Scalp Psoriasis: Investigating the Efficacy of Current Treatments

Intervention

Efficacy Results

Safety Results

Intervention (corticosteroid, vitamin D, corticosteroid/vitamin D) versus vehicle

— Active agents more effective than vehicle

— No difference or fewer withdrawals with active agents

Corticosteroid versus vitamin D

— Corticosteroid more effective than vitamin D (superior efficacy seen with betamethasone but not with mometasone)

— Fewer withdrawals from corticosteroids

Corticosteroid/vitamin D versus corticosteroid

— Combination slightly more effective than corticosteroid; questionable clinical benefit

— No difference in withdrawal rates

Corticosteroid/vitamin D versus vitamin D

— Combination more effective than vitamin D

— Increase in quality of life for combination group

— Fewer withdrawals from combination product

Corticosteroids of varying potency (very high, high, moderate)

— No difference in disease clearance

— High versus high potency – mometasone more effective than betamethasone

— Limited data available – analyze cautiously

— No difference in withdrawal rates but limited data

Once-daily versus twice-daily dosing of corticosteroids

— No difference in disease clearance

Limited data

Vehicle comparison

— Limited data found foam superior to lotion

— Varying evidence for foam versus solution

— No difference in withdrawal rates but limited data

Antifungal (ciclopirox olamine) versus vehicle

— No difference in disease clearance

— No difference in withdrawal rates

Salicylic acid and tar-based products

— Results were obtained from poor data – conduct additional studies

— Limited and varying data