Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis, accounting for roughly 80–90% of all cases. It's what most people mean when they say "psoriasis." It appears as raised, red or discolored patches of skin covered with thick, silvery-white scales — called plaques — that can be itchy, painful, and prone to cracking or bleeding. Plaques most commonly develop on the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back, but can appear anywhere. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition driven by an overactive immune system that accelerates the skin cell cycle, causing cells to build up on the surface faster than they can shed. At Honeydew, plaque psoriasis is one of the most common conditions we treat, across all severity levels.

Yes. Moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis — generally defined as psoriasis covering a significant portion of the body or meaningfully impacting quality of life — is well-suited to telehealth management. When topical treatments alone aren't providing adequate control, Honeydew providers can evaluate you for systemic therapies including biologic medications like Skyrizi and Tremfya. You complete a medical intake and upload photos of your skin so your provider can assess severity, review your treatment history, and build a plan appropriate for your stage of disease — without requiring a single in-person visit.

Plaque psoriasis is caused by an immune system dysfunction in which T cells mistakenly attack healthy skin cells, triggering rapid overproduction of new skin cells. The exact cause isn't fully understood, but genetics play a significant role — psoriasis runs in families. Common triggers that can cause flares or worsen existing plaques include stress, skin injuries (cuts, sunburn, or scratches), certain infections like strep throat, alcohol, smoking, cold and dry weather, and some medications including beta-blockers and lithium. Because everyone's triggers differ, your Honeydew provider will help you identify your personal patterns alongside building a treatment plan designed to reduce flare frequency over time.

Yes. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease — the immune system mistakenly targets healthy skin cells as if they were a threat, causing the inflammatory response that drives rapid skin cell turnover and the formation of plaques. This immune system involvement is why the most effective treatments for moderate-to-severe psoriasis — including biologic medications — work by targeting specific proteins in the immune signaling pathway rather than just treating the surface of the skin. It also explains why psoriasis is associated with other inflammatory conditions, including psoriatic arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and depression, in some patients.

Yes. Honeydew providers can prescribe biologic medications for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis entirely online. Biologics are injectable or infused medications that target specific proteins in the immune system — the IL-23 or IL-17 pathways — responsible for driving psoriatic inflammation. They are typically recommended when topical treatments and other systemic therapies haven't provided sufficient control. After your intake, your provider reviews your skin severity, medical history, and prior treatments to determine whether you're a candidate. If appropriate, your care team handles prior authorizations, dosing schedules, and ongoing monitoring — all without in-person visits.

Yes. Skyrizi (risankizumab) is an FDA-approved biologic for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in adults, and Honeydew providers can prescribe it online. Skyrizi is an IL-23 inhibitor given as a subcutaneous injection — two starter doses at weeks 0 and 4, then just four maintenance doses per year. In clinical trials, approximately three out of four patients achieved 90% clearer skin at 16 weeks. Your provider will assess your eligibility, coordinate prior authorization with your insurance, and guide you through the injection process — all managed through your Honeydew care team.

Yes. Tremfya (guselkumab) is an FDA-approved biologic for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in adults — and in eligible children ages 6 and older for those conditions — and Honeydew providers can prescribe it online. Like Skyrizi, Tremfya is an IL-23 inhibitor given by subcutaneous injection, typically every 8 weeks after starter doses. Your provider will review your history and severity to determine whether Tremfya or another biologic is the better fit for your specific presentation and insurance coverage.

IL-23 (interleukin-23) is a protein that acts as a key signaling molecule in the immune pathway that drives psoriatic inflammation. IL-23 inhibitors are a class of biologic medications — including Skyrizi and Tremfya — that block this specific protein, disrupting the inflammatory cascade that causes rapid skin cell growth and plaque formation. Because they target a precise point in the immune pathway rather than broadly suppressing the immune system, IL-23 inhibitors tend to produce strong, lasting skin clearance with a manageable safety profile. They represent a significant step forward from older systemic psoriasis treatments.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis that develops in approximately one in three people with psoriasis. It causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling — most commonly in the fingers, toes, knees, and lower back — and can lead to permanent joint damage if left untreated. The same immune system dysfunction that drives psoriatic plaques on the skin also causes inflammation in the joints. Nail psoriasis is often an early indicator of psoriatic arthritis risk. If you have psoriasis and are experiencing joint pain or swelling, it's important to raise it with your dermatology provider promptly, as early treatment significantly reduces the risk of joint damage.

Yes, in part. Honeydew providers can prescribe biologic medications — including Skyrizi and Tremfya, both FDA-approved for psoriatic arthritis — as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for patients who have both skin and joint involvement. For patients with significant joint disease, your Honeydew provider may coordinate care alongside a rheumatologist. But for many patients with mild-to-moderate joint symptoms alongside moderate-to-severe skin disease, a biologic prescribed through Honeydew addresses both simultaneously, which is one of the advantages of this class of treatments.

Guttate psoriasis is the second most common form of psoriasis. Unlike plaque psoriasis, it appears as numerous small, drop-shaped red spots scattered across the torso, arms, and legs — rather than large, well-defined plaques. It's most common in children and young adults and is often triggered by a bacterial infection, particularly strep throat. Guttate episodes can sometimes resolve on their own, but prescription treatment — including topical steroids, phototherapy guidance, or systemic medications for more widespread cases — can significantly speed resolution and reduce the risk of developing chronic plaque psoriasis. Honeydew providers can evaluate and treat guttate psoriasis online.

Inverse psoriasis appears in skin folds — the armpits, groin, under the breasts, and around the genitals. Unlike typical plaque psoriasis, it presents as smooth, shiny red patches rather than scaly plaques, because friction and moisture in skin folds prevent the scaling effect. It's often misdiagnosed as a fungal infection or contact dermatitis. Inverse psoriasis can be particularly uncomfortable and is treated differently than plaque psoriasis — non-steroidal topicals like roflumilast (Zoryve) are often preferred for sensitive skin fold areas to avoid the skin-thinning effects of long-term steroid use. Honeydew providers can evaluate inverse psoriasis and prescribe appropriately through telehealth.

Nail psoriasis affects up to half of people with plaque psoriasis and can occur independently of skin involvement. It causes pitting, discoloration, thickening, crumbling, or separation of the nail from the nail bed in the fingernails or toenails. Beyond cosmetic impact, nail psoriasis can be painful and is a recognized risk factor for developing psoriatic arthritis. Treatment depends on severity — mild cases may respond to potent topical steroids applied directly to the nail, while more significant nail disease is often an indicator that systemic or biologic therapy is warranted. Your Honeydew provider can assess nail psoriasis and factor it into your overall treatment plan.

Roflumilast is the active ingredient in Zoryve Cream and Zoryve Foam — a newer class of non-steroidal topical treatment for plaque psoriasis. It works by inhibiting an enzyme called PDE4 (phosphodiesterase-4), which reduces the inflammatory signaling that causes psoriatic plaques to form. Because it's non-steroidal, roflumilast doesn't carry the risk of skin thinning associated with long-term topical corticosteroid use, making it particularly suitable for sensitive areas and for patients who need an alternative to steroids. Zoryve Foam is specifically formulated for scalp and body hair-bearing areas. Honeydew providers prescribe both formulations online.

Honeydew providers can prescribe a range of topical psoriasis treatments depending on where your psoriasis appears, its severity, and your history with prior treatments. Options include high-potency topical corticosteroids like clobetasol for reducing inflammation and plaque thickness, roflumilast (Zoryve Cream and Foam) as a non-steroidal alternative, tacrolimus for sensitive or intertriginous areas, and triamcinolone for moderate-severity plaques. For patients whose psoriasis isn't adequately controlled with topicals alone, your provider can also evaluate you for systemic and biologic options — all as part of the same online membership.

Yes. Honeydew is built to be accessible without insurance. Our membership uses transparent, flat-rate pricing — no co-pays, no referral requirements, and no insurance approval needed to get started. You'll have access to licensed dermatology providers, prescription treatments including biologics, and unlimited ongoing support for a simple monthly or annual fee. If you have insurance, your medications — including biologics like Skyrizi and Tremfya — can be submitted for coverage, and our care team handles prior authorizations on your behalf. Membership costs are also HSA/FSA eligible.

Research on teledermatology for psoriasis, including for patients on biologic maintenance therapy, consistently shows outcomes comparable to in-person care. Psoriasis is highly visual and photographs well, making it well-suited to virtual evaluation. Providers can assess plaque coverage, thickness, and distribution from detailed photos, monitor progress over time, and adjust treatment plans remotely with a high degree of accuracy. The same prescription-strength treatments available in a traditional dermatology office — topical steroids, roflumilast, Skyrizi, Tremfya — are all available through Honeydew. For patients who have spent months on waiting lists for in-person dermatology, telehealth often delivers faster access to the same standard of care.

Prior authorization (PA) is a common hurdle for biologics like Skyrizi and Tremfya, as insurers typically require documentation of the severity of your condition and evidence that other treatments have been tried first. At Honeydew, your care team manages the prior authorization process on your behalf — gathering the necessary clinical documentation, submitting to your insurer, and following up on approvals. We also help navigate manufacturer savings programs, which can significantly reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs for eligible commercially insured patients. You won't need to navigate the insurance process alone.

For most people, yes,  psoriasis is a chronic condition that requires long-term management rather than a one-time cure. It typically cycles through periods of flares and remission, with triggers varying from person to person. The goal of treatment isn't elimination of the condition, but meaningful and sustained control: fewer flares, clearer skin, less discomfort, and a better quality of life. Modern biologic therapies have transformed what's possible for patients with moderate-to-severe disease — many achieve near-complete or complete skin clearance and maintain it long term. At Honeydew, your treatment plan evolves with you, with ongoing provider access and adjustments as your skin changes.

Psoriasis has a significant impact beyond the skin. The visibility of plaques — particularly on the face, hands, and scalp — is associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, social withdrawal, and reduced quality of life. Studies consistently show that effective psoriasis treatment improves not just skin outcomes but mental health and self-confidence as well. Psoriasis also affects sleep, work productivity, and relationships. If your psoriasis is having an impact beyond just physical symptoms, that's a legitimate and important reason to seek prescription-level care — and Honeydew providers take the full picture into account when building your treatment plan, not just what's visible on the skin.

Early and effective treatment of psoriasis — particularly with systemic therapies that address the underlying immune dysfunction — is associated with a lower risk of developing psoriatic arthritis and reducing its severity when it does occur. Because psoriatic arthritis can cause irreversible joint damage if left untreated, getting psoriasis under meaningful control before joint symptoms develop is one of the most important reasons not to delay seeking dermatology-level care. Biologics like Skyrizi and Tremfya are FDA-approved for both conditions, making them an efficient treatment option for patients at risk of or already experiencing joint involvement alongside their skin disease.