[Psoriasis therapy today].

Psoriasis was already mentioned in the Corpus Hippocratium and only 1842 was it possible to separate this entity from lepromatous skin manifestations. Psoriasis is rather common and the prevalence in northern countries ranges between 1-2%. Psoriasis is an inherited disorder but the clinical manifestations depend on several triggers such as infections, drugs and stress. The clinical presentation is characterized by silvery scales on an erythematous ground. The management of psoriatic patients needs a broad experience. The objective degree of disease activity as well as the subjective aspects of the disease need to be taken in account. The therapeutic modalities used in the treatment of psoriasis can be compared with a symbolic ladder. At the beginning of the ladder emollients are to be mentioned. Ascending the ladder, different topical treatments can be used such as steroids or vitamin D and the more severe forms do need systemic treatments such as ultraviolet therapy, eventually combined with a photosensitizer, retinoids or methotrexate and even cyclosporine. In special cases treatment as an outpatient is not possible and then hospitalisation in a dermatologic unit is necessary.