Clinical implications of facial psoriasis in children and adolescents

The clinical implications of facial involvement in pediatric patients with psoriasis have not been adequately studied. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the association between facial involvement and clinical features including disease severity of psoriasis in children and adolescents.

The clinical features of patients aged below 20 years diagnosed with psoriasis were retrospectively evaluated and grouped based on the presence or absence of facial involvement at presentation. Demographic and clinical data were compared between groups.

Of the 175 patients, 110 patients (62.9%) had facial involvement of psoriasis at presentation. The group with facial involvement was significantly younger at disease onset (p = .032) and had a higher body mass index (BMI) (p = .043) and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score (p <.001). The severity of pruritus was significantly higher in the facial than in the non-facial group (p = .020). Involvement of the nose was associated with the highest disease severity as assessed by the PASI score and affected body surface area. A significantly higher number of treatment modalities were used in the facial group than in the non-facial group (p = .013). The BMI (odds ratio (OR), 1.39; 95% CI (confidence interval), 1.07-1.80) and PASI score (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.03-2.03) were independent factors associated with facial involvement of psoriasis.

Facial involvement in psoriasis was associated with higher disease severity and more treatment modalities in children and adolescents.