Psoriasis Treatment in London
Psoriasis treatment in London is provided by 40+ GMC-registered dermatologists and immunodermatologists offering topical treatments (vitamin D analogues, corticosteroids) for mild psoriasis covering <3% body surface area, narrowband UVB phototherapy 2-3 times weekly for moderate psoriasis covering 3-10% body surface area, systemic immunosuppressants (methotrexate, ciclosporin, acitretin) for severe cases, and biologic therapy (adalimumab, secukinumab, ustekinumab, ixekizumab, guselkumab) achieving 75-90% improvement in severe psoriasis resistant to conventional treatments.
London psoriasis specialists treat plaque psoriasis affecting elbows, knees, scalp, and trunk, guttate psoriasis following streptococcal infection, inverse psoriasis in skin folds, pustular psoriasis with sterile pustules, and psoriatic arthritis requiring rheumatology coordination with treatment costs £250-£350 consultation plus £20-£1,500 monthly for medications covered by private insurance and NHS for moderate-severe cases.
Treatment Options
Topical Treatments (Mild Psoriasis)
Vitamin D Analogues:
Calcipotriol (Dovonex), calcitriol
First-line treatment
Apply once or twice daily
50-70% improvement in 6-8 weeks
Safe long-term use
Cost: £30-£60 monthly
Topical Corticosteroids:
Potent steroids for body (betamethasone, mometasone)
Very potent for thick plaques (clobetasol)
Short courses only (2-4 weeks)
Weekend therapy for maintenance
Cost: £15-£40
Combination Therapy:
Dovobet (calcipotriol + betamethasone) - most effective topical
Apply once daily
70-80% improvement
Cost: £40-£80 monthly
Coal Tar:
Traditional treatment
Anti-inflammatory
Smelly, stains clothes
Effective for scalp psoriasis
Cost: £10-£30
Phototherapy (Moderate Psoriasis)
Narrowband UVB:
2-3 sessions weekly
6-12 week courses
60-70% achieve clearance
Hospital or specialist clinic attendance
Cost: £200-£400 per course (private)
Free on NHS
PUVA (Psoralen + UVA):
Oral psoralen tablet + UVA exposure
More effective than UVB (75-85% clearance)
More side effects
Reserved for severe cases
Cost: £300-£600 per course
Systemic Therapy (Severe Psoriasis)
Methotrexate:
Weekly oral or injection
10-25mg weekly
60-70% achieve significant improvement
Monthly blood monitoring required
Pregnancy prevention essential
Cost: £20-£50 monthly
Takes 6-12 weeks for effect
Ciclosporin:
Twice daily oral capsules
2.5-5mg/kg daily
Rapid effect (2-4 weeks)
70-80% improvement
Blood pressure and kidney monitoring
Maximum 1-2 years use
Cost: £40-£100 monthly
Acitretin:
Oral retinoid
25-50mg daily
50-60% improvement
Best for pustular and palmoplantar psoriasis
Severe birth defects risk
Pregnancy prevention for 3 years after stopping
Cost: £30-£80 monthly
Biologic Therapy
TNF-alpha Inhibitors:
Adalimumab (Humira): Fortnightly injection, 75% achieve PASI 75
Etanercept (Enbrel): Twice weekly injection, 60-70% achieve PASI 75
IL-12/23 Inhibitor:
Ustekinumab (Stelara): Every 12 weeks injection, 75-85% achieve PASI 75
IL-17 Inhibitors:
Secukinumab (Cosentyx): Monthly injection, 80-90% achieve PASI 75
Ixekizumab (Taltz): Monthly injection, 85-90% achieve PASI 75
IL-23 Inhibitors:
Guselkumab (Tremfya): Every 8 weeks injection, 85-90% achieve PASI 75
Risankizumab (Skyrizi): Every 12 weeks injection, 90% achieve PASI 90
Cost: £1,000-£1,500 monthly, covered by NHS for severe psoriasis, insurance with pre-authorisation
Browse immunodermatologists specialising in biologics.
Top Psoriasis Specialists
Dr. Magnus Lynch - Harley Street
Immunodermatology specialist managing severe psoriasis with biologics
Expertise: Biologic therapy, systemic immunosuppression
Cost: £295 consultation
Profile: View Dr. Magnus Lynch
Dr. Adam Friedmann - Harley Street
20+ years treating all psoriasis severities with medical therapy and biologics
Cost: £300 consultation
Profile: View clinic
Browse general dermatologists for more psoriasis specialists.
Treatment Costs
Treatment | Monthly Cost | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
Topical Therapy | £30-£80 | 50-70% improvement |
Phototherapy Course | £200-£400 (6-12 weeks) | 60-75% clearance |
Methotrexate | £20-£50 | 60-70% improvement |
Ciclosporin | £40-£100 | 70-80% improvement |
Biologics | £1,000-£1,500 | 75-90% improvement |
Insurance: Covers medical psoriasis treatment including biologics with pre-authorisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can psoriasis be cured?
Psoriasis cannot be permanently cured as it is a chronic autoimmune condition but achieves long-term remission with appropriate treatment. Topical treatments control mild psoriasis requiring ongoing maintenance therapy. Phototherapy provides temporary clearance lasting months requiring repeat courses. Systemic treatments including biologics achieve sustained remission while taking medication but psoriasis returns after stopping. Treatment goals focus on clearance, quality of life improvement, and minimising flares rather than cure.
How long does psoriasis treatment take to work?
Psoriasis treatment timelines vary by therapy type. Topical treatments show improvement at 2-4 weeks with maximum effect at 6-8 weeks. Phototherapy improves psoriasis gradually over 6-12 week courses achieving clearance typically. Methotrexate requires 6-12 weeks for full effect while ciclosporin works rapidly within 2-4 weeks. Biologic therapy improves psoriasis at 4-8 weeks achieving maximum clearance at 12-16 weeks. Patience required as most treatments need months for optimal results.
Are biologics safe for psoriasis?
Biologic therapy is safe for psoriasis with 15+ years safety data showing excellent long-term tolerability. Biologics selectively target specific immune pathways causing fewer side effects than traditional immunosuppressants. Infection risk slightly increased requiring screening for tuberculosis and hepatitis before starting. Monthly injection site reactions occur commonly but are mild. Regular monitoring ensures early detection of rare complications. Benefits of 80-90% psoriasis clearance typically outweigh small infection risk for severe cases.
Is psoriasis treatment covered by insurance?
Private medical insurance covers psoriasis treatment as medical condition requiring specialist management. Coverage includes dermatology consultations, topical prescriptions, phototherapy, systemic immunosuppressants, and biologic therapy with pre-authorisation. NHS provides free psoriasis treatment after GP referral including biologics for severe cases meeting NICE criteria (PASI ≥10, failed systemic therapy). Obtain insurance pre-authorisation before expensive biologic therapy listing disease severity and previous treatments tried.
Should I see a dermatologist for mild psoriasis?
See dermatologist for mild psoriasis if GP-prescribed topical treatments failed after 3 months consistent use, psoriasis affecting face/hands/genitals causing significant impact, or psoriasis affecting quality of life despite being "mild". Dermatologists prescribe stronger topical combinations (Dovobet), provide phototherapy access, and optimise treatment application improving outcomes. Early specialist input prevents progression to moderate-severe psoriasis requiring systemic therapy. Most mild psoriasis achieves excellent control with specialist-optimised topical regimens.
Next Steps
Contact psoriasis specialists: