Study: Psoriasis BSA Correlation to Patient Increase for Cosmetic Procedures

As the interest in aesthetic procedures continues to grow for the general population, it begs the question, is this also true about patients with skin conditions? Is there an increase in those patients seeking aesthetic procedures after obtaining reduction of body surface area (BSA) using biologics or systemic therapies?

A recent survey in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology aimed to investigate this relationship. The investigators noted that the link between psoriasis clearance and improved quality of life (QOL) with an increased procurement of cosmetic procedures had not been reported at the time of the survey.

Conducted at a single dermatology center, the survey hoped to determine if there was an increased trend of aesthetic procedures in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis after attaining a 75% or greater reduction in BSA with biologic agents and/or oral systemic therapies. Additionally, the investigators examined whether this interest was related to an improvement in QOL post-disease clearance.

The survey included 138 patients. These patients had a history of moderate to severe disease who had attained 75% or great BSA reduction with biologics or oral systemic therapies and had undergone at least 1 aesthetic procedure in the past 2 years. Patient characteristics—age and sex—BSA percentage at start of therapy, class of biologic or oral systemic therapy, and the different types of cosmetic procedures, were collected.

In a 5-question survey, patients were asked about QOL improvement, treatment satisfaction, and correlation with the aesthetic procedure they had undergone. They also completed the Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) questionnaire.

The results showed that the psoriasis patients surveyed had previously been unable to undergo a wanted cosmetic procedure due to their disease severity. All patients, regardless of type of therapy, felt their QOL had improved, becoming an impetus for being able to undergo an aesthetic procedure.

“The mean DLQI score prior to therapy was 14.3 and 71% of patients reported a DLQI score of 0/1 after their psoriasis improved,” wrote the investigators.

The investigators concluded that there was a correlation between improved QOL in those who had achieved 75% reduction in BSA and the uptake in aesthetic procedures.

Reference:

Walters M, Lee D, Yamauchi P. Increased trend of cosmetic procedures in patients with psoriasis who attain 75% or greater improvement. JDD. 2020;19(8):698-701. doi: 10.36849/JDD.2020.5104R1