Skip to Main Content

Spotlight on... awareness weeks

Awareness weeks guide

Psoriasis Awareness Month

Psoriasis Awareness Month

August 2024

August is Psoriasis Awareness Month which aims to help affected people feel supported, raise awareness and give the public a better understanding of the disease. Psoriasis Australia

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition. It is not contagious. Symptoms include red scaly patches on skin, itchiness and flaking of the skin. The areas most commonly affected are the scalp, elbows and knees, but psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body. There is no cure for psoriasis, but it can be completely controlled with treatment.

Symptoms of psoriasis

Symptoms of psoriasis vary from person to person. The effects may include:

  • red scaly patches on scalp, elbows, knees and other parts of the body
  • itchiness – however, many people do not feel itchy at all
  • shedding of scales of skin.

Types of psoriasis

  • plaque psoriasis – the most common form
  • pustular psoriasis – a more severe form, which can be painful
  • guttate psoriasis – found mostly in children
  • napkin psoriasis – characteristically seen in infants between two and eight months of age
  • flexural psoriasis – affects body folds and genital areas
  • erythrodermic psoriasis – a severe form requiring hospitalisation.

Psoriasis can cause arthritis

For an unknown reason, psoriasis can cause a form of arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms include:

  • discomfort, throbbing or swelling in one or many joints
  • tenderness in any joint
  • pain caused by inflammation in the joints, which stimulates nerve endings.
  • The joints most likely to be affected are the last joint in the fingers or toes, the sacrum (lower back), wrists, knees or ankles.

Better Health Channel (Vic Health)

 

UpToDate

Diagnosis

General

Treatment

Cochrane Library

Guidelines

Useful resources

Articles

Diagnosis

Research

Treatment

E-books

E-journals

_________________________________________________________________________

Articles

Diagnosis

International consensus definition and diagnostic criteria for generalized pustular Psoriasis from the International Psoriasis Council
The achievement of international consensus on the definition and diagnostic criteria for GPP underscores the importance of collaboration, innovative methodology, and expert engagement to address rare diseases. Although further validation is needed, these criteria can serve as a reference point for clinicians, researchers, and patients, which may contribute to more accurate diagnosis and improved management of GPP. JAMA 1 May 2024

Nail Psoriasis: Clinical features and severity assessment
The nail is an important characteristic in the context of psoriasis. Nail psoriasis exhibits several clinical manifestations. Since the development of the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI) score assessment tool for evaluating the severity of nail psoriasis, nail matrix symptoms such as pitting, leukonychia, crumbling, and red spots have been observed in the lunula. Nail bed symptoms include onycholysis, subungual hyperkeratosis, oil spots, and splinter hemorrhage. However, Beau’s lines and nail fold psoriasis, which are not included in this assessment tool, should be considered essential symptoms for indicating the activity of nail psoriasis. Although NAPSI is the most widely used tool for assessing the severity of nail psoriasis, it has uncontrolled limitations. Although other assessment tools have been developed, none have successfully replaced the NAPSI. In clinical trials for nail psoriasis, the NAPSI is used in various forms, such as improvement rates, changes in the mean NAPSI score, and achievement rates of NAPSI 75. Consequently, caution is warranted when interpreting the clinical trial results related to nail psoriasis improvement. Annals of dermatology 1 August 2024

Deep learning-assisted multispectral imaging for early screening of skin diseases
Highlights

  • This study presents a novel model based on convolutional neural networks. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model exhibits high reliability and achieves an accuracy rate of 96%.
  • This research proposes a non-invasive and effective diagnostic method. The method meets the clinical demand for rapid and accurate analysis of skin lesions, highlighting its significance in improving patient outcomes.

Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy 26 July 2024

Predicting factors and clinical characteristics of Pruritus in Psoriasis: A cross-sectional survey
Pruritus is an important symptom among patients affected by psoriasis. To date, no general agreement has been established regarding pruritus as a measure of psoriasis severity. This study aims to assess psoriatic pruritis prevalence and characteristics using a comprehensive itch questionnaire. Life 28 June 2024

Commercial diagnostics and emerging precision medicine technologies in Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis
While psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) are two common dermatological conditions, their diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making pathways are often complex. As a result, there has been increased focus on the development of precision medicine approaches for psoriasis and AD. Two companies at the forefront of dermatology precision medicine research are Mindera Health and Castle Biosciences. The authors review the technologies developed by these two companies using a dermal diagnostic patch and superficial skin scrapings, respectively, their research published to date, and their future research goals. Psoriasis: Targets and therapy 4 August 2024

__________________________________________________________________________

Research

Artificial Intelligence in Inflammatory Skin Disorders
AI is set to transmute dermatology by augmenting diagnostic precision, customizing treatment plans, and making dermatological care more reachable, particularly in underprivileged areas. This review highlights the various advances made in AI for the diagnosis and management of inflammatory skin disorders, acknowledging the ethical and technical hurdles that need to be addressed. Dermatological reviews 25 June 2024

Risk factors for Psoriasis flares: A narrative review
Globally, risk factors can be divided in classic risk factors (eg, mechanical stress, infections and dysbiosis of the skin, common drugs, environment and pollution, lifestyle, psychological stress, hormonal and metabolic alterations) which have long been known to be responsible for worsening and/or reoccurrence of psoriatic manifestations, and emerging risk factors (eg, biological drugs, immunotherapy for oncologic disease, Covid-19, and vaccines) defined as those newly identified risk factors. Accurate patient information and monitoring of risk factors as well as planned follow-ups may help to prevent and treat the worsening of psoriasis and consequently improve the quality of life of psoriatic patients. Psoriasis: Targets and therapy 30 May 2024

