How Do You Manage Inverse Psoriasis? Treatment & Home Remedies

Treatment options for inverse psoriasis may include:

• Topical corticosteroids
  • Available in the form of creams, lotions, oils, sprays, foams, gels, and ointments
  • Work by reducing the inflammation related to psoriasis
  • Overuse can lead to stretch marks or thinning of the skin
• Over-the-counter topicals
  • Examples include salicylic acid and coal tar 
  • Includes other products such as aloe vera and zinc pyrithione, which help moisturize skin, remove scales, or relieve itching
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors
  • Examples include Elidel (pimecrolimus) cream and Protopic (tacrolimus), which are FDA-approved to treat eczema
  • Work well in the case of inverse psoriasis
• Topical vitamin D analogs (calcipotriol, calcitriol)
  • These are a form of vitamin D that help reduce discoloration.
• Dovonex
  • This drug slows the growth of skin cells and reduces inflammation.
• Castederm (Castellani's paint)
  • This product is “painted” onto the skin to dry out the psoriasis lesions in the skin folds when the rashes have a bacterial or fungal infection.
• Oral medications
  • Soriatane (acitretin)
  • Otezla, Sandimmune (apremilast)
  • Rheumatrex, Trexall (methotrexate)
• Biologic medications
  • Used as injections or infusions and made from living cells that target specific parts of the immune system:
  • Humira (adalimumab)
  • Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm)
  • Enbrel (etanercept)
  • Tremfya (guselkumab)
  • Remicade (infliximab)
  • Renflexis (infliximab-abda)
  • Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb)
  • Taltz (ixekizumab)
  • Cosentyx (secukinumab)
  • Stelara (ustekinumab)
• Phototherapy
  • Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy uses ultraviolet B (UVB) waves from special lamps that help reduce inverse psoriasis.

• Avoid hot water baths and use lukewarm water
• Limit the amount of time spent in the water to under 15 minutes
• Use mild soaps and other products that are free of fragrances, dyes, and alcohol
• Dry the skin gently after bathing
• Moisturize the skin several times a day using a cream or ointment
• Use coconut oil to keep the skin hydrated
• Wear loose underwear and cotton clothing that allows affected areas to breathe
• Apply petroleum jelly or talcum powder to genital areas
• Minimize stress
• Avoid any type of phototherapy (ultraviolet B, psoralen plus ultraviolet-A radiation, or laser treatments) that can increase the risk of developing genital cancer
• Avoid getting urine or feces on the affected area
• Consume plenty of fiber to ease bowel movements
• Take over-the-counter medicines (antihistamines) for severe itching

Inverse psoriasis tends to affect sensitive parts of the body and can therefore be annoying, uncomfortable, and painful, but it is rarely serious.

Scratching a rash, however, can break the skin and lead to a superadded infection, which can be more serious and difficult to treat.

If you have genital psoriasis, you can still be intimate. Tips for reducing irritation during sex include the following:

• Avoid or postpone sex when the skin on or around the genitals is raw or oozing
• Before sex, gently cleanse the area by using a mild, fragrance-free cleanser that will help prevent psoriasis medication from rubbing onto your partner
• Use a lubricated condom, as this lessens the risk of irritating the inflamed area
• After sex, gently wash the area to help reduce irritation