Topical methotrexate effective in psoriasis treatment: Study

Written By : Jacinthlyn Sylvia |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2022-07-20T20:30:37+05:30 | Updated On 20 July 2022 8:30 PM IST

USA: Topical methotrexate (MTX) has been effective in treating psoriasis, says an article published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment.

The study showed that the quality of evidence for the use of topical methotrexate in psoriasis is good, however, the quality is poor for other dermatologic diseases. This implies that topical MTX with improved delivery methods may be a viable tool against certain localized dermatologic conditions for patients who do not tolerate oral MTX.

Although systemic methotrexate is an effective therapy for many dermatological disorders, individuals with mild or limited illness should not get it due to the possibility of side effects. It may be possible to prevent the systemic side effects of oral MTX by applying it topically. In order to determine the effectiveness and safety of topical methotrexate in the dermatologic field, Divya Aickara and colleagues undertook this study.

In the end, the study contained 47 papers from various databases such as PubMed, that discussed both new studies on the topical distribution of MTX and the usage of topical MTX in dermatology.

The key findings of this study were as follows:

1. In addition to mycosis fungoides, lymphomatoid papulosis, and oral precancerous lesions, topical MTX has also been used to treat psoriasis.

2. The ideal composition and delivery method are currently being researched for sufficient penetration.

3. Nanotechnology, electroporation, laser-assisted delivery, and iontophoresis are a few of the novel delivery techniques now being researched.

4. These techniques, according to the researchers, should aid in addressing worries about MTX for psoriasis delivery issues, which are a major factor in why prior studies found topical MTX for psoriasis to be mainly unsuccessful.

5. Future topical methotrexate use may become more practical as delivery techniques advance.

6. Compared to oral MTX or topical steroids, topical MTX has fewer side effects.

7. The main therapeutic hurdle continues to be poor patient adherence.

In conclusion, for individuals who cannot take oral MTX, topical MTX with better delivery techniques may be an effective treatment for some localized dermatologic diseases. To support the effectiveness of topical methotrexate, more double-blinded randomized controlled trials are required.

Reference:

Aickara, D., Bashyam, A. M., Pichardo, R. O., & Feldman, S. R. (2020). Topical methotrexate in dermatology: a review of the literature. In Journal of Dermatological Treatment (Vol. 33, Issue 1, pp. 512–517). Informa UK Limited. https://doi.org/10.1080/09546634.2020.1770170

psoriasismethotrexateJournal of Dermatological Treatment

Source : Journal of Dermatological Treatment

Jacinthlyn Sylvia

Neuroscience Masters graduate

Jacinthlyn Sylvia, a Neuroscience Master's graduate from Chennai has worked extensively in deciphering the neurobiology of cognition and motor control in aging. She also has spread-out exposure to Neurosurgery from her Bachelor’s. She is currently involved in active Neuro-Oncology research. She is an upcoming neuroscientist with a fiery passion for writing. Her news cover at Medical Dialogues feature recent discoveries and updates from the healthcare and biomedical research fields. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751