Psoriasis treatment considerations in military patients: unique patients, unique drugs

Psoriasis is a common dermatologic problem with a chronic and sometimes debilitating course. Psoriasis can impair a service member's ability to perform job-related activities and should certainly be treated; however, use of immunosuppressive treatments can prevent deployment to strategic locations around the world for numerous reasons, such as the need for laboratory monitoring, minimal access to climate-controlled storage, and potential increased risk of exposure to virulent pathogens while on these medications. Similar obstacles can exist for nonmilitary patients who are placed in austere conditions or participate in worldwide travel. Although treatment efficacy, cost, and side-effect profiles are always paramount considerations in deciding on treatment regimens with patients, herein we focus our discussion on a consideration that might be easily overlooked when treating patients in modern society, that being the "logistics" of treatment.