Featured Article
"Is the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic an Indication to Temporarily Modify Dermatological Management Plans?"
While the world lives under the shadow of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, dermatologists wonder if the current situation calls for a temporary change in the management of skin conditions.
Immunosuppressive drugs are used ubiquitously in the modern treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune skin diseases like psoriasis, bullous diseases, connective tissue diseases, and many others. Treatment of these conditions is based on the suppression of the patient’s immune system using steroids, steroid-sparing drugs, and biological agents.1
“The use of immunosuppressive to treat these conditions can amplify this effect, and it might leave the patient vulnerable to more serious complications should an infection with the novel coronavirus be established. Hence, it may be wise to restrict temporarily the use of immunosuppressive agents including systemic steroids, steroid-sparing agents, and biologics in dermatology daily practice until more evidence is avilable about their safety in the current pandemic.6 As a relates point, the International Psoriasis Council declared an urgent statement on March 11, 2020 that the physician should be alert to the potentially harmful effects of COVID-19 infection on patients with psoriasis and to immediately discontinue or postpone immunosuppressant medications for psoriasis patients diagnosed with COVID-19 disease.”
As the declaration of the novel coronavirus as a pandemic by the WHO is a trending topic nowadays, dermatologists around the world view with concern the impact of this pandemic on their daily practice.
Read Full Article Now
You May Also Like
JDD July 2026 Highlights and Editor Picks
JDD July 2026 Highlights and Editor Picks
Curated by the JDD Editors Missed any of our July highlights? July is our Bridging the Gap issue and is packed with intriguing articles, and you’ll want to start to…
(P)Steroids & the Psyche: The Problems Nobody Put on the Prescription Label
(P)Steroids & the Psyche: The Problems Nobody Put on the Prescription Label
Guest: Dr. Lucinda Whitney When corticosteroid risks come up, most clinicians immediately think about osteoporosis, hyperglycemia, infection risk, or adrenal suppression. But what about the organ sitting between the ears?…
Beyond the Summer Spike: Mastering Complex Pigmentary Disorders
Beyond the Summer Spike: Mastering Complex Pigmentary Disorders
This Hyperpigmentation and Melasma Awareness Month, access the peer-reviewed data, treatment guidelines, and clinical pearls your practice needs now As the peak summer sun amplifies patient concerns over dark spots,…
