Psoriasis--changes in surface microtopography.

Easily prepared adhesive slides have been used to obtain surface-layer biopsy specimens from psoriasis and other scaly dermatoses that occur on the limbs. Psoriasis obliterates the normal skin pattern, but the change is not specific. However, as psoriasis undergoes spontaneous or treatment-induced resolution, the skin surface pattern reappears and develops through a series of pattern changes that closely correlate with the clinical appearance of the lesion. This method may be used to monitor changes in the stratum corneum.