Short contact therapy

Dithrocream should be applied once a day and left on for only 30 minutes. You may find it helpful to time the application so that you put it on half an hour before your usual shower or bath time. A small amount of cream should be rubbed accurately into the psoriasis areas until the cream is absorbed. Try to avoid the surrounding normal skin. To avoid staining of clothes or chairs, you could wear an old dressing gown. After 30 minutes the cream should be washed off by showering or bathing.

For use on the scalp, first comb hair to remove loose scales and, after suitably parting, rub the cream well into the affected areas. Remove cream by shampooing the hair after 30 minutes. Blonde or fair hair may take on a pinkish tinge, but this will grow out after the treatment stops.

The above instructions should be repeated once a day until the skin is entirely 'clear' - that is, when there is nothing to feel with the fingers and the texture is normal. A period of three to four weeks' treatment may be necessary to achieve this clearance. The treated areas of skin may gradually become stained purple or brown. This colouration, which is harmless, will gradually disappear within a few days after the end of your treatment. You should not attempt to scrub the colour from your skin. Any staining of the hair will grow out and can be minimised by careful application to the scalp. If after a week your psoriasis does not seem to have improved DO NOT DESPAIR!

Some do's and dont's

Some facts about psoriasis

Psoriasis is a fairly common skin disorder which affects about 2-3 per cent of the population. It occurs equally in men and women and can affect people at any age. Although the lesions are unsightly and may sometimes be embarrassing, the disorder is not catching and, with proper treatment, can be brought under control. In most cases, exposure to sunlight improves the condition but excessive sunburn may actually bring about a relapse. Diet is not thought to have any effect on psoriasis. There are certain times in life when the tendency to develop psoriasis is increased. Children with a family history of psoriasis may well develop the condition at puberty. Women may find that their psoriasis becomes less noticeable during pregnancy, but that it flares up again soon after childbirth. Women are also more prone at or after the menopause.

The skin is a complex organ consisting of various layers of different types of cells. Cells in the outer layer of the skin gradually change and move towards the surface where they are continuously shed and replaced. The process normally takes between 3 and 4 weeks. In psoriasis, this rate of turnover is dramatically increased, within a localised area of skin, to as little as 3-4 days. Both live and dead cells arrive at the surface together and accumulate to form the silvery white scales that are characteristic of psoriasis. Cut down on stress by resting as often as you can. A holiday in the sun can work wonders, but do not overdo it as excessive sunburn can cause the lesions to spread. It is quite common for psoriasis to flare up at the site of an injury, so protect yourself against scratches and cuts when you are handling pets, gardening or doing anything where damage to the skin is likely.

The Psoriasis Association
Northampton NN2 7JG
Tel. No: 01604 711129