New treatments: psoriasis

This is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system stimulates skin cells to grow at a much faster rate than usual, resulting in areas of red, flaky crusty patches covered with silvery scales. Current treatments include creams containing a calcipotriol (which is similar to vitamin D) steroid, or coal tar, but for some people these are not very effective. Now a new oral treatment, Skilarence, has just become available for those with moderate to severe psoriasis. It can be taken long-term, and in trials, the skin of a third of patients using it had returned to near normal after four months of use. Available on prescription only.