Thermography in psoriasis vulgaris evaluation

Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a strong genetic component, characterized by hyperkeratosis, dermal inflammatory infiltrate and increased angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to employ thermography in evaluation of psoriatic lesions localized in different parts of the body. A series of in-patients with stable plaque type psoriasis vulgaris were included. ThermaCam INFRAMETRICS 290E thermocamera with temperature resolution of 0.1 degC was used in the study. Both visual and thermal images of 84 areas of lesional and lesion-free skin in patients were taken and analyzed. All the skin lesions were divided into 4 groups, according to their location i.e. found on the upper limbs, lower limbs, chest and back. Increased temperature was observed over psoriatic lesions located in the chest and upper limbs. To the contrary, skin lesions located on the back and lower limbs presented lower temperature. It is conceivable to speculate that lower temperature revealed within the lower parts of the body may explain to some extend slower regression of the lesions located in this region in comparison to skin lesions located over the upper parts of the body