Does psoriasis go away? Can psoriasis go away on its own?

If you have psoriasis, you might wonder if there is a cure for this chronic skin condition that causes scaly, itchy, and sometimes painful patches on your skin. The short answer is no, there is no permanent cure for psoriasis.

However, there are treatments and lifestyle changes that can help you manage your symptoms and reduce flare-ups. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin cells. Normally, skin cells grow deep in the skin and rise to the surface in about a month, where they shed off.

In people with psoriasis, the skin cells grow too fast and pile up on the surface, forming thick, red, silvery, or purple patches called plaques. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for psoriasis.

The treatment depends on the type, severity, location, and impact of psoriasis on your quality of life. Some of the common treatments include:

• Topical creams and ointments that contain corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues, retinoids, or calcineurin inhibitors. These can help reduce inflammation, itching, scaling, and plaque formation.
• Light therapy that exposes your skin to ultraviolet (UV) rays. This can help slow down the growth of skin cells and improve the appearance of plaques. You may need to use light therapy in combination with topical or oral medications.
• Oral or injectable medications that suppress the immune system or target specific molecules involved in inflammation. These include methotrexate, cyclosporine, biologics, and newer drugs such as apremilast and ixekizumab. These medications can have serious side effects and require close monitoring by your doctor.
• Alternative therapies such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, dietary supplements, or meditation. These may help some people with psoriasis by reducing stress or improving skin health. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to support their effectiveness or safety.