Diagnosis and Treatment

How severe is your psoriasis, and what can you do about it?

The best thing you can do to determine the severity of your psoriasis is to ask a dermatologist. When measuring psoriasis, there are a few factors to consider:

• Body surface area
• Location on the body
• How it affects your quality of life

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, having psoriasis plaques on 3% to 10% of the body is considered moderate. And it is considered severe if it's on more than 10% of the body. Don't know how to figure out what your percentage is? Well, 1% is equal to the palm of your hand. If the areas of psoriasis equal the size of at least 3 palms of your hand, you have moderate to severe psoriasis. However, how psoriasis affects your quality of life (i.e., if you're less social or have difficulty working) can make these distinctions less clear. And if you have plaques on your face, feet, or hands, that too may be considered more severe.

• "You can't hide your hands. You can't hide your neck. So, there were a lot of times that we just didn't go anywhere."*
• James, RAPTIVA patient, 1 year, 6 months
• *Individual results may vary.

The different treatments for psoriasis

There are many ways to treat psoriasis. And, if you have chronic moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, chances are you have tried many of them already.

Topicals	These creams and ointments are applied directly to the affected skin and are available in both over-the-counter and prescription forms.
Light Therapy	This can range from sunbathing to sophisticated lamps that emit ultraviolet light. Your doctor should always supervise light therapy.
Systemics	These are typically used to treat patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who have not responded to other treatments. There are side effects with systemics, so let your doctor know if you have concerns.
Biologics	These are a new alternative in psoriasis treatment. There are 2 types of biologics used to treat psoriasis: T-cell modulators (which work directly on the T-cells) and TNF inhibitors (which work on the chemical messengers that the T-cells send to skin cells). There are side effects with biologics, so let your doctor know if you have concerns.