Palmoplantar pustulosis merits greater research attention

Palmoplantar pustulosis (palmoplantar pustular psoriasis) presents a frustrating therapeutic challenge to clinicians and a disabling disease for patients deserving of greater research interest from the global dermatology community, says Robert J.G. Chalmers, M.B.B.S.

"Currently, there is no ideal treatment for this troublesome chronic dermatosis and there is limited data on the usefulness of the different therapies used for it," says Dr. Chalmers, University of Manchester, UK.

In a Cochrane Systematic Review of interventions, the reviewers concluded that there is good evidence supporting the use of systemic retinoids, systemic PUVA, or a combination of those therapies. In addition, they found there is some evidence to suggest that topical corticosteroids used under hydrocolloid occlusion are effective for suppressing the inflammation.