The proportion of elderly patients with psoriasis vulgaris is set to increase in the future due to an ageing population. This descriptive analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of a new ointment containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate (Daivobet/Dovobet in a pooled analysis of patients aged 60 years and over. A total of 1534 patients, including 357 aged > or = 60 years, with psoriasis vulgaris received the two-compound ointment once-daily in four randomised, double-blind, studies. After 4 weeks treatment the mean reduction in PASI was 67.8% in patients < 60 years compared with 72.6% in patients > or = 60 years. "Controlled disease" (i.e. a global assessment of "absence of disease" or "very mild disease"), according to the investigators, was achieved by 52.1% of patients < 60 years and 58.2% of patients > or = 60 years. Patients in both age groups reported a similar number of lesional/perilesional adverse drug reactions; 6.4% in patients < 60 years vs 5.0% in patients > or = 60 years. Thus, the new two-compound ointment is effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris, regardless of age group.