Psoriasis and acne appear to be susceptible to seasonal variations of clearing and worsening, with an analysis revealing both conditions maintained a significant trend of summer clearing and winter worsening, according to a research letter published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Using Physician’s Global Assessment scales for psoriasis and acne, Dr. Vanessa Lindsay Pascoe and Dr. Alexandra Boer Kimball, both of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, collected data from 5,468 psoriasis patients and 9,301 acne patients between June 2011 and May 2014 in the New England area. Among the psoriasis patient group, 16% were seen in the summer, 25% in the fall, 31% in the winter, and 28% in the spring. The trend was similar for acne patients, with 18% seen in the summer, 25% in the fall, 28% in the winter, and 29% in the spring. There were no significant seasonal differences in age or sex for either group.
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The percentage of psoriasis patients with clear/almost clear disease was highest in the summer at 20.4%, while the percentage of patients with moderate/severe disease was highest in the winter at 40.5%. For acne, the percentage of patients with clear/almost clear disease was highest in the fall at 17.5%, and the percentage of patients with moderate/severe disease was highest in the winter at 45.9%. Fewer psoriasis and acne patients presented to the clinic in the summer, which the researchers suggested could be due to disease improvement.
“Although the climate of the Northeastern United States may not generalize to regions with less seasonal variation, providers may consider seasonal adjustment of acne plans as they have traditionally done for psoriasis,” the authors wrote. “For example, they may wait until after winter to taper a systemic antibiotic for acne, just as some providers may wait until spring to change systemic psoriasis treatments.”
Read the full article in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.