White paper on hospitalization for psoriasis care

Psoriasis is a common, chronic skin disorder that is conservatively estimated to affect between 1% and 2% of the population in the United States, not including mild cases. Despite the fact that psoriasis is one of the more common skin conditions requiring medical attention, it is poorly understood by the general public. This lack of information or misinformation on the part of health care administrators and insurers can affect the medical treatment of psoriasis and concomitant reimbursement in a manner that may be inappropriate and/or inadvertently deleterious to the patient's health care. The Committee on Psoriasis of the American Academy of Dermatology has sought to address this void. The Committee on Psoriasis is comprised of several dermatologists from the major academic medical centers in the United States. The combined expertise of this group reflects decades of experience in research, diagnosis, and treatment of psoriasis, as well as other skin diseases. This group has approved the "White Paper on Hospitalization for Psoriasis Care" as a straightforward, accurate, and well-documented source of information on psoriasis and psoriasis care. The purpose of this document is to explore the relevant medical aspects of the disease, its treatment modalities and their associated risks, and the outcomes of care.