Advanced Psoriasis Treatment Options We Offer In Our Petaluma and Hercules Clinics
At Dermatology Associates of the Bay Area, we offer the latest medicines tailored to each patient’s psoriasis severity, skin type, and lifestyle.
Topical Creams and Ointments
For most patients with mild psoriasis, topical therapy is the first line of treatment. Corticosteroid creams can help calm inflammation and decrease redness, while vitamin D analogs, such as calcipotriene, can help slow down the overproduction of skin cells. Other options include coal tar preparations, salicylic acid to reduce scaling, and moisturizing creams that relieve dryness and itching.
Roflumilast (Zoryve) is a nonsteroidal PDE4 inhibitor, and Tapinarof (Vtama) is an aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist. Both of these new creams can be very helpful for treating psoriasis of the face or genitalia.
Oral Medications
When psoriasis is more widespread or resistant to topicals, oral medications may be recommended. Traditional systemic agents, such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, and acitretin, work by suppressing the immune system or slowing skin cell turnover. There exist newer oral medicines that inhibit the inflammation, such as Otezla (apremilast), which works by inhibiting the PDE4 enzyme, and Sotyktu (deucravacitinib), which targets the TYK2 protein. Both of these are excellent treatment options where topicals don’t suffice, and patients do not wish to receive injectable biologics.
Phototherapy (Light Therapy)
Phototherapy harnesses controlled doses of natural or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light to slow skin cell growth and reduce scaling. Narrowband UVB is the most common and effective form of treatment, and it is commonly performed in our office in a dedicated, private room. We offer ‘walk-in’ units to treat the entire body, as well as hand-foot units for targeted therapy of these specific areas. For some patients, phototherapy can provide significant relief without the need for systemic medication, and it can also be safely combined with topical or oral therapies for better results.
XTRAC 308nm Excimer Laser
Provides narrowband UVB at higher energies, where the laser handpiece can be aimed at individual areas affected by psoriasis. This targeted therapy is highly effective for treatment-resistant areas of psoriasis that are responding poorly to creams and ointments alone.
Injectable Biologics
In recent years, biologic medications have revolutionized the treatment of psoriasis. These injectable therapies target interleukin-17 and interleukin-23 pathways by precisely blocking immune signals that drive psoriasis. These include Taltz, Bimzelx, Cosentyx, Skyrizi, and Tremfya. Biologics are administered by self-injection at home or occasionally in the office, often just once every few weeks. They have been shown to clear or nearly clear skin in many patients with moderate to severe disease and are generally well tolerated with ongoing monitoring.Our dermatologists guide patients through all available options, balancing effectiveness, convenience, and safety to ensure the best outcomes. Many patients benefit from a multimodal approach, which combines medications, light therapy, and lifestyle adjustments for optimal results.
