Side Effects of Psoriasis Drugs

Psoriasis treatments can relieve your itchy, inflamed skin, But like ALL medications, they do come with potential side effects. Over-the-counter topical medications containing coal tar and salicylic acid have most minor side effects, BUT are usually only effective in mild cases. They can be strong smelling, occasionally cause additional skin irritation, can stain your clothing, and at HIGH concentrations coal tar is potentially carcinogenic. Topical corticosteroid creams can be an important step in fighting the inflammation of psoriasis, but they can only be used for a short period of time. Prolonged use of steroid creams may damage or thin skin, cause skin redness, bruising and discoloration. If you are using very strong topical steroids, they may affect internal organs when used over LONG periods of time. Prescription topical treatments containing forms of vitamin D and A can also effectively relieve psoriasis skin plaques, but these can also cause skin irritation and sun sensitivity. Additionally, if you’re pregnant, you’ll need to avoid ANY vitamin A treatments as they can cause severe birth defects in babies. One of the oldest oral treatments for psoriasis is methotrexate. It’s safe for most patients, but it DOES increase the risk of infection because it modifies your immune system. If you take methotrexate, your treatment should be monitored by your doctor since there is a low chance of liver damage. It is also very important that you do not drink alcohol and avoid certain medications when using methotrexate. However, the BENEFITS of methotrexate usually outweigh the risk – it slows down the growth rate of skin cells by stopping the enzyme behind the process. Methotrexate is one of the most common and most TRUSTED medications for other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.  Some of the newer medications, called biologics, which include enbrel and humira, also carry some risks similar to methotrexate. For example, if you lower the immune system, you are at higher risk for certain types of infections. These medications, however, specifically target only the immune system, and tend not to have any impact on the liver or your red blood cells. These side effects SEEM frightening, but don’t worry too much – the medications have been proven safe by the millions of psoriasis patients who use them every day. And, your doctor has your best interest at heart – make sure you discuss any potential side effects before you begin a new treatment. He or she will take your specific medical history in consideration when prescribing your psoriasis medication. For more information on psoriasis, watch other videos in this series.