The following course is based on a presentation at the Serono Symposia International Foundation event Psoriasis: From Scientific Potential to Clinical Reality which took place in Barcelona, Spain February 17-18, 2006.

Through the centuries, many remedies have been used for the treatment of psoriasis. Some where weird, some useless or harmful, others have survived until today and are still in use. This course will present the origin of most of the topical and systemic treatments. It will be emphasized that many of them have been discovered by serendipity rather than through specific research. The history of those treatments is quite interesting in consideration that they remained the same until 30 years ago.

Objectives

The objective of this course is to provide basic information on Psoriasis and the history of its management.  Through this course the milestones that have lead to the definition of this disease will be learned. All the major treatments used over the centuries will be analysed.