The following press release was published by the American Academy of Pediatrics:
ROSEMONT, Ill. (Nov. 5, 2019) — One-third of psoriasis cases begin in the pediatric years, and onset is most common during adolescence for the chronic, multisystem, inflammatory skin disease that causes the skin to develop new skin cells too rapidly. That’s why the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) are releasing guidelines to help ensure that pediatric psoriasis patients receive the best possible treatment and care.
The joint AAD/NPF ‘Guidelines of Care for the Management and Treatment of Psoriasis in Pediatric Patients,’ published today in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, outline best practices for treatment of the disease in this vulnerable population. Developed by board-certified dermatologists, the guidelines are based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence for managing the disease.
Because psoriasis can increase a person’s risk of developing certain diseases, like diabetes, the new guidelines address some of those comorbidities in young people:
- The link between obesity and psoriasis is greater for children than adults.
- There may be a link between type 1 diabetes and psoriasis, as insulin resistance in children with psoriasis is estimated to be approximately twice that of children without the condition.
- Inflammatory bowel disease is three to four times more common in pediatric psoriasis patients than in kids who don’t have psoriasis.
- Unlike adult psoriasis patients there’s not enough evidence to support a relationship between psoriasis and heart disease in young patients, though experts recommend that children with psoriasis undergo appropriate cardiovascular screening, regardless.
Click here to read the full press release.
