Topical Therapies Show Promise In Treating Psoriasis

Psoriasis, a chronic skin condition characterized by thick, red, scaly patches that itch and bleed, not only makes the activities of daily life difficult, but also can affect a person's emotional well being. Psoriasis affects more than 4.5 million adults in theUnited States with a large percentage of those patients living with mild or localized psoriasis, which in no way lessens the burden of this challenging skin condition. While new biologic treatments are available for patients with severe psoriasis, those with less severe psoriasis rely on topical therapies to manage their disease. In addition, some topical therapies that are approved for treating other skin conditions may be effective for the treatmentof less severe psoriasis.

Speaking today at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Academy ofDermatology, dermatologist Linda Stein Gold, M.D., director of dermatology clinical research at the Henry Ford Health System in West Bloomfield, Mich., spoke about myths and misconceptions about the use of topical corticosteroids and some new topical treatment options for psoriasis.

"Topical treatments, such as corticosteroids, are considered the first line of treatment," said Dr. Stein Gold. "With the emergence of several new therapies, more people with psoriasis are experiencing substantial improvements and reporting a greatly enhanced quality of life."