Crisaborole 2% ointment in psoriasis management: a systematic review
Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease characterized by erythematous, scaly plaques that significantly impair quality of life. Topical therapies remain the mainstay of treatment for mild to moderate disease; however, long-term use of conventional agents such as topical corticosteroids is limited by adverse effects. Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) plays a key role in inflammatory pathways, and crisaborole 2% ointment, a topical PDE-4 inhibitor, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity with a favorable safety profile. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical crisaborole 2% ointment in the treatment of psoriasis plaques and its histopathological effects. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies published between May 2016 and January 2026 using the terms “crisaborole,” “phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor,” “psoriasis,” and “topical treatment.” Eligible studies included original human research assessing the clinical and/or histopathological effects of topical crisaborole in patients with psoriasis. Four studies met the inclusion criteria. Treatment with topical crisaborole showed significant clinical improvement compared with baseline or control groups, including reductions in erythema, scaling, and plaque severity. Benefits were particularly noted in sensitive or difficult-to-treat areas, with improvement also reported in some refractory cases. Current evidence suggests that topical crisaborole 2% may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for localized plaque psoriasis; however, further large randomized controlled trials are required to confirm its role in psoriasis management.