Psoriasis meds seem to stop working

[rcg6681]

I've had moderate psoriasis for about 12 years now.  For as long as I can remember, I've treated it with a combination of light therapy, Clobetesol, Dovonex, Clobex and Taclonex... when one treatment stops working, I basically switch to another and so on... WHY is it that the treatments stop working?  Is there anything else I can stick with that will continue to work?  I'm sick of paying $$ for one topical, have it stop working after a week, then have to pay $$ to see my Dermatologist for a prescription for another topical and pay $$ for that... Isn't there a PILL I can take?  Is there a certain diet I can stick to?  I'm sick of all these topicals that only seem to treat it on the SURFACE.

Thanks in advance.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

Lesions in psoriasis are recurrent in quite a few cases and therefore require long term medication.

As a first step, medicated ointments or creams like corticosteroids, cvutamin D analogues, anthralin, etc, called topical treatments, are applied to the skin.

If topical treatment fails to achieve the desired goal then the next step is to expose the skin to ultraviolet (UV-B) radiation or PUVA therapy (PSORALEN +UV-A). This is called phototherapy.

The third step involves the use of medications which are taken by pills or injection including methotrexate, cyclosporine and retinoids.. This approach is called systemic treatment.

Over time, psoriasis can become resistant to a specific therapy. Treatments may be periodically changed to prevent resistance developing.

More information on Psoriasis may be found at :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psoriasis

and

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/psoriasis/article_em.htm

Keep us posted and let us know what the doctor says.

Regards