More than 4 million Americans live with the visual and physical discomfort of psoriasis. Psoriasis is a disease that affects the body’s immune system and cases skin cells to grow faster than they are shed. This leads to thick, itchy, discolored or scaly plaques. Psoriasis can also be accompanied by psoriatic arthritis, a disease that can result in painful and swollen joints. Although there is currently no cure for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, we at SRSDermatology offer a variety of treatments including lasers and injectible medicines called biologic.

Lasers offer a unique treatment option called “Targeted Phototherapy.” This means that the light from the laser can target the psoriasis and not touch the surrounding skin. Because the laser only treats the psoriasis, a strong dose of light can be used resulting in deeper skin penetration and often better result. This form of therapy can be particularly effective in treating stubborn psoriasis on the scalp, feet or hands. Generally, 4 to 19 treatment sessions are needed to clear the targeted psoriasis.

Biologics are injectible medicines that target specific cells in the immune system that may cause skin cells to grow too quickly. Some of these cells can also cause joint pain, swelling, and maybe permanent destruction. Not all biologic therapies are the same and results tend to vary, but improvement can be seen as early as 4 weeks with significant improvement by 2 to 3 months.

Common Treatments:
XTRAC ULTRA
Since receiving FDA clearance in 2000, the XTRAC Excimer Laser has come to be recognized by dermatologists worldwide as the market leader in the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo.
XTRAC Lasers produce a highly effective, safe, and painless therapy by delivering a targeted, super-narrow UVB band to affected areas, resulting in effective and rapid improvement without the worry of harmful side effects of invasive, systemic agents.

Quick Facts:
* Effective treatment — symptoms reduced generally in 10-12 treatment sessions
* Long-lasting relief — typically several months free of symptoms
* Painless and quick treatments
* Relief without messy creams and daily skin care regimen
* Covered by most major insurance companies, available by Rx

How it works:
Using a carefully focused beam of laser light delivered through a sophisticated liquid light guide delivery system, the XTRAC system is designed to clear unsightly psoriatic skin plaques quickly and effectively. Because it concentrates light on active lesions, XTRAC allows your health care technician to deliver the high therapeutic doses necessary for rapid clearing without risk to healthy skin.

How Long do treatment sessions last?
Treatments vary depending on the body surface area affected with the disease. Most treatment sessions last only a few minutes- in fact, less than 5 minutes. With the XTRAC you spend less time than you would with conventional phototherapy.

What happens during an XTRAC treatment?
The XTRAC hand-piece is moved over the area, focusing the light on the affected skin. Depending on the size of the area to be treated this usually only takes a few minutes.

How many XTRAC treatments are required?
Treatments will vary from person to person. Clinical studies have shown that repigmentation will generally begin within 6-12 treatments and successful repigmentation can be often obtained in 30 treatments or less.