[Local treatments of cutaneous psoriasis]

Most of psoriatic patients require topical therapy. Dermal application of drugs may be the unique treatment; but it can also combined with oral drugs, or phototherapy. Patients are treated at home or in day-care centers; some require hospitalization. Topical corticosteroids are widely used: abuses are frequently observed, therefore skin and systemic side-effects may occur to varying degrees. Tars are still useful. Short-contact anthralin is active and well tolerated, and compliance is better than with conventional tar therapy, especially in children. Topical mechlorethamine clears the plaques but contact dermatitis may occur. New therapeutic approaches include Vitamin D3 analogues.