Category Archives: Psoriasis Self Care

High Stress Worsens Psoriasis

Posted on December 27, 2010 | 1 Comment

Chronic stress can lead to a  worsening of psoriasis. Peak levels of stress increase the risk of a psoriasis flare one month later.

The correlation of stress with psoriasis has been well known. Now, a study published in the October issue of the British Journal of Dermatology, “How Stress Gets Under the Skin“, shows how stress leads to changes in cortisol levels that influence psoriasis severity.

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the body that regulates a wide range of bodily functions, including inflammation. High levels of cortisol reduce inflammation. Acute stress acts via the HPA axis to increase cortisol levels in the body. However, chronic stress can lead to an overall reduction in cortisol levels

The researchers followed 62 patients with psoriasis for 6 months, measuring their self-reported measures of stress, psoriasis severity (as measured with the PASI score) and blood levels of serum cortisol.

The researchers found that peak levels of daily stress predicted an increase in psoriasis severity a month later. The peak levels of daily stress were also significantly associated with lower cortisol levels. Those who persistently experienced higher levels of daily stress had lower average cortisol levels than patients who experienced lower levels of daily stress.

The researchers concluded that the “results suggest that daily stressors influence disease outcome in patients with psoriasis by affecting cortisol levels at moments of high stress. Furthermore, patients with persistently high levels of stressors seem to have a specific psychophysiological profile of lowered cortisol levels and may be particularly vulnerable to the influence of stressors on their psoriasis.”

Here is concrete evidence of the mind-body connection and its role in psoriasis. Now, if only there were a cure for psoriasis.

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Severe Psoriasis Associated with a Higher Risk of Death from Heart Disease

Posted on April 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

Several clinical studies have been published in recent month pointing to the association of psoriasis with heart disease. They have presented data that psoriasis may be an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, heart attack (myocardial infarction), and stroke. The risk appears to be greatest for severe psoriasis that has the greatest degree of inflammation that impacts the body.

However, it was not shown that this risk of developing heart disease resulted in any increase of death.

Now, a study published in the April 2010 issue of the European Heart Journal has found that people with severe psoriasis do, in fact, have an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CV disease), such as a heart attack. And this risk is independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity and smoking. This means that the risk is there for someone with severe psoriasis even if he or she is otherwise without other risk factors.

The study compared the medical records of over 14,000 patients with severe psoriasis to others with similar risk factors without psoriasis.

An editorial in the same issue suggested that those with moderate or severe psoriasis be aware of the importance of regular exercise, a healthy diet and the importance of smoking cessation.

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Psoriasis Patients Encourage to Make a Change

Posted on April 12, 2010 | 1 Comment

LeAnn RimesPsoriasis patient LeAnn Rimes is calling for people with psoriasis to pledge to better manage their disease as part of the awareness campaign “Stop Hiding from Psoriasis.” In partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), LeAnn is encouraging people to take a stand against psoriasis by taking the Make a Change Pledge online at StopHiding.org.

“The purpose of the Make a Change Pledge is to empower people living with psoriasis to make changes that can help them increase their understanding of the disease and its impact on their everyday lives, as well as encourage them to work with a dermatologist to optimally manage their disease,” says LeAnn.