Healio highlights top psoriasis content in dermatology for Psoriasis Action Month

As August marks the beginning of Psoriasis Action Month, Healio Dermatology has compiled a list of the top psoriasis stories from the past year that bring awareness to the plight of patients with psoriasis and the work of clinicians.

More than 8 million people in the United States and 125 million people worldwide live with psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation.

The foundation has deemed August as Psoriasis Action Month, making it a dedicated time to educate, motivate and inspire patients and clinicians in the psoriasis community as they continue to pursue a cure for this disease.

Read on for Healio’s top psoriasis stories from 2023:

Cardiovascular disease associated with four dermatological inflammatory diseases

It’s no secret that inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis, are accompanied by a host of comorbidities. In a cross-sectional, single-center study, researchers confirmed that patients with psoriasis face a higher risk for being diagnosed with one or more cardiovascular disease compared with those without psoriasis.

Benjamin Ungar, MD, of the department of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told Healio that he hopes this study will bring a greater awareness to dermatologists of the increased risk that patients with inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis, face. According to Ungar, clinicians should consider increasing evaluations for cardiovascular diseases or increasing referrals to other specialists who can help keep patients with psoriasis safe. Read more.

Oral roflumilast effective, inexpensive treatment option for patients with psoriasis

The financial burden of psoriasis can weigh heavily on many suffering patients. However, according to a presenter at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, oral roflumilast may be an inexpensive and effective treatment option for patients with psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy.

The presenter, Alexander Egeberg MD, PhD, DMSc, of the department of dermatology at Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital and the department of clinical medicine at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, described the cost of oral roflumilast as “cheaper than a Starbucks coffee.” Furthermore, the medication proved effective in a phase 2 trial with a proportion of patients achieving PASI 75 or PASI 90 by week 12 of treatment. Read more.

Topical therapies fall short of patient expectations during psoriasis treatment

In 2018, the National Psoriasis Foundation survey reported that out of 314 individuals with psoriasis, 87.1% were using topical therapies; however, only 13.6% were satisfied with their current treatment. Of those dissatisfied with topical treatments, 74.8% attributed their dissatisfaction to ineffectiveness.

In a study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, patients reported that they prefer treatments that clear their skin, provide symptom relief and are easy to use. Unfortunately, topic therapies did not meet these standards except for one — once-daily halobetasol propionate 0.01% and tazarotene 0.045% fixed-combination lotion. This topical stood out as a favorable option among patients with psoriasis, giving these patients the much-needed relief and ease of use they deserve. Read more.

Study first to evaluate well-being as primary endpoint in patients with psoriasis

In April, Almirall announced the publication of the first dermatological clinical study protocol to assess patient well-being as a primary endpoint in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The real-world study, called POSITIVE, will evaluate the overall well-being of 780 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who are being treated with tildrakizumab for 2 years.

This landmark study signifies a giant step toward truly understanding the needs of patients with psoriasis. Results from the first 28 weeks of the study will be presented at upcoming scientific meetings this year. Read more.

Methotrexate may increase skin cancer risk in patients with psoriasis

According to a systematic review published in Cureus, psoriasis patients taking methotrexate were nearly three times as likely to develop nonmelanoma skin cancer compared with those not taking the drug. The study findings supported the risks of methotrexate that have long been scrutinized.

However, in an exclusive perspective from Tina Bhutani, MD, MAS, dermatologist and co-director of the Dermatology Clinical Research Unit at University of California, San Francisco Health, she stated this study only shows an association — not a cause — between methotrexate and skin cancer. Nevertheless, Bhutani said that this discussion is important when considering treatment with methotrexate and patients currently utilizing this treatment should get regular full body skin exams as a precaution. Read more.

Reference:

• Psoriasis Action Month. https://www.psoriasis.org/psoriasis-action-month/. Accessed July 28, 2023.