alone or in combination with other topical therapies, are limited and do not allow for evaluating possible clinical relevance.
Statement 2: Guidelines and algorithms rarely mention skincare for psoriasis patients, demonstrating an important need gap.
Guidelines and algorithms for psoriasis patients discuss prescription treatments.11-15,20-22,26-29 There is a role for topical prescription therapy in all patients with psoriasis if the disease is limited (>5% body surface area), as a single treatment, and, in more extensive cases, as an adjunct therapy.23,24 The main topical prescription classes are corticosteroids, Vitamin D3 analogs, combination steroids, vitamin D products, topical calcineurin inhibitors, topical retinoids, and a combination of topical steroids and retinoids.23-29
Guidelines and algorithms for psoriasis patients discuss prescription treatments.11-15,20-22,26-29 There is a role for topical prescription therapy in all patients with psoriasis if the disease is limited (>5% body surface area), as a single treatment, and, in more extensive cases, as an adjunct therapy.23,24 The main topical prescription classes are corticosteroids, Vitamin D3 analogs, combination steroids, vitamin D products, topical calcineurin inhibitors, topical retinoids, and a combination of topical steroids and retinoids.23-29
Topical prescription therapy can be combined with ultraviolet B (UVB) phototherapy (narrowband [NB] or broadband [BB]), or psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA).23-25 For more severe cases systemic treatment is available, such as with biologics (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, secukinumab, and ustekinumab.23-27 One guideline mentioned salicylic acid-containing skincare added to topical or systemic therapy to remove scales. More robust data on skincare use are needed to have skincare incorporated into guidelines and pathways.
Statement 3: Skincare may play a role in the management of psoriasis, regardless of disease severity or the therapy, both as adjuvant treatment of acute psoriasis and for follow-up treatment of healing skin during asymptomatic periods.
