Mild psoriasis: prescription topical treatments

Prescription "topicals" - medications applied to the skin - are usually the first line of defense in treating psoriasis. Prescription topicals slow down or normalize excessive cell growth and reduce inflammation associated with psoriasis. They may or may not include steroids.

Anthralin

Anthralin is the synthetic substitute for chrysarobin, a substance found in Goa powder made from the bark of the South American araroba tree. Anthralin is used to reduce the rapid growth of skin cells associated with plaque psoriasis. Anthralin, a bright yellow cream or paste, must be fresh to work effectively. Its shelf life is about 6 months.

There are no known long-term side effects to using anthralin. It may cause skin irritation and can stain light-colored hair as well as unaffected skin, clothing and bed linens.

Dovonex (calcipotriene)

Calcipotriene is a form of synthetic vitamin D3 that is formulated to slow skin cell growth, flatten lesions and remove scale. It also can be used to treat psoriasis on the scalp and nails.

The most common side effect of calcipotriene is skin irritation, stinging and burning. Less common side effects include dry skin, peeling, rash, dermatitis and worsening of psoriasis.

Taclonex (calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate)

Calcipotriene combined with the steroid betamethasone dipropionate, slows skin cell growth, flattens lesions, removes scale and reduces itch and inflammation.

Common side effects include itching, rash, skin thinning and burning. Less common side effects include redness of the skin, folliculitis, skin irritation, worsening of psoriasis, skin color changes and swollen fine blood vessels at the application site.

Tazorec (tazarotene)

Tazarotene is a vitamin Aderivative, topical retinoid used to slow skin cell growth. It is normal for psoriasis plaques to become very red before clearing when using tazarotene. The redness is often intense in color, but it is generally not painful. 

The most common side effects are skin irritation and dry skin and increased susceptibility to sunburn. Use a sunscreen and wear sun-protective clothing when using tazarotene. If you experience discomfort, burning, itching or stinging, check with your doctor.