Stopping psoriasis meds in kids might be more doable than we thought. A new international study found that nearly 89% of children and adolescents who discontinued systemic psoriasis treatment after achieving remission stayed off medication for at least 6 months. Younger age, milder disease at baseline, and non-palmoplantar psoriasis were linked to better odds of staying treatment-free.
Stopping psoriasis meds in kids might be more doable than we thought.
A new retrospective, multicenter study spanning France, Italy, the UK, Canada, and Portugal looked at 433 children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who stopped first-line systemic treatments — acitretin, methotrexate, or cyclosporine. Of those, 79 patients (18.2%) discontinued because they achieved remission, and an impressive 88.6% of them remained off systemic treatment for at least 6 months.
The findings suggest that for the right patients, stepping off treatment isn't just wishful thinking — it's clinically feasible. Younger kids, those with lower disease severity at baseline, and those without palmoplantar psoriasis were most likely to successfully stay in remission without medication.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Systemic treatments carry real risks and burdens for kids. Identifying which patients can safely stop therapy — and stay well — could meaningfully reduce long-term medication exposure in pediatric psoriasis care.
