Psoriasis treatment Exam Questions and
Answers
Three initial treatments for Psoriasis - Answer-moisturizers - minimize water evaporation
keratolytics - remove scales, smooth skin
Ex: salicylic acid: exfolaites small areas
Emolients - coal tar (if localized)
Calcipotriene - Answer-mechanism: vitamin D analogue, inhibits cell proliferation and
differentiation
- as effective as medium steroid
side effects: mild burning, sting of lesion and around lesion, dry skin, facial irritation
Pregnancy category C
Tazarotene - Answer-mechanism: topical retinoid, increase cell turnover, is synergistic
with corticosteroids
side effects: erythema, burning, peeling, pruritis
Pregnancy X
Topical steroids - Answer-mechanism: inhibits epidermal cell mitosis, decreases
erythema, pruritis, scaling (inhibits phsophlipase A)
tolerance can develop with long term use
mild to moderate are safe in pregnancy
Low potency steroid - Answer-modest anti-inflammatory effect
safe for long term use
Alcometasone, Desonide, Hydrocortisone, Fluccinolone
Medium potency steroid - Answer-for moderate inflammatory dermatoses
can be used limited on the face
Betamethoasone dipropionate, clocortolone pivalate, desoximetason, fluticasone
Answers
Three initial treatments for Psoriasis - Answer-moisturizers - minimize water evaporation
keratolytics - remove scales, smooth skin
Ex: salicylic acid: exfolaites small areas
Emolients - coal tar (if localized)
Calcipotriene - Answer-mechanism: vitamin D analogue, inhibits cell proliferation and
differentiation
- as effective as medium steroid
side effects: mild burning, sting of lesion and around lesion, dry skin, facial irritation
Pregnancy category C
Tazarotene - Answer-mechanism: topical retinoid, increase cell turnover, is synergistic
with corticosteroids
side effects: erythema, burning, peeling, pruritis
Pregnancy X
Topical steroids - Answer-mechanism: inhibits epidermal cell mitosis, decreases
erythema, pruritis, scaling (inhibits phsophlipase A)
tolerance can develop with long term use
mild to moderate are safe in pregnancy
Low potency steroid - Answer-modest anti-inflammatory effect
safe for long term use
Alcometasone, Desonide, Hydrocortisone, Fluccinolone
Medium potency steroid - Answer-for moderate inflammatory dermatoses
can be used limited on the face
Betamethoasone dipropionate, clocortolone pivalate, desoximetason, fluticasone
