Skip to content

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition where the immune system speeds up the life cycle of skin cells. Instead of shedding gradually, cells pile up into raised patches called plaques: thick, red or silvery, often itchy or sore. It commonly appears on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, and it tends to come and go in flares rather than staying constant.

Elocon

Mometasone

5g

Mometasone cream and ointment in 5g tubes, applied for atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and seborrhoeic dermatitis. A topical corticosteroid.

From$8.50/ tubeView

Aristocort

Triamcinolone

4mg

Triamcinolone 4mg tablets, used for inflammatory skin conditions, eczema and psoriasis. A synthetic corticosteroid taken by mouth rather than applied.

From$0.77/ tabletView

Betnovate

Betamethasone

0.1%

Betamethasone 0.1% cream, applied to the skin for eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. A potent topical corticosteroid acting at glucocorticoid receptors.

From$1.63/ creamView

Synalar

Fluocinolone Acetonide

0.025%

Fluocinolone acetonide 0.025% cream, applied to the skin for eczema and psoriasis. A potent synthetic corticosteroid that crosses into the cell.

From$18.70/ tubeView

Soriatane

Acitretin

10mg

Soriatane is acitretin 10mg hard capsules for psoriasis, a systemic aromatic retinoid that regulates how skin cells divide and mature.

From$4.62/ tabletView

Temovate

Clobetasol

15 · 30g

Clobetasol cream in 15g and 30g tubes, applied for psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis. A potent corticosteroid that damps the local immune response.

From$7.79/ tubeView

Diprolene

Betamethasone

0.1%

Betamethasone as a 0.1% cream for eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. A potent topical steroid that damps the local immune response and swelling.

From$7.01/ tubeView

Cutivate

Fluticasone

10 · 20g

Fluticasone propionate cream and ointment in 10g and 20g tubes, applied for atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. A potent topical corticosteroid.

From$29.75/ tubeView

Ultravate

Halobetasol

30g

Halobetasol cream and ointment in 30g tubes, applied for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. A very potent corticosteroid for localised inflammation.

From$21.25/ tubeView

Methotrexate Tablets

Methotrexate

2.5mg

Methotrexate 2.5mg tablets, used in the management of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn's disease. A folic acid antagonist blocking dihydrofolate reductase.

From$0.73/ tabletView

Neoral

Ciclosporin

25 · 100mg

Ciclosporin 25mg and 100mg soft capsules, used in the management of transplant rejection, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. A calcineurin inhibitor.

From$4.82/ tabletView

Key points

  • An overactive immune response speeds the turnover of skin cells so much that they accumulate into thick, scaly raised areas rather than shedding normally.
  • Stress, a skin injury, certain infections, smoking or excessive drinking can each set off a flare.
  • For milder, more limited plaques, corticosteroid creams paired with frequent moisturiser use are usually the first line of care.
  • Where the condition covers larger areas or involves the joints, drugs acting on the immune system itself come into play.

What drives psoriasis

Psoriasis is immune-mediated, not contagious. Genetics load the dice, and a flare is usually set off by a trigger: stress, skin injury, infection (a sore throat can spark guttate psoriasis), certain medicines, smoking or heavy alcohol. Cold, dry air often worsens plaques, while sunlight tends to calm them. In humid climates, sweat and friction can irritate plaques in skin folds, so flares sometimes track the seasons differently than they do in cooler climates.

How psoriasis is treated

Treatment is matched to how widespread and severe the condition is. Mild to moderate plaques usually respond to topical skin care options, including steroid creams and ointments such as betamethasone, mometasone, clobetasol and triamcinolone, often paired with regular moisturising to soften scale. When psoriasis is extensive or also affects the joints, systemic autoimmune support medicines like methotrexate and ciclosporin work on the immune response itself. Light therapy is another route a specialist may suggest.

Living with psoriasis

Day-to-day care makes a real difference: moisturise often, avoid scratching, keep showers lukewarm, and notice your own triggers. See a doctor if plaques spread fast, become painful or infected, or if you develop stiff, swollen joints, which can signal psoriatic arthritis and is worth treating early.

Further reading