Using topical multimodal strategies for patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that requires lifelong treatment. Because there is no cure for psoriasis, treatment is aimed at inducing remission and reducing the impact of the disease on patients' lives. Despite the availability of several therapies, the overall effectiveness of psoriasis treatment often is limited by patient concerns about side effects, effectiveness, and convenience. These concerns result in low treatment expectations, poor compliance, and, ultimately, poor clinical outcomes. To maximize compliance and outcomes, dermatologists use multiple treatment strategies, including prolonged monotherapy, combination therapy, sequential therapy, and rotational therapy. Dermatologists must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy and select the therapeutic regimen that most closely matches a patient's condition, historical response, compliance with therapy, and treatment expectations. This article reviews the approaches for treating psoriasis vulgaris and discusses the creative strategies designed to increase treatment success.