More than skin-deep: the many dimensions of the psoriatic disease

Abstract

Psoriasis is among the most common skin diseases, exhibiting a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Joint involvement in the form of psoriatic arthritis is readily recognised, but both frequency and severity of this manifestation have long been underestimated. More recently, additional important diseases have been found to be associated with psoriasis, including the metabolic syndrome (or components thereof), cardiovascular diseases, lymphoma, and anxiety/depression. In the past, psoriasis treatment aimed at suppressing acute rashes. Current concepts regard psoriasis as a chronic systemic inflammatory condition and cardiovascular risk factor. In the light of this concept, long-term disease control through systemic maintenance therapy is increasingly recommended by experts. This approach became feasible with the approval of numerous biologics for the treatment of psoriasis. But to really address all medical needs of psoriasis patients, a truly interdisciplinary, comprehensive management approach is needed. Several national societies have already published algorithms to ensure that this need will be implemented in the daily practice of dermatologists and nondermatologists alike.