Enhancing Treatment Adherence, Treatment Tips for Atopic Dermatitis and More

Should treatments associated with even a slightly increased risk of malignancy be considered for patients with severe or refractory psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a common problem affecting as many as 7.5 million Americans, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. The severity of psoriasis can range considerably from mild, affecting less than 3% of the body surface area (BSA), to moderate, affecting 3% to 10% of BSA, to severe, affecting more than 10% of BSA.

UV phototherapy in the office is an effective psoriasis treatment. Tanning beds aren’t...or are they? Controlled clinical trials are a good way to learn about the efficacy of medicines, but sometimes they seem like overkill. The efficacy and safety of many treatments are completely self-evident. Or at least they seem to be.

UV Phototherapy vs. Tanning Beds

During the 20th Annual Meeting of the Photomedicine Society, which took place February 3 in New Orleans, researchers presented a poster on the effectiveness of treating moderate-to-severe generalized psoriasis with a 308 nm excimer laser (Xtrac Velocity 700), clobetasol spray (Clobex) and calcitriol (Vectical). (Lee E, Heller M, Park K, Bhutani T, Koo J.

As more is learned about the disease, physicians must now consider life-threatening comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, as well as the risks of the treatments, making the dilemma of choosing appropriate therapy even more complex.

NIH-sponsored Panel Issues Comprehensive U.S. Food Allergy Guidelines

Guidelines recommend uniform standards in the diagnosis and management of food allergy.

Women and Psoriasis

Abby S. Van Voorhees, MD
This month’s column explores unique aspects of the burden of disease for women with psoriasis.

Discovery of new DNA ‘Hotspots’ Could Aid in Developing New Therapies

As Dr. Van Voorhees observes in this month’s column, transitions in psoriasis treatment — as in life — often require adjustments. Here she offers her own strategies to best manage changing treatments.

Transitions in my opinion are always a challenge. At each of life’s stages, the path to the new place is often a bit rocky, even when the opportunities ahead look enticing. It has always struck me that these times can be fraught with missteps as we learn the rules, test the waters and establish our bearings. Losing one’s comfort zone is not an easy task for most of us.

It also strike