• Dermatology associations have provided guidance statements on psoriasis treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• If you have concerns about continuing with your prescribed treatment, it is important to talk to your doctor before stopping therapy.
• In shared decision-making, you and your doctor work as partners to set treatment goals and determine the best approach to treatment options.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation, guidance on disease management issued by medical societies is subject to change. The information contained in this article represents what is believed to be the most relevant COVID-19-related guidance based on the most up-to-date publications as of December 14, 2020.

Information about the COVID-19 pandemic is constantly changing and quickly becomes outdated. It is important to talk to your doctor if you have any questions. You can also check authoritative sources, such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Dermatology Association, for updates and new guidelines.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the U.S., many people living with psoriasis have concerns about sticking with their treatment regimen.

• Will my psoriasis treatment raise my risk for contracting the coronavirus?
• If I become infected, will my psoriasis medications make COVID-19 symptoms more severe?
• Is it safe to stay on my psoriasis treatment during the pandemic?

Expert Guidance Statements for Psoriasis Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The National Psoriasis Foundation COVID-19 Task Force was created to review research and provide guidance for physicians treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (together referred to as psoriatic disease) during the pandemic. The task force includes experts in dermatology, rheumatology, epidemiology, and infectious diseases, as well as representatives from the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF).¹

The NPF task force has reviewed hundreds of studies relating to psoriatic disease, its treatments, and the coronavirus.¹ In September 2020, the task force published a guidance statement for the management of psoriatic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Psoriasis Council (IPC) also published guidance in September 2020.²

Staying on Psoriasis Treatment During the Pandemic

The NPF task force recommends that, in most cases, people with psoriatic disease should continue their oral or biologic treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Talk to your doctor about your prescribed treatment plan during the pandemic. They can help you weigh the benefits and risks based on your individual circumstances.¹

Systemic corticosteroids — a class of medications which includes Prednisone, Methylprednisolone, and Dexamethasone — are an exception to this guideline. The task force recommends that long-term treatment with corticosteroids (also known simply as steroids) be avoided when possible. If it’s necessary to take oral or intravenous (IV) steroids long-term to manage psoriatic disease, the task force recommends doctors taper the dosage to the lowest effective level.^{1, 2}

Read more about biologic treatments for psoriatic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Psoriasis Treatment in People Who Develop COVID-19

If you are living with psoriatic disease and become infected with the coronavirus, the NPF task force recommends you keep a close eye on your symptoms and discuss management of your treatments with your health care provider right away. The IPC recommends people with psoriatic disease who become infected with coronavirus discontinue or postpone treatments that impact the immune system.² Again, discuss management of your treatments with your health care provider right away.

Read about ways to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussing Psoriatic Disease Treatment With Your Doctor

Here are some points to keep in mind as you talk to your doctor:

	Untreated psoriatic disease can have a significant impact on physical and emotional health. When psoriatic arthritis is left untreated, it can cause permanent joint damage and disability.1
	Discontinuing some psoriasis treatments can result in a disease flare-up.3
	Stopping some psoriasis treatments can cause the development of resistance to the therapy, meaning it may not be as effective if you start it again later.3
	Your doctor needs to know if you have any risk factors for more severe COVID-19 symptoms — such as smoking, additional health conditions like kidney or heart disease, or age-related concerns.4 Likewise, let your doctor know if you have a high risk for exposure to the virus.
	Many psoriatic disease treatments affect the immune system and carry risks, such as an increased risk of infection.

Your doctor can best help you understand your personal risks and benefits related to your psoriatic disease treatment options.

Read about starting a new treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Importance of Shared Decision-Making

The COVID-19 Task Force recommends using shared decision-making when approaching decisions about psoriasis treatment options during the COVID-19 pandemic.¹

In shared decision-making, there is two-way communication between you and your physician. Your role is to describe your personal circumstances, values, and preferences regarding your treatment. Your physician’s role is to take these into consideration and provide education about your condition and the risks and benefits of different treatment options. You and your physician work together as partners to set your psoriasis treatment goals and decide the best way to reach them.⁵

Shared decision-making is an approach that can help people with psoriasis better stick with their treatments, improve their quality of life, and reach their health goals.⁵

Community Support During the Pandemic

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