According to a study published in JAMA Dermatology the rate of psoriasis flares did not increase during or immediately after systemic corticosteroid treatment.
Current dermatology textbooks and treatment guidelines recommend against systemic corticosteroid use in psoriasis patients because of risks of triggering severe psoriasis flares.
In 516 patients, 16 flares were identified. Worsening plaque psoriasis was experienced in 15 patients who had flaring.
Dr Anna Gregoire, from the department of dermatology at Marshfield Clinic Health System in Wisconsin, and colleagues, said, “This study’s results suggest that psoriasis flare rates for patients taking or finishing systemic corticosteroid courses is very low and predominately associated with mild flaring. While we are not advocating systemic steroids to treat psoriasis, we challenge the notion that steroids induce severe psoriasis flares at significant rates in a general psoriasis population.”
