August is Psoriasis Awareness Month. Psoriasis is a chronic condition that may need to be treated differently as a person ages. The American Academy of Dermatology Association provides several ways to treat psoriasis at age 65 and beyond.
Psoriasis is a chronic condition, which means you may treat it for life. As your body changes with age, though, you may need to treat psoriasis differently. Once you’ve celebrated your 65th birthday, it may be best to:
- Take (or apply) a lower dose of medication
- Change medications
- Use a different type of treatment
Here are the treatments that board-certified dermatologists recommend for their patients who are 65 or older.
Psoriasis medication you apply to your skin
With proper medical evaluation and guidance, the following topical (applied to the skin) medications may be a treatment option for someone who is 65 or older:
- Corticosteroid
- Vitamin D analogues
- Tazarotene
If you are 65 or older and applying a corticosteroid to your skin, watch for:
- Thinning skin (skin looks more transparent)
- Skin bruises or tears more easily
- Purple spots on your skin
- Infection (sore with pus)
- Blood vessels showing up on your skin
Should you see any of these where you apply your psoriasis medication, contact your dermatologist or health care provider.
Is treatment that you apply to the skin right for you?
For this type of treatment to be effective, you must apply the medication as directed. To find out whether you can do this, ask yourself the following questions:
- Can I comfortably reach and apply the medication to every area of my body that I need to?
- Do I know how often (and where) I will need to apply each medication?
- Do I feel confident that I will apply the right amount every time?
- Will I spend the time required to apply the medication as prescribed?
