Psoriasis: How Close Are We To Treating It?

A possible cure for psoriasis is still years away, but current treatments can bring about a complete remission of the skin lesions.

There are more than 7.5 million adults in the United States with psoriasis, a chronic, inflammatory condition. It is considered an immune-mediated disease because it is caused by inflammation in the immune system. However, it is unclear why it occurs.

With effective treatment, psoriasis sufferers can achieve remission by reducing systemic inflammation and treating the physical manifestations, such as skin lesions.

The purpose of this article is to review the current state of psoriasis treatment and to look ahead at what might be in store for the future.

Is there a treatment available at the moment?

In spite of the fact that psoriasis has not yet been cured by experts, existing treatments can often significantly reduce the symptoms of psoriasis.

As a result of the variety of treatments available, doctors are able to customize treatment plans and change medications as needed to treat psoriasis. Because not everyone responds the same way to treatment, this flexibility is important.

Doctors may offer the following treatments:

Topical: In mild cases of psoriasis, doctors usually prescribe topical treatments such as creams, ointments, lotions, and other products that can be applied directly to the skin. They can reduce the appearance of plaques and minimize discomfort.
Phototherapy: To treat psoriasis plaques, light exposure is used under medical supervision.
Systemic medications: In the case of moderate to severe psoriasis, doctors usually prescribe biologics or small-molecule medications to treat widespread inflammation.
Complementary therapies: In Western medicine, acupuncture, and supplements aren't considered conventional treatments for psoriasis. However, these options can help reduce symptoms.

Symptoms and inflammation may be addressed by one or more medications and therapies. The prescribing doctor should be consulted if a patient does not achieve favorable results with their current treatment. Other treatment options may be more effective.

How long does it take doctors to consider psoriasis treatment successful?

To help more people living with psoriasis achieve clear skin, the National Psoriasis Foundation introduced the first psoriasis treatment targets in 2016.

Treatment targets include:

A new treatment should reduce psoriasis' coverage to less than 1% of the body surface area (BSA).
A doctor may take a wait-and-see approach if treatment does not reduce psoriasis to less than 1% BSA within 3 months.
Within 3 months of starting a new treatment, a BSA of 3% or less or a 75% reduction is considered an acceptable response.
When the person's symptoms do not meet the criteria for an acceptable response after three months, their doctor may recommend trying a different approach.
Possible treatment changes include altering medication dosage or switching to a different therapy.
A doctor should follow up with the patient every six months after successful treatment.

The future holds new treatments for psoriasis

To treat psoriasis and improve the quality of life for people with the disease, researchers are continually looking for better and more effective treatments.

Researchers are investigating several new options for treating psoriasis, including the following, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

Treatments for skin ailments

Tapinarof, a new topical medication that doesn't contain steroids, maybe just as effective as steroidal options. Since it does not contain steroids, it could be applied anywhere on the body.

Biologics of the Future

In medical terms, biologics is a type of treatment that is made from living cells that come from animals and other organisms. They are considered a type of systemic treatment since they can treat inflammation throughout the body as well as the skin.

Biologicals prevent or reduce inflammation by blocking protein receptors on immune cells. They can either be injected or infused.

In addition to the many biologics approved for treating psoriasis, two new biologics are being explored: bimekizumab and mirikizumab. Research suggests that these biologics are generally safe and effective. They may also be effective for treating psoriatic arthritis.

An analysis of real-world data for brodalumab, a type of biologic, was conducted in 2022. Most individuals who had previously not responded to other biologics found brodalumab safe and generally effective. It was concluded by the study authors that brodalumab might be effective in treating psoriasis with a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of less than 2%.

These new biologics could give doctors new options for treating psoriasis if other treatments do not work if they are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Inhibitors of TYK2

The drug BMS-986165, a tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, works in a similar way to biologics by blocking a key psoriasis molecule.

In contrast to biologics, TYK2 inhibitors can be taken orally.

There are a few Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors approved for other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, that are closely related to TYK2 inhibitors.

It may even require less monitoring during treatment, as researchers believe that BMS-986165 is generally safe and effective.

Can psoriasis be cured?

There is no certainty whether a cure for psoriasis will ever be available. However, experts remain optimistic.

Psoriasis may come back worse than before after a remission with today's treatments. A remission may last 1–12 months, but after remission, symptoms may recur.

There is still hope that future treatment advances may be able to keep psoriasis under more permanent control or even cure it.

A brief summary

Psoriasis is currently incurable, but treatment options can reduce its impact and, in many cases, allow its patient to achieve remission.

The treatment options for psoriasis are currently topicals, phototherapy, and systemic medications. If a person's condition does not respond to current treatment options, doctors will be able to turn to new treatments as scientists develop more treatments.

In the future, researchers may be able to cure psoriasis through better understanding of the condition.

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