Impact of biologic therapy on key cardiovascular risk parameters in a psoriatic cohort—a retrospective review
In patients with psoriasis, markers of cardiovascular disease risk did not improve after 1 year of biologic therapy despite significant improvements in psoriasis skin severity. Dermatology and therapy 25 April 2024

Drug survival of biologics in psoriasis: An Australian multicentre retrospective study
To the author’s knowledge, this is the first Australian study to report on outcomes of multiple new biologics that are currently in use for the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis. Overall, this study provides insight into patterns of care from a local experience that may help guide the management of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Australasian journal of dermatology 21 March 2024

Recent advancements and trends of topical drug delivery systems in Psoriasis: A review and bibliometric analysis
This systematic overview indicates that future research should focus on developing novel drug delivery systems characterized by enhanced stability, biocompatibility, and drug-carrying capacity. International journal of nanomedicine 30 July 2024

Update research in Psoriasis
Psoriasis is now considered a chronic inflammatory and proliferative skin disease mediated by lymphocytes. In European countries, the prevalence of psoriasis is 1%~3%, so the study of psoriasis is very important. Through research into immune pathogenesis and advances in genetic engineering techniques, it has progressively developed a wide range of biological agents with promising results in clinical trials or treatments. This paper discusses the typical clinical manifestations, genetic research and treatment of psoriasis. Journal of contemporary medical practice 28 July 2024

Real world insights for psoriasis: the association of severity of skin lesions with work productivity, medical consumption costs and quality of life
In this study, having few to no lesions in psoriasis was associated with lower overall work impairment due to psoriasis, lower medical consumption costs, and higher health-related quality of life. Journal of dermatological treatment 24 March 2024

____________________________________________________________________________

Treatment

Australian consensus: Treatment goals for moderate to severe psoriasis in the era of targeted therapies – Adult patients
The ability of new targeted treatment options to change the narrative in psoriasis patient care can only be properly realised if challenges to timely and equitable access are addressed. The proposed framework for the assessment, classification and management of moderate–severe psoriasis aligns with international recommendations. Its adoption into Australian clinical practice is hoped to improve treatment outcomes and patients' satisfaction with their care. Australasian journal of dermatology 28 July 2023

Australian consensus: Treatment goals for moderate tosevere psoriasis in the era of targeted therapies – Considerations for paediatric patients
While the assessment, classification and management of moder-ate to severe psoriasis in paediatric patients aligns with metrics established for adults, it is vital that nuances in the transition from childhood to adolescence betaken into account. Future research should focus on psoriasis severity assessment scales specific to the paediatric setting. Australasian journal of dermatology 13 May 2024

Biologic treatment sequences in moderate-to-severe psoriasis
This study demonstrates an increased uptake of more novel biologics as they become available, due to improved safety profiles and clinical outcomes. Australasian journal of dermatology 22 July 2024

Use of biologics for psoriasis in solid organ transplant recipients
Biologics have significantly advanced the treatment of inflammatory disorders, including psoriasis. However, their use in immunosuppressed patients, such as those with solid-organ transplants, is less understood. These patients often face dermatological issues, but inflammatory skin diseases are rare due to their immunosuppressive treatments. Australasian journal of dermatology 16 April 2024

Tradeoffs and decision-making in moderate to severe psoriasis for oral versus injectable treatments: data from patients and dermatologists in Australia
Participants preferred oral over injectable treatment for moderate psoriasis. These findings corroborate the need for efficacious oral therapies to treat the disease. Journal of dermatological treatment 30 July 2024

Long-term quality of life outcomes from a phase 4 study of tildrakizumab in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in a real-world setting
Tildrakizumab improved long-term H health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with psoriasis in a real-world setting. Journal of dermatological treatment 22 July 2024

Effectiveness and safety of risankizumab in very severe plaque psoriasis: a real-life retrospective study (VESPA-Study)
Risankizumab showed to be effective and safe in patients affected by very severe forms of psoriasis with the involvement of difficult-to-treat areas. Journal of dermatological treatment 22 May 2024

Assessing comparative efficacy of biologics for the treatment of Psoriasis with nail involvement: A systematic review
This study helps elucidate the comparative efficacy of biologics for the treatment of nail psoriasis. This review suggests that brodalumab and etanercept are associated with the highest percent improvement in nail psoriasis while adalimumab and ixekizumab are associated with the greatest probability of complete nail resolution. Journal of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis 18 November 2023

Methotrexate toxicity-induced Pancytopenia and Mucocutaneous Ulcerations in Psoriasis
Methotrexate (MTX) is a commonly used immunosuppressant and chemotherapeutic agent, widely prescribed for autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain malignancies. It functions by inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase, leading to impaired DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. While generally well-tolerated, MTX has a narrow therapeutic index, and its adverse effects can be severe, including hepatotoxicity, pulmonary toxicity, and hematological complications such as pancytopenia. Pancytopenia involves the reduction of all three blood cell lines and can result in significant morbidity and mortality. The risk of MTX toxicity is notably higher in patients with renal impairment, as the kidneys are the primary route of drug excretion. Renal dysfunction can lead to the accumulation of MTX, enhancing its toxicity. Numerous studies and case reports have highlighted the risks of MTX toxicity, especially in patients with renal impairment. Pancytopenia can present insidiously, with symptoms such as mucosal ulcers, fever, and generalized weakness, making early detection crucial. Cureas 8 August 2024

_________________________________________________________________________________

E-books

This is just a sample of the e-books the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

_________________________________________________________________________________

E-Journals

A sample of the journals the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

_________________________________________________________________________________