Telemedicine and psoriasis: A review based on statements of the telemedicine working group of the International Psoriasis Council

Abstract

During the past few decades, classical in‐person communication has been enriched by opportunities for telemedicine. We are in a learning healthcare environment that takes advantage of the opportunities of telemedicine and in‐person consultations, reconciling the individuality of the patient and his/her psoriasis. A working group of experts in telemedicine was installed by the International Psoriasis Council (IPC) to formulate the opportunities and limitations of telemedicine in the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis. The working group formulated statements on various aspects of telemedicine according to the nominal group technique to reach a consensus on these statements and explore the variation of opinions. Thirty‐six statements regarding teledermatology and psoriasis were agreed upon by the IPC working group. The value and necessity for the implementation of teledermatology in dermatologic healthcare practices for psoriasis are essential. Management of psoriasis through teledermatology is feasible with a few exceptions. In this communication, the statements are presented and discussed in the context of the available literature, and finally, a call to action by IPC is formulated related to these statements.

Evaluation of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Teledermatology for Skin Lesions in Patients with Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases

“…They showed that diagnoses of patients with PsO via TD were detected well comparable with FTF examination. A number of guidelines developed by dermatologists also provide some recommendations regarding the use of TD for PsO [18,19]. As a result, while TD has been reported to be a useful technique for the diagnosis of PsO, FTF examinations are still required in patients who may require skin biopsy.…”

Is Telemedicine Suitable for Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Skin Conditions? A Systematic Review

“…Notably, telemedicine remains absent from existing (European) guidelines for psoriasis or atopic dermatitis ( 10 , 11 ). However, it gains more attention, and the International Psoriasis Council formulated a call to action, based on several statements concerning telemedicine ( 12 ). The objective of this systematic review is to quantitatively evaluate the efficacy and safety outcomes of telemedicine compared with in-person care for chronic inflammatory skin diseases.…”