Treatment of severe scalp psoriasis: from the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation.
BACKGROUND
The scalp is the most commonly affected part of the body in patients with psoriasis. Signs and symptoms of scalp psoriasis vary significantly for individual patients.


OBJECTIVE
A task force of the National Psoriasis Foundation was convened to evaluate treatment options. Our aim was to achieve a consensus for scalp psoriasis therapy.


METHODS
Reports in the medical literature were reviewed regarding scalp psoriasis therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a paucity of evidence-based and double-blind studies in the treatment of scalp psoriasis particularly for long-term therapy. Many of the studies in scalp psoriasis were designed to attain Food and Drug Administration approval for a medication and not to provide treatment guidance.


CONCLUSIONS
The recommended short-term or intermittent therapy for scalp psoriasis is topical corticosteroids. The primary alternatives are topical retinoids, vitamin D analogues, and salicylic acid. Combination therapy has many advantages. The choice of an appropriate vehicle is crucial to increase patient compliance. While scalp psoriasis can often be adequately treated with topical therapy, recalcitrant disease may require more aggressive approaches, including systemic agents.
Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
C Stanley
CS
Chan
Abby S
AS
Van Voorhees
Mark G
MG
Lebwohl
Neil J
NJ
Korman
Melodie
M
Young
Bruce F
BF
Bebo
Robert E
RE
Kalb
Sylvia
S
Hsu
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000628:therapy*; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000628:therapy*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D004338:Drug Combinations; C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol