Expert recommendations: the use of the fixed combination calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate gel for the topical treatment of psoriasis

Treatment non-adherence is a general challenge and a complex problem. It is a key factor that impacts the 'real-life' effectiveness of topical treatments for chronic disorders, such as psoriasis. Here, we provide our expert opinion on the real-life effectiveness of topical psoriasis treatment, using the fixed combination gel (Daivobet((R)) gel; calcipotriol plus betamethasone dipropionate) as a case study. The fixed combination gel is a first-line topical treatment for mild-to-moderate psoriasis, developed to be the gold-standard therapy for psoriasis patients. This fixed combination gel is an effective and well-tolerated topical psoriasis treatment that the majority of our patients prefer to the ointment formulation. We assessed our real-life experience and considered any gaps between daily practice and clinical trials data. We recommend a multifaceted approach to improve real-life effectiveness and bridge the gap between investigational trials and treatment reality and propose the following recommendations: (1) educate primary healthcare providers on how to effectively manage topical psoriasis treatment and the patients who use the treatment; (2) educate the patient on why treatment needs to be maintained, even when symptoms improve; and (3) provide a supportive environment that will not allow the patient to feel abandoned. A patient-centric approach may improve adherence, which will lead to patients receiving more effective treatment for psoriasis