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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
11:39
The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
Psoriasis induced or aggravated by drugs
Franco Rongioletti1, Cristina Fiorucci, Aurora Parodi
1Section of Dermatology, DISEM, University of Genoa, 16132, Genova, Italy. franco.rongioletti@unige.it
The Journal of Rheumatology. Supplement
|August 8, 2009
Summary
Certain medications like lithium, beta blockers, and antimalarials can trigger or worsen psoriasis. This review classifies drugs based on their link to psoriasis, aiding in understanding drug-induced skin conditions.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Drug ingestion can exacerbate existing psoriasis or induce new lesions.
- Therapeutic agents are classified by their causal relationship to psoriasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common causative agents for drug-induced or aggravated psoriasis.
- To discuss controversies surrounding drug-psoriasis relationships.
- To present clinical experience with drug-induced psoriasis.
Main Methods:
- Classification of drugs based on evidence of psoriasis induction/aggravation.
- Review of literature on drug-associated psoriasis.
- Analysis of clinical cases from the University of Genoa.
Main Results:
- Lithium, beta blockers, and synthetic antimalarials show strong evidence for causing psoriasis.
- Other drugs have insufficient or occasional associations with psoriasis.
- Clinical experience highlights the complexities of drug-induced psoriasis.
Conclusions:
- Understanding drug-psoriasis links is crucial for patient management.
- Further research is needed to clarify associations for certain drug classes.
- Careful medication review is essential for patients with or at risk for psoriasis.
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