Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that can affect children, impacting their daily lives and well-being. Effective treatment is important to improve their quality of life. This thesis explores ways to improve care for children with psoriasis. One finding is that nail psoriasis may indicate a more severe disease course. The study also looked at various treatment options, including creams, tablets, and injections. It shows that children who experience greater improvement in their psoriasis also report better quality of life. This improvement is more significant with tablets or injections (systemic treatments) compared to creams alone. Methotrexate, a commonly used systemic treatment, works well for about one-third of children without lasting side effects. Treatment decisions should always be made together with the child and their parents, ensuring the chosen approach is best suited to the child’s needs.
Finola Bruins (1990) studied Medicine at Utrecht University, graduating in 2016. After graduation, she worked as a medical doctor at the Dermatology Department of Radboudumc. In 2018, she started her PhD research on pediatric psoriasis at the same department, which led to several scientific publications. In 2021, she began her dermatology training at Radboudumc.