Psoriasis: Hyperproliferative/inflammatory skin disorder

The skin lesions in psoriasis are characterized by epidermal thickening (acanthosis), by a sustained inflammatory reaction that is evident in the dermis and epidermis, by altered epidermal differentiation (histologically characterized by para‐ and hyperkeratosis), and by the absence of granular layer. The development of future pharmacological agents for psoriasis, therefore, must recognize these various aspects of the disease activities. Chemical agents that are targeted toward only one aspect of the disease are unlikely to be totally beneficial. Although in its infancy, the possibility of therapeutic management via dietary manipulation by varying ratios of polyunsaturated fatty acids derived from vegetable and marine oils is promising. Furthermore, the possible beneficial effect of the dihydroxy metabolite of vitamin D3 (1α,25(OH)2D3), a naturally occurring substance, in the management of psoriasis is exciting and deserves to be fully explored. It is likely that this naturally occurring vitamin D3 metabolite may function to modulate keratinocyte differentiation.