Psoriasis : Psoriasis a complex, chronic, multifactorial, inflammatory disease that involves hyperproliferation of the keratinocytes in the epidermis, with an increase in the epidermal cell turnover rate. Environmental, genetic, and immunologic factors appear to play a role. The disease most commonly manifests on the skin of the elbows, knees, scalp, lumbosacral areas, intergluteal clefts, and glans penis. In up to 30% of patients, the joints are also affected.
Medications used in the management of psoriasis include Topical corticosteroids (eg, triamcinolone acetonide 0.025-0.1% cream, betamethasone 0.025-0.1% cream), Ophthalmic corticosteroids (eg, prednisolone acetate 1% ophthalmic, dexamethasone ophthalmic), Intramuscular corticosteroids (eg, triamcinolone). Coal tar ,Keratolytic agents (eg, anthralin), Vitamin D analogs (eg, calcitriol ointment, calcipotriene, calcipotriene and betamethasone topical ointment) and Topical retinoids (eg, tazarotene aqueous gel and cream 0.05% and 0.1%) are frequently used in the management of Psoriasis. Other choices include Antimetabolites (eg, methotrexate), Immunomodulators (eg, tacrolimus topical 0.1%, cyclosporine, alefacept, ustekinumab), TNF inhibitors (eg, infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab) and Systemic antipsoriatic agents. (eg, ustekinumab)