Optimizing the use of topical agents in psoriasis.

The vast majority of patients with psoriasis have localized disease that is manageable by topical therapy alone, and patients with more severe disease still require topical treatment for plaques that persist despite effective systemic treatment or phototherapy. Nevertheless, little attention today is paid to topical therapy, including new topical treatments.This article briefly addresses key issues that can adversely affect the use of and compliance with currently available topical treatments, as well as new and emerging topical agents for psoriasis.