Data from the records of 112 patients who were treated with dermatome shaving for psoriasis vulgaris were analysed. One hundred and eight patients with 202 areas treated were included in the study. Complications occurred in nine patients. Thirty-seven patients and 104 areas did not recur during mean follow-up periods of respectively 1.4 years and 1.9 years. In all 108 patients the median recurrence free period was eight months (range: 0-5.6 years). The median recurrence free period for the 202 areas was 13 months (range: 0-8.2 years). Reshaving of partial recurrences in 46 patients led to 40% that did not recur.