Plaque Psoriasis

Spotlight article

Psoriasis in Skin of Color: What APPs May Miss

This review highlights important differences in the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management of psoriasis in patients with skin of color (SOC). Psoriasis prevalence varies across racial and ethnic groups. Patients with SOC are more likely to experience delayed diagnosis, more severe disease, and a greater impact on quality of life. Clinical presentation can differ, with lesions often appearing violaceous or gray rather than erythematous, and with more prominent dyspigmentation. These differences, along with underrepresentation in educational materials and clinical training, may contribute to misdiagnosis or delayed care.

 

The review also underscores disparities in treatment access and clinical research. Patients with SOC are less likely to receive biologic therapies and are underrepresented in clinical trials, limiting the available evidence to guide care. While existing data suggest broadly similar responses to many therapies across populations, gaps remain in understanding disease burden, treatment preferences, and outcomes. The authors call for improved education, more inclusive research, culturally sensitive care, and better access to treatment. These efforts may help reduce disparities and improve outcomes for patients with psoriasis across diverse populations.

 

Reference: Gkini MA, Nakamura M, Alexis AF, et al. Psoriasis in People With Skin of Color: An Evidence-Based Update. Int J Dermatol. 2025 Apr;64(4):667-677. doi: 10.1111/ijd.17651. Epub 2025 Jan 31. PMID: 39887710; PMCID: PMC11931096.

Tristan Hasbargen

PA-C

Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee

Featured article

GPP: What APPs Should Know

This narrative review summarizes the current understanding of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP), a rare but potentially life-threatening inflammatory skin disease marked by widespread sterile pustules and often systemic inflammation. The authors emphasize that GPP can overlap with plaque psoriasis but is increasingly recognized as a distinct condition with different clinical, genetic, and immune features. The IL-36 pathway plays a central role in GPP pathogenesis, and mutations such as those involving IL-36RN may contribute to disease development. Diagnosis requires careful evaluation of clinical presentation, triggers, patient history, laboratory findings, and, when appropriate, histopathology.

 

The review also highlights the seriousness of GPP flares, which may involve fever, malaise, elevated inflammatory markers, electrolyte abnormalities, kidney or liver dysfunction, sepsis, or multi-organ failure. Management historically has relied on treatments used for plaque psoriasis, but newer targeted approaches have emerged as understanding of IL-36 signaling has improved. Spesolimab is identified as the only therapy specifically approved for GPP flares in adolescents and adults in both Europe and the United States. The authors conclude that GPP remains complex to diagnose and manage, and that standardized international guidance and continued research are needed to improve care.

 

Reference: Torres T, Antunes J, Tavares Bello R, et al. Update on Generalized Pustular Psoriasis. Acta Med Port. 2025 May 2;38(5):321-330. doi: 10.20344/amp.22672. Epub 2025 May 2. PMID: 40359115.

Tristan Hasbargen

PA-C

Could Early Psoriasis Treatment Change the Disease Course?

This article reviews growing interest in whether early targeted antibody treatment could change the long-term course of psoriasis rather than simply control symptoms while therapy continues. Biologic therapies that target TNF-α, IL-17, or IL-23 can substantially reduce inflammation in moderate-to-severe psoriasis, but most patients relapse after stopping treatment. However, some patients remain clear for months or years after withdrawal, prompting trials that are testing whether early intervention may create a “window of opportunity” to reduce disease burden and potentially extend remission after treatment stops.

 

The article highlights trials such as STEPIn and GUIDE, which are evaluating early biologic therapy, treatment withdrawal, or reduced dosing after strong initial response. Researchers also are studying possible mechanisms behind durable remission, including tissue-resident memory T cells and epigenetic “scarring” in keratinocytes that may help explain why psoriasis returns in previously affected skin. While psoriasis is still considered chronic and incurable, these studies suggest future treatment may move toward earlier intervention, immune re-education, and strategies aimed at longer-lasting disease control.

 

Reference: Crow JM. A psoriasis cure could be in touching distance. Nature. 2025 Aug 27;644:S16-S17. doi: 10.1038/d41586-025-02649-w.

Alison Kortz

PA-C

Diet and Psoriasis Severity: What the Data Show

This Danish cross-sectional cohort study examined dietary patterns in 466 patients with psoriasis and compared adherence to national dietary guidelines with 1029 matched healthy controls. Most patients had moderate-to-severe psoriasis, and many had metabolic comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, overweight, or obesity. Overall, 53% of patients reported following a “healthy and varied diet,” while 39% did not follow any specific diet. Patients with mild psoriasis were more likely than those with moderate-to-severe disease to report healthier dietary habits, including a vegetarian diet, organic eating, or a healthy and varied diet.

 

When dietary habits were compared with Danish national dietary guidelines, 90% of patients showed high or intermediate adherence. However, patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis were less likely to have high adherence than patients with mild disease. Lower adherence was associated with higher odds of moderate-to-severe psoriasis even after adjustment for BMI, sex, and educational level. Compared with matched healthy controls, patients with psoriasis did not show a significant overall difference in adherence to dietary guidelines. The authors concluded that patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis may have less healthy dietary patterns than those with mild disease, but further randomized trials are needed before making clear diet-based recommendations for psoriasis management.

 

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Reference: Martin HM, Näslund-Koch C, Løvendorf MB, et al. Dietary habits, nutritional supplement use, and adherence to national dietary guidelines in patients with psoriasis. Sci Rep. 2025 Dec 18;16(1):846. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-30571-8. PMID: 41413143; PMCID: PMC12780274.

Tristan Hasbargen

PA-C

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