Psoriasis can be treated with the use of lasers. Defined below are the two laser treatment methods for psoriasis.

Targeted UVB Therapy:

The FDA has approved the Xtrac laser for psoriasis that emits a high-intensity beam of UV light which is very similar to the light delivered by narrow-band UVB units.

Less than 1 inch in diameter, small Xtrack’s beam can be targeted at selected areas of the skin affected by psoriasis. Mostly, people with mild to moderate plaque psoriasis are treated with the laser. People with lesions localized to specific areas of the body or with less than 10 percent of the body covered by psoriasis are recommended this light treatment.

It varies from person to person how well he or she will respond to the treatment. An average of 4 to 10 sessions can be required to see results. The results are dependant on the particular cases of psoriasis. With a minimum of 48 hours between treatments, twice per week treatment is recommended to patients. A mild sunburn is generally the only side effect from the laser treatment.

Following a course of therapy how long the clearance or improvement will last is yet to be indicated by the very little long-term data that is there..

Pulsed Dye Lasers:

For treating localized and chronic plaque lesions, pulsed dye lasers are also an approved method just like the Xtrac laser. The main difference between the two laser treatment methods is that pulsed dye lasers emit a different form of light than UVB units and the Xtrac laser.

The tiny blood vessels that contribute to and support the formation of psoriasis lesions are destroyed by pulsed dye lasers. For the removal of unwanted blood vessels and birthmarks they have been in use for approximately 15 years. It was first reported by the investigators in 1990 that psoriasis could be cleared with pulsed dye lasers.