inflammatory mediators, thereby reducing inflammation and itching.

A thin strip of cream is applied to cleansed and dried skin once or twice every 24 hours. Rub into the skin very carefully and slowly. Use the preparation until a positive clinical picture appears or for four weeks.

Patients with viral and fungal skin diseases, rosacea, skin cancer, acne, Hyde's nodular prurigo, genital itching, perioral dermatitis, widespread psoriasis, intolerance to clobetasol propionate should not use the product. It is prohibited to apply to the skin during breastfeeding and in childhood.

When using the drug, some patients experienced the following unpleasant symptoms: hypersensitivity, itching, pain, irritation, allergy.

Treatment of psoriasis on the head at the initial stage

For the treatment of the initial stage of psoriasis on the head, some vitamins are prescribed (B12, B1, B6, A). Also very effective are drugs that contain nicotinic acid, calcium, ascorbic acid, folic acid. Salicylic acid has proven itself in the treatment of psoriasis on the head, but it must be applied carefully, as it causes peeling of the skin.

For treatment, you can use decoctions based on celandine, chamomile, sage, which can be easily used to wash your hair. If you want to get the fastest possible result, you can use corticosteroids, which help get rid of the initial stage of this disease in a short time.

The most effective solution for treating scalp psoriasis is still the "Soderm" solution, which must be applied to the affected skin twice a day (preferably after sleep and before sleep). After the first positive results appear, the frequency of application can be reduced to once. And later, it can be used two or three times a week.

A completely new drug in the treatment of the scalp is "Taclonex". This drug contains such active components as betamethasone dipropionate, calcipotriene. It is produced in the form of a spray that can be sprayed on psoriatic plaques.

Treatment of psoriasis on hands at the initial stage

Treatment of psoriasis on the hands, even at the initial stage of this pathology, is always very problematic, since it is necessary to use such drugs that do not have a strong chemical or mechanical effect on the skin. That is why the most effective at the first stages of the disease are ointments and creams that soften the skin.

It is also very important to choose medications that will reduce inflammation and heal wounds. It is very important to eat right during therapy. A well-chosen diet will help improve your metabolism and will have a positive effect on your well-being. You should forget about spicy and salty dishes for a while, and also not drink drinks with alcohol.

If medications do not help, then you can use physiotherapy, especially ultraviolet radiation. Do not let the disease take its course, as this can lead to serious consequences.

Treatment of psoriasis in children at the initial stage

If you start treating psoriasis in children at an early stage, you can get rid of all the unpleasant symptoms quite quickly. In this case, you cannot rely on your knowledge; it is best to contact an experienced specialist who will prescribe the correct therapy.

As a rule, during the treatment of psoriatic plaques in children, mainly local preparations are used. Among them, the following are especially popular:

  1. Creams that help soften the skin and significantly moisturize it.
  2. Ointments based on glucocorticosteroids.

If psoriasis manifests itself over a large area or significantly reduces the child's vital functions, a specialist may prescribe a course of systemic therapy. But here it is worth understanding that such treatment often leads to numerous side effects. Such treatment is carried out only in short courses, during which the patient's condition is monitored by a doctor.

The most popular methods of systemic treatment are:

  1. PUVA therapy.
  2. Phototherapy.

Traditional methods of treating psoriasis at an early stage

In addition to medical drugs, folk methods are also quite effective at the initial stage of psoriasis.

To treat psoriasis on the hands or elbows, you can use baths with celandine, chicory and valerian or baths with sea salt. Celandine juice is also quite a popular remedy, but it should be used with extreme caution, as it can burn the upper layers of the epidermis.

No less effective is the chicory root. You can make decoctions from it, which are then applied as compresses to the affected skin. If plaques are located between the fingers or toes, you can make baths with the addition of apple cider vinegar. But do not put your feet or hands in such baths for longer than a few minutes.

For folk treatment of psoriasis on the scalp, you can use grated onion twice a day. Also in such cases, mustard helps, which should be diluted in water (warm) and smeared on the head. After that, hold the head with a towel until you feel a slight burning sensation.

Folk remedies are perhaps the only way to cure psoriasis at the initial stage during pregnancy. During this period, you can use baths with various decoctions of medicinal herbs, as well as use homemade creams or masks, if your gynecologist does not prohibit them.

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