OBJECTIVE: A consensus conference was convened to evaluate the topical treatment of psoriasis. PARTICIPANTS: Members of the International Psoriasis Council (IPC) with broad clinical experience in the treatment of psoriasis and a specialist in meta- and pharmacoeconomic analyses were invited to participate on the consensus panel. Those accepting the invitation convened in Saariselkä, Finland. EVIDENCE: An advisory group on topical treatments was nominated by the organizing panel members. All participants reported at the consensus conference on evidence based data with respect to disease severity assessment, the available data on efficacy and safety and on a comparative efficacy/safety analysis. CONSENSUS PROCESS: At the consensus conference, the presentations were discussed and conclusions, which were reached by the group, were recorded. Active participants of the group wrote assigned sections of this consensus document with a majority of participants agreed on the conclusions.