Abstract

In our article on lithium¹ we mentioned that various skin disorders can occur in patients maintained on lithium,² but failed to refer specifically to psoriasis. Lithium may bring on psoriasis or make it worse,³ and may make the treatment of established psoriasis less effective. These changes usually recede if the drug is stopped. Their mechanism is unknown but may be related to the effect of lithium on leucocytes in the epithelium.⁴