Psoriasis (PsO) requires safe and effective long-term management to reduce the risk of recurrence and decrease the frequency of relapse. Topical PsO therapies are a cornerstone in the management of PsO though safety concerns limit the chronic, continuous use of topical corticosteroids and/or vitamin D3 analogs. Evidence-based guidelines on optimal treatment targets and maintenance therapy regimens are currently lacking. This review explores the evidence supporting approaches to maintenance topical therapy for PsO including continuous long-term therapy, chronic intermittent use, step-down therapy, sequential or pulse therapy regimens, and proactive maintenance therapy. Several unaddressed questions are discussed including how and when to transition from acute to maintenance therapy, strategies for monitoring long-term treatment, the role of topical maintenance therapy in the context of systemic and biologic therapies, risks of maintenance therapy, prescribing a topical preparation suitable for patients' preferences and skin type, and key concepts for patient education to maximize long-term outcomes. Overall, emerging evidence supports a paradigm shift toward proactive treatment once skin is completely clear as a strategy to enhance disease control without compromising safety.
Keywords: long-term safety; maintenance therapy; psoriasis; topical corticosteroids; vitamin D3 analogs.
© 2021 The Authors. Dermatologic Therapy published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.