title: Emerging topical treatments for psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease which classically presents as erythematous, scaly plaques affecting extensor surfaces of the limbs, scalp and trunk. Approximately 80% of patients have a mild-to-moderate form routinely treated with topical medications, whereas phototherapy, systemic and biological therapies are typically reserved for treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The major advances in psoriasis therapy in the past 15 years have been in new immunomodulatory and biological molecules, with a significant unmet need to have new, efficient and safe topical treatment options for the large percentage of patients for whom systemic therapy is not indicated. The available topical therapies (corticosteroids and vitamin D3 analogs) have remained relatively unchanged over the past several decades. This article reviews emerging topical drugs and formulations currently under evaluation in clinical trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The time is right for a revolution in our topical therapy armamentarium. It has lagged significantly behind the systemic biological evolution of new drug development. Our large psoriasis population with mild-to-moderate psoriasis certainly deserves potent but safe and innovative topical agents with a new mode of action as well as with long-lasting clinical efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Baylor University Medical Center, Department of Dermatology , 3900 Junius Street, Suite 125, Dallas, TX 75246 , USA +1972 354 7988 ; +1 972 715 1460 ; amderm@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dario N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Kivelevitch
authors.forename: Katherine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Hebeler
authors.forename: Mahir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menter
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D014807:Vitamin D; D053612:Janus Kinases; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4