Dermatology: The Changing Landscape Of Psoriasis Treatment

By Jasmina Jankicevic, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Dermatology, and Medical Aesthetics

Psoriasis is a common chronic skin disorder, affecting more than eight million people in the U.S. and at least 125 million worldwide. Psoriasis is associated with a variety of comorbidities, including psoriatic arthritis, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and depression.3 It can cause significant detriment to quality of life. In fact, patients with psoriasis experience a reduction in their quality of life similar to, or worse than, patients with other chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Prior to 1955, psoriasis was treated with a wide variety of therapeutic agents ranging from arsenic and ammoniated mercury to chrysarobin, anthralin, and tars. Topical corticosteroids have been widely used in psoriasis and other skin conditions since 1951 and are the standard therapy for inflammatory skin diseases. Use of methotrexate as a treatment for psoriasis became more common in the 1970s.

Over the past 60 years, the landscape of psoriasis treatment has changed dramatically. Advances in psoriasis therapy have accelerated over the past two decades and have been life-changing for those who are severely afflicted with the condition.

Continue reading to learn more about these therapies as well as new topical and oral therapies that are emerging.