INTRODUCTION
Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease that varies widely in its clinical expression.1 Although there are different types of psoriasis, plaque psoriasis is by far the most common type and makes up approximately 90% of cases.2 Plaque psoriasis can occur across all regions of the body, though the trunk and extremities are among the most commonly affected areas.3
The impact of psoriasis on overall disease burden and patient quality of life may vary depending on the location of psoriatic lesions.4 In addition, the treatment of certain body regions can be more problematic than others,5,6 with certain areas being more resistant to treatment or requiring longer treatment periods to achieve clearance of symptoms.5-8 However, more data is needed to better understand the relationship between psoriasis location and treatment response. The use of topical therapy is a key component in the management of almost all psoriasis patients.9 However, long-term safety of corticosteroids remains a concern, as use is limited to 2-3 consecutive weeks for most topical steroids. Recent phase 3 clinical data have demonstrated that a once-daily, fixed-combination halobetasol propionate 0.01% and tazarotene 0.045% (HP/TAZ) lotion was significantly more effective than vehicle
The impact of psoriasis on overall disease burden and patient quality of life may vary depending on the location of psoriatic lesions.4 In addition, the treatment of certain body regions can be more problematic than others,5,6 with certain areas being more resistant to treatment or requiring longer treatment periods to achieve clearance of symptoms.5-8 However, more data is needed to better understand the relationship between psoriasis location and treatment response. The use of topical therapy is a key component in the management of almost all psoriasis patients.9 However, long-term safety of corticosteroids remains a concern, as use is limited to 2-3 consecutive weeks for most topical steroids. Recent phase 3 clinical data have demonstrated that a once-daily, fixed-combination halobetasol propionate 0.01% and tazarotene 0.045% (HP/TAZ) lotion was significantly more effective than vehicle