Although Guttate Psoriasis can be controlled with treatment, it is not curable. For mild cases, bland ointments and other topical medications are used. On sensitive areas of the body, weaker preparations should be used. A side effect may be thinning of the skin, and after many months of treatment, the body can become resistant, making this an ineffective therapy. Treatments include a variety of shampoos or lotions that contain coal tar or cortisone.
Coal tar can also cause photosensitivity which makes a patient more susceptible to sunburn.
Another disadvantage of coal tars is that it is messy and smelly. Systemic Treatment Patients with a more severe disease that does not respond to topical medications may require intensive treatment. Patients with Psoriasis lesions that cover all or most of their body require hospitalization. Systemic treatment is usually employed for more severe forms of psoriasis. These patients may lose a lot of fluid and become susceptible to secondary infections that may become systemic and could eventually lead to septic shock and even death.