Management of psoriasis vulgaris with a hydrocolloid occlusive dressing.

Because clinical improvement of psoriasis vulgaris was recently observed after the prolonged application of tape, 26 patients with symmetric plaque-type psoriasis were enrolled in a prospective bilateral comparison study evaluating the clinical efficacy of the adhesive hydrocolloid occlusive dressing (HCD). The majority of localized plaques of psoriasis achieved improvement (41%, 14/34) or resolution (47%, 16/34) with the prolonged application of HCD; also, HCD was therapeutically superior to twice-daily applications of fluocinolone acetonide cream, and was comparably effective as erythemogenic ultraviolet B treatment. Although the therapeutic mechanism is not completely understood, occlusive dressings have great potential in the management of limited psoriasis vulgaris.