Dermatome shaving was performed in 20 patients with chronic recalcitrant plaque psoriasis. The level of shaving was just beneath the superficial dermal vascular plexus. Healing was achieved in 2 weeks. After 1 year, six patients had shown no recurrence; 10 patients had a few guttate elements in the shaved area, while four patients had significant recurrence. Recurrences were related to residual acanthotic epidermis left after shaving. A general recommendation of surgical treatment for psoriasis would be hazardous on the basis of these results. However, shaving may constitute an alternative treatment of recalcitrant plaques of limited extent.
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Elberg et al. (1987) studied this question.
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