Psoriasis Specialist

What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes accelerated skin cell production. The additional skin cells create rough patches and scales that are often very uncomfortable, itchy, and even painful.

Psoriasis occurs in several different forms, but the most frequently occurring type is plaque psoriasis. In plaque psoriasis, you develop red blotches and patches of skin with silvery or silvery-white scales on top.

Other forms of psoriasis affect your scalp (scalp psoriasis), your nails (nail psoriasis), and skin that rubs together, like your armpits (inverse psoriasis).

Psoriasis is a chronic condition, but it's not usually constant. Most psoriasis sufferers have flare-ups when the symptoms are especially bad.

How is psoriasis treated?

Topical medications, in the form of creams or lotions, can help some patients. But topical treatments may not give you the results you want since they're often unable to sufficiently clear psoriasis and you have to constantly re-apply them.

Some patients achieve psoriasis remission using narrowband UVB light treatments, or phototherapy. However, that approach may require a significant time commitment and is inconvenient for many patients.

Dr. Sapadin prescribes excimer laser therapy for many psoriasis sufferers because it offers excellent results and fast relief.

What is excimer laser treatment for psoriasis?

Dr. Sapadin may do a quick test to determine the best dosage level before you start treatment. He uses a handpiece to deliver a focused UVB light beam that's filtered through a state-of-the-art fiber-optic system.

The laser works at the 308 nanometer wavelength to disrupt your T-cells, the cells that cause psoriasis growth. It targets only your active lesions, leaving your healthy skin undisturbed. Your treatment sessions usually take only minutes, and most patients say it's pain-free.

What kind of excimer laser treatment results can I expect?

Results vary, but most patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis see dramatic improvement after a series of short sessions. Most patients need 10 or fewer total sessions, although you may notice symptom relief after just one or two sessions.

Symptom relief can last for several months or more. Generally, remissions last as long or longer than with standard phototherapy. You'll also likely need fewer total excimer laser treatment sessions than phototherapy treatment sessions.

Book your appointment with Allen Sapadin, MD, online or by phone now to get psoriasis relief fast.