Seven Different Guttate Psoriasis Treatments

Which One Is Right for YOU?

So, you have Guttate Psoriasis.  Yay.  Woohoo. 

I know how embarrassing and uncomfortable and, yes, even PAINFUL Guttate Psoriasis can be.  (Believe you me, there’s a reason why you’ll never catch me in anything but jeans or long pants  – even during the dog days of summer.) 

 And while it’s interesting to know what causes Guttate Psoriasis  and while you may also want to know about the different types of Psoriasis (and what kind YOU have!) none of that really fixes the problem.  And if you’re covered in thick pink itchy scales and are not a dragon (or possibly, a griffin) then you probably want to kick some serious Psoriasis booty.    

I know I do.

And if suffering from this chronic skin condition – which can range from mild and a little uncomfortable, to downright painful and debilitating – then you probably want to find out everything you can about how to treat Guttate Psoriasis.  Am I right or am I right? 

Right.                                                                                           

But first, the bad news:  There is no known cure for Guttate Psoriasis.

(Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!)

I know, I know, that is so not what you want to hear… But wait!  Before you close this page in frustration and defeat, there is good news: There are many ways to go about treating Guttate Psoriasis that make the condition more manageable.  Some options might work well for you, while others not-so-much.  But the point is, there are options to treat Guttate Psoriasis, and the best thing to do is to talk with your doctor. 

But until you pick up the phone and make an appointment, let me break down some of the Guttate Psoriasis treatments that are available:

1+2.   Antimicrobials and Antibiotics can Treat Guttate Psoriasis

If you have been diagnosed with Guttate Psoriasis then you probably had a previous strep throat infection.  This is why Guttate Psoriasis is much more common amongst school aged kids and young adults who are more prone to strep throat.  While Guttate Psoriasis after a strep throat infection is like adding insult to injury, the good news is that an effective Guttate Psoriasis treatment can include applying an antimicrobial to the affected area.  This treatment of Guttate Psoriasis addresses the infection and often resolves the issue.  But not always. 

Sometimes, doctors will prescribe antibiotics to treat Guttate Psoriasis since antibiotics can address the underlying strep infection.  And sometimes  this treatment for Guttate Psoriasis works and then everybody is happy.  Period.  Then End.

Alas, doctors are finding more and more that antimicrobials and antibiotics are not magical treatments for Guttate Psoriasis.  And if that happens, then you need to approach treating Guttate Psoriasis differently by doing the following:  1.)  Stop your skin cells from being all fruitful and multiplying at such voracious rates:  (Somehow, bunnies come to mind.  I’m just saying.)  And 2.) bust out some seriously mad exfoliating skills to slough off the existing scales

3+4.   Topical and Light Treatments for Guttate Psoriasis

According to the Mayo Clinic, mild to moderate Guttate  Psoriasis often responds quite well to topical treatments like topical corticosteroids, coal tar, salicylic acid, topical retinoids and plain old fragrance free moisturizers.   Another effective treatment for mild to moderate psoriasis is light therapy.

Light therapy as a treatment for Guttate Psoriasis involves asking a Jedi Knight to target your problem areas with a Light Saber. 

I kid.  I kid.

 Light therapy  (or, if you want to be fancy shmancy) phototherapy as a treatment for Guttate Psoriasis includes UVB treatments to the skin, laser therapy, and even good old fashioned sunlight.   All done under medical supervision, of course.  After all,  Guttate Psoriasis is bad, but Skin Cancer is worse.

5.       Holistic Guttate Psoriasis Treatment And then there are holistic treatments for Guttate Psoriasis  that work well for some folks:  My friend cut dairy from her diet, and her skin improved.  And I found that taking an Omega 3 supplement made my skin more resilient.
  

6.        Pharmacological Guttate Psoriasis Treatments:But sometimes the above mentioned treatments of Guttate Psoriasis are not effective, and you need something more badass.   

When your Guttate Psoriasis is not responding well to topical treatments or light treatments (either in tandem or alone,) your doctor may recommend starting a course of heavy duty medications, including steroids.  These medical treatments of Guttate Psoriasis are usually used as a last resort because the side effects can be (almost) as bad as Guttate Psoriasis itself.  (If you want to read a really comprehensive list of treatments for Psoriasis in general, check out The Mayo Clinic's Site.  It’s pretty neat.)

7. Surgical Guttate Psoriasis Treatments (Yes, surgical.  You read that right.)

And if all the Guttate Psoriasis treatments in the world are not working for you, surgery is an option.  No, seriously:  Sometimes, in order to address the underlying streptococcal infection that is believed to trigger Guttate Psoriasis, doctors may recommend a tonsillectomy.   But while it’s fun to get carte blanche to eat all the ice cream you want, this Guttate Psoriasis treatment should only be used as a last resort, because getting sliced and diced isn’t fun.  Even if your surgeon looks like he or she stepped out of an episode of ER. 

And remember, when starting any kind of treatment for Guttate Psoriasis, it is really important to consult someone who graduated from a real medical school – (And while I may have earned an MD from Google,  it is so not the same thing.)  Yes, I know that sometimes stripping down to your skivvies – especially when you’re skin is all red and scaly – can be embarrassing, but believe you me, medical professionals want to help, and they won’t judge. 

Besides, they’ve probably seen worse.