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When psoriasis is resistant to one therapy, it may be more effective to combine treatments. This creates an "individualized" treatment program that can result in a quicker response and may reduce side effects. Patients should talk to their physician about possible combinations of treatments.
Examples of combination therapy
Rotational therapy
Rotational therapy is slightly different from combination therapy in that therapies are prescribed for a certain time period, and then exchanged for others. For example, one treatment may be used for 12 to 36 months, and then another is used, and so forth.
All of the treatments for moderate to severe psoriasis have risks and side effects. By rotating treatments, patients may minimize their exposure to toxic properties and avoid becoming resistant to certain treatments.
For example, in a case of severe psoriasis, a physician may prescribe tar that is rotated with UVB, PUVA, methotrexate, acitretin or cyclosporine. Some treatments are not normally used in rotation together. For example, if a patient has had many years of PUVA treatment, the immune suppression associated with cyclosporine could result in sudden formation of many skin cancers.
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