Vitamin D and scalp psoriasis.

Calcipotriene has been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of psoriasis. For scalp psoriasis, the safety advantage of this nonsteroid agent is as important as its efficacy. Even though monotherapy with calcipotriene solution may not always be efficacious for severe scalp psoriasis, many patients are managed effectively with a sequential therapy regimen consisting of 3 phases. In phase 1 (clearing), patients apply clobetasol solution or gel in the morning and calcipotriene solution in the evening daily for 2 weeks. After the scalp psoriasis improves, clobetasol is reduced to weekends and calcipotriene solution is applied on weekdays (phase 2, transitional). Phase 3 is maintenance on calcipotriene solution alone to prevent recurrence. For patients with recalcitrant scalp psoriasis-where only a clobetasol-strength, superpotent topical corticosteroid is effective-a flip-flop therapy regimen has been proposed that allows for the safe, prolonged use of clobetasol solution by limiting its treatment to twice a day for 2-week periods with the use of calcipotriene solution twice a day for a minimum of 2 weeks during the corticosteroid-free in-between periods.