Psoriasis, Acne, and Disorders of Keratinization

In a study from July 1, 2003, involving 113 patients with psoriasis, it was found that narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy administered three times weekly cleared psoriasis significantly faster than twice-weekly treatments, with 80% of patients achieving clearance or minimal residual activity (MRA) in a mean time of 58 days, compared to 69% in 88 days for the twice-weekly group. Other studies and reviews discussed include the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody therapies for psoriasis, the potential of oral pimecrolimus in treating psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases, the association of smoking and drinking with psoriasis in Chinese patients, and the durable clinical improvements seen with alefacept and infliximod therapies. Additionally, 5% imiquimod cream was shown to be effective in treating basal cell carcinoma in two phase 2 studies, while a study on chronic diffuse telogen hair loss in 194 women suggested that low serum ferritin levels are not directly related to hair loss, and iron supplementation did not reverse hair loss in women with low iron stores.