A Comprehensive Review on Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disorder characterized by excessive keratinocyte proliferation and the formation of red, scaly plaques. Affecting millions of people worldwide, the disease significantly impacts patients' physical health, emotional well-being, and quality of life. Current treatment options include topical therapies, phototherapy, systemic drugs, and biologic agents; however, these approaches often face challenges such as poor skin penetration, systemic side effects, and reduced patient compliance. Recent advances in pharmaceutical research have focused on the development of novel drug delivery systems to enhance treatment efficacy and safety. Nanotechnology-based carriers, including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanocapsules, nanospheres, and pro-dispersion formulations, have shown considerable promise in improving drug solubility, stability, bioavailability, and controlled release. These systems facilitate targeted drug delivery to affected skin tissues while minimizing adverse effects. Drugs such as cyclosporin, tazarotene, and tretinoin have demonstrated improved therapeutic performance when incorporated into these advanced formulations. Additionally, biocompatible materials like chitosan offer supplementary benefits, including enhanced bioadhesion, wound healing, and antimicrobial activity. This review summarizes the pathogenesis of psoriasis, conventional treatment strategies, and recent advancements in nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, highlighting their potential to provide more effective, safer, and patient-friendly therapeutic options for psoriasis management.