A comparison of the safety and efficacy of tapinarof and roflumilast topical therapies in the management of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis

IntroductionPsoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. First-line topical treatments include steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, vitamin D analogs, and anthralin. Recently, novel topical therapeutics like tapinarof and roflumilast have emerged with unique anti-inflammatory mechanisms and promising efficacy profiles.Materials and methodsThis review utilized PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases to identify recent studies on tapinarof and roflumilast. Criteria focused on efficacy, safety profiles, and therapeutic roles in psoriasis treatment.ResultsFour primary literature articles were identified for tapinarof and five for roflumilast. Both drugs demonstrated strong efficacy with minimal adverse events in treating mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis. Tapinarof showed more frequent but mild adverse effects, while roflumilast had less frequent but more severe side effects.DiscussionTapinarof and roflumilast offer once-daily dosing and successful treatment in restricted areas, potentially enhancing patient adherence. Cost remains a limiting factor, necessitating future comparative studies to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness between the two drugs.ConclusionTapinarof and roflumilast present promising topical treatments for psoriasis, showing efficacy and manageable safety profiles. Further research is crucial to fully elucidate their comparative benefits and drawbacks in clinical practice.