[Psoriasis vulgaris in children and adolescents. Pathogenesis, clinical picture and therapy].

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of psoriasis vulgaris in childhood ranges from 0.12 % in infants to 1.2 % in adolescents. Psoriasis is a polygenic disease triggered by external factors and is influenced by comorbidities such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and rheumatic diseases. CLINICAL FEATURES: Its clinical presentation is variable. Typical complications include erythroderma, disseminated pustulosis and arthropathy. THERAPY: Amongst a wide range of topical or systemic therapeutical options, individualized treatment is based on severity, site and extent of cutaneous involvement, age, potential side-effects and comorbidities.