Credit: National Psoriasis Association
Psoriasis is a skin disease that afflicts more than 7 million Americans. It often shows up as thick scaly and itchy patches on knees, elbows, and other body parts. There is no cure for psoriasis, but it can be controlled.
Many people are understandably self-conscious about their condition, but new studies indicate that there are related problems which are more than skin deep.
In the July 2014 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, more than 10,500 people were surveyed about their psoriasis. These individuals were primarily non-Hispanic Caucasians who are more susceptible to the disease.
Some of the key points that the study found were as follows:
– People who were smokers, over weight, and over age 40 tended to have higher rates of psoriasis.
– The vast majority of people (82%) indicated that psoriasis covered a mere 2% or less of their skin.
– Nearly 18% of people surveyed said that psoriasis affected 3% or more of their skin.
– There were a handful of cases where psoriasis covered more than half of the person’s body.
– Nearly 33% of the respondents had developed psoriatic arthritis, which results in severe joint pain.
For many years it was thought that the physical health impact of psoriasis went no further than arthritis, but new studies conducted within the last five years suggest that this may not be true.
Dr. Suzanne Olbricht, a professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, says that there appears to be a link between psoriasis and other ailments such as heart disease, colitis, diabetes, bowel issues, and obesity.
The rationale is that psoriasis is a disease involving inflammation, which is a common factor in the conditions I just mentioned. So the factors that cause one type of inflammation can creep into other parts of the body.
Mental Toll of Psoriasis
It’s natural to expect someone with psoriasis to be mentally distressed about the condition, especially if it is clearly visible to other people.
But according to Dr. Olbricht, evidence is growing to show that the inflammation may also affect the brain in a way that leads to depression.
Treating Psoriasis
While there are a variety of anti-inflammatory topical and systemic medications to treat psoriasis, several studies indicate that weight loss and vigorous exercise may also help.
A study of obese women with psoriasis that was presented in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that a low calorie diet helped them to lose weight and reduce the level of skin irritation.
In a separate study, it was discovered that vigorous exercising such as 105 minutes or more of running per week greatly reduced the risk of developing psoriasis.
In conclusion, psoriasis isn’t 100% preventable. But a dermatologist can help to treat it. In addition, you can reduce it’s impact on your health my making certain lifestyle choices. The evidence indicates that you should eat a healthy diet, exercise, and avoid the things that can increase your stress level.
