Psoriasis and melanocytic naevi: does the first confer a protective role against melanocyte progression to naevi?

Summary Background Some of the cytokines that have effects on melanogenesis are also reported to be involved in psoriasis. Objectives We therefore studied the relationship between psoriasis and melanocytic naevi. In particular, the aim of our study was to investigate the number of melanocytic naevi in patients with psoriasis vs. controls. Methods We performed a prospective case–control study, analysing 93 adult patients with psoriasis and 174 adult aged‐matched controls. For each participant a questionnaire was completed to establish personal data, personal medical history, and personal and familial history of skin cancer and psoriasis. We analysed interleukin (IL)‐1α, IL‐6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α gene expression at the peripheral blood mononuclear cell level in patients with psoriasis and in controls. Results In our study, patients with psoriasis presented a lower number of areas with naevi in comparison with controls (P