title: Guidelines for the Topical Treatment of Psoriasis Vulgaris in the Levant and Iraq Area.
abstract: Psoriasis vulgaris is a common chronic, inflammatory, multisystem disorder that affects approximately 1.5% to 3.4% of the population in the Middle East. The disease has an impact on the quality of life in a significant number of affected patients. The majority of patients (approximately 70%) have mild to moderate psoriasis that is manageable with topical agents, which generally show a high efficacy to safety ratio. Topical agents can be used alone when treating patients with limited disease or may be used as adjunctive therapy for patients with more extensive psoriasis undergoing systemic treatment. Treatment should also be customized to meet individual patients' needs. To optimize the topical treatment of psoriasis in the Levant and Iraq area, dermatology experts from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria met and initiated a project to develop guidelines and recommendations for the topical management of psoriasis. The guidelines are based on literature evidence and experts' opinions. We present recommendations for the use of topical corticosteroids, vitamin D analogues, calcineurin inhibitors, tazarotene, salicylic acid, anthralin, and coal tar, as well as combination therapy, based on their efficacy and safety profiles.
authors: American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Ossama
authors: O
authors: Abbas
authors: Balamand University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Alfred
authors: A
authors: Ammoury
authors: Ministry of Health Hospital, Amman Jordan.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Abbadi
authors: Private Practice, Amman, Jordan.
authors: Medhat Abdel
authors: MA
authors: Malek
authors: University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors: Laith
authors: L
authors: Akkash
authors: Private Practice, Ramallah, Palestinian Authority.
authors: Kamal
authors: K
authors: Al-Chakharah
authors: Basra Medical College, Basra, Iraq.
authors: Khalil
authors: K
authors: Al-Hamdi
authors: Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors: Firas
authors: F
authors: Al-Qarqaz
authors: Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq.
authors: Abduljabbar
authors: A
authors: Al-Soudani
authors: Al-Mustansiriya University, Iraq.
authors: Nameer
authors: N
authors: Al-Soudani
authors: German Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors: Anwar
authors: A
authors: Dandashle
authors: Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Fouad
authors: F
authors: El-Sayed
authors: Private Practice, Damascus, Syria.
authors: Yasser
authors: Y
authors: Ghafir
authors: Private Practice, Lattkia, Syria.
authors: Nazek
authors: N
authors: Gargour
authors: Damascus University, Syria.
authors: Said
authors: S
authors: Kabalan
authors: American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; agkibbi@aub.edu.lb.
authors: Abdul-Ghani
authors: AG
authors: Kibbi
authors: King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan.
authors: Isam
authors: I
authors: Oumeish
authors: Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Zeina
authors: Z
authors: Tannous
authors: Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Tomb