Pediatric Psoriasis: An Emphasis on Treatment

Abstract

Childhood psoriasis is a common chronic disease that may have devastating physical and psychosocial consequences. Most children are treated with topical agents, including corticosteroids, coal tars, anthralin, calcipotriene, and tazarotene. For moderate to severe cases, systemic treatments such as phototherapy, methotrexate, cyclosporine, and acitretin are used. In the last 10 years, biologics with an emphasis on tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors have been shown to be effective without the toxicities associated with older systemic treatments. Future studies are needed that focus on the efficacy and safety of these treatments in children.