- IPC GENERAL
- Disease Severity, IPC News, IPC Publications, Publications, Quality of Life, Research, Treatment
The International Psoriasis Council (IPC) has published a new article in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) titled International Psoriasis Council Psoriasis Disease Severity Reclassification: Update on Validity, Acceptance, and Implementation. The paper outlines current evidence supporting IPC’s simplified two-tier classification system for psoriasis severity and examines its growing use in clinical practice and research.
The IPC framework categorizes patients as candidates for either topical treatment or systemic therapy based on three pragmatic criteria:
- Presence of psoriasis in high-impact areas (such as the face, scalp, genitals, palms/soles, nails, or intertriginous zones)
- Involvement of more than 10% of body surface area (BSA)
- Failure of topical treatment to control symptoms
Recent real-world data, including findings from the UPLIFT survey and the CorEvitas psoriasis registry, show that many patients with low BSA but involvement of high-impact sites experience a high burden of disease, challenging traditional severity thresholds and justifying systemic intervention.
The publication also documents growing global acceptance of the IPC definition, now reflected in national guidelines, clinical trials, and treatment recommendations across multiple countries and organizations, including the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA) and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF). This shift ensures that clinical decisions and trial designs better reflect the everyday experiences of patients.
As the field evolves, the IPC classification continues to drive more precise, impact-driven care and supports broader access to effective treatment options.
