Use sufficient sunscreen to prevent burning. Immunosuppressives Cyclosporin is a powerful immunosuppressive drug originally used to make heart, liver, and kidney transplants possible. Because of the side effects associated with cyclosporin use, treatment is usually reserved for patients with severe, widespread psoriasis. In most patients, remission of psoriasis is usually achieved within 8 weeks of treatment. Topical cyclosporin is almost completely ineffective, probably due to the large size of the cyclosporin molecules.
Oral use has similar dramatic results for psoriasis and similar toxicity.
Topical FK506 is now being investigated. Another interesting approach is to administer antibodies that specifically target the overactive molecules in psoriatic skin. And, as we've discussed, whole new types of psoriasis medicines are in the pipeline. So far, we've been looking at single agents. Combination treatment will offer the best solutions.