What is the treatment for psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a disease of relapses and remissions. It seldom remits permanently. Treatment consists of following:

1. Topical ointments
2. Phototherapy
3. Oral drugs

Patients with mild disease get considerable relief with moisturizing creams. Ointments such as coal tar, anthralin, non-steroidal vitamin D3 (calcipotriol) and steroid creams are also useful.

Phototherapy is very effective in clearing psoriasis. Ultraviolet light (UVB or UVA) if used in gradual increasing doses and causes remission in most patients.

When psoriasis does not respond to creams and phototherapy, oral drugs such as methotrexate, cyclosporin, etretinate and sulphasalazine may be prescribed by your doctor. These drugs are highly potent but can have serious side effects and need to be monitored by regular blood tests to prevent an adverse event.

Oral steroids should be avoided because even though it helps to clear psoriasis fast, it may result in a rapid and severe rebound of psoriasis once steroids are stopped.

How is the diagnosis of psoriasis made?
Diagnosis of psoriasis is usually made on clinical examintion. There are no special blood tests or diagnostic procedures for psoriasis. When the plaques are scraped, one can see pinpoint bleeding from the skin below. This is known as Auspitz's sign.

How does one grade the severity of psoriasis?
Psoriasis is usually graded as mild (affecting less than 3% of the body), moderate (affecting 3-10% of the body) or severe.