Treatment Through the Years

From the very beginning, people relied on the strength of the sun and the use of coal tar as their only form of treatment for the disease. Through the years, research and experimentation has provided new and more effective treatments, although a few wrong turns have been taken along the way.

For instance, in 1819, a suggested treatment for Psoriasis included the topical application of mercury, a gently purging of the impurities in one's system, avoiding stimulants such as smoking and drinking, using special creams and taking a mild anti-inflammatory drug available in those days.

Since there were still so many unanswered questions about Psoriasis, doctors relied on their limited expertise to help their patients.

One hundred years ago, the effective remedy for Psoriasis according to some doctors was to take oral doses of arsenic, phosphorus and even turpentine! General advice was to avoid overwork, sexual excesses, suckling and any drain on the body. Spa treatments and plenty of relaxation were also recommended.

In the 1920's, the benefits of artificial light were discovered. It was during this decade that Dr Goeckerman at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, offered a special regimen that has stood the test of time as a safe and effective treatment.

The Goeckerman regimen consists of the topical application of crude coal tar in the form of ointments or tar solutions one to three times daily. For the same number of times, the excess tar is removed and the patient is exposed to the total body ultra-violet (UV) light. This is followed by a cleaning bath or shower that removes the residual tar and scales before re-application of fresh tar. The procedure is repeated for an average of two and a half to six weeks until the skin clears and the patient leaves hospital.

Reprinted with the kind permission of the National Psoriasis Foundation