What Are the Best Treatments for Psoriasis?

A doctor’s advice on how to manage this autoimmune disease

Adam Rosenbluth, M.D.,

AARP

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Published March 09, 2026

An illustration of an older adult with a distressed expression, looking down at their arm and scratching at thick, scaly patches on their elbow and forearm.

James Yates

What’s the best way for me to manage my psoriasis?

Without making you anxious, I want to begin by helping you understand that your psoriasis is not just a rash. It’s an autoimmune disease. This means your immune system is mistakenly mounting an attack against your own skin, speeding up skin growth and creating thick, red and scaly patches. These plaques are what you see, but the disease itself is happening deep inside the body.

Autoimmune diseases don’t fit neatly into one box. Psoriasis is linked to other health issues, especially cardiovascular disease. So one of the most important steps you can take is speaking with your doctor about your heart health. Your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight and exercise habits all matter here.

Now let’s talk about what you can do day-to-day. Lifestyle plays a big role. Many of my patients notice that their psoriasis flares when they don’t sleep well, if they’re under stress or when they’re eating poorly. For instance, since psoriasis is driven by inflammation, and ultra-processed foods increase inflammation, when people improve their diets and lose weight, we often see their psoriasis calming down. The same thing happens when patients get better sleep and reduce stress.

Skin care also matters a lot, especially when we get older. As we age, our skin loses collagen and becomes thinner and less resilient, which can make psoriasis plaques more painful and harder to heal. Gentle care is essential. Long, hot showers may feel soothing, but they make itching and inflammation worse. A shorter shower with cooler water is a better choice. Also, avoid harsh soaps, don’t scrub your skin, and launder your towels with a gentle detergent. While you’re at it, use moisturizer regularly to help protect your skin barrier.

It's also important to identify your personal triggers. Some medications, including certain blood pressure drugs, can worsen psoriasis. If you notice flares after starting a new drug, let your doctor know. Smoking and alcohol are also well-known triggers.

Please keep in mind that people with psoriasis are at a higher risk of skin infections, especially cellulitis, which is a spreading bacterial infection of the skin and its underlying tissues.

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Sunlight can help psoriasis as long as you’re careful about it. Controlled exposure to sunlight can improve the condition. Ask your doctor about phototherapy, a treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to calm the immune response in the skin. What you want to avoid is sunburn, which makes psoriasis worse.

For mild disease, topical treatments can be very effective. Steroid creams are commonly used and can quickly calm a flare. But they shouldn’t be used long-term, especially on aging skin, because they may thin the skin and make it more fragile. Your dermatologist can recommend other non-steroid topical medications that are safer for ongoing use.

For people with moderate to severe psoriasis, biologic medications can be a true game changer. These drugs are designed specifically to target the autoimmune reaction. But there’s a caveat. While I’ve seen patients whose skin was covered in plaques become almost clear with these treatments, a 2024 meta-analysis published in JAMA Dermatology reported that older folks, especially those who have already had previous treatments with biologics, may have less success.

More from Dr. Adam

Another point I don’t want you to miss: If you have psoriasis and develop joint pain, stiffness or swelling, you need to be checked for psoriatic arthritis. Some people have only the skin disease, but others develop this form of arthritis which can permanently damage joints if not treated early. The good news: Early treatment can preserve joint health.

One of the most hopeful things about psoriasis today is how much better we understand it. We now have treatments that work at the level of the immune system, not just the surface of the skin. That means real, lasting improvement is possible, even if you’ve struggled for years. Working with a dermatologist to create a personal treatment plan means your psoriasis can be something you manage, not something that manages you.

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