Treatments for inverse psoriasis: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Inverse psoriasis presents unique challenges due to sensitive, occluded skin.
• Current treatment guidelines largely rely on anecdotal evidence rather than robust data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on treatments for inverse psoriasis.
• To assess the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions in flexural and genital areas.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed across major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library).
• Prospective studies with at least 10 patients evaluating treatment efficacy for inverse psoriasis were included.
• Keywords included 'inverse psoriasis,' 'genital psoriasis,' and 'treatment.'

Main Results:

• Fourteen studies involving over 1000 patients were analyzed.
• Topical immunomodulators, vitamin D analogs, topical corticosteroids, antiseptics, and biologics demonstrated efficacy in improving symptoms.
• Topical immunomodulators (7 studies), vitamin D analogs (4 studies), and topical corticosteroids (3 studies) were most frequently evaluated.

Conclusions:

• A significant lack of high-quality evidence exists for inverse psoriasis treatments, particularly for systemic and biologic therapies.
• Topical immunomodulators, vitamin D analogs, and mid-to-high-potency topical corticosteroids may be effective.
• Further randomized controlled trials are essential to establish evidence-based treatment guidelines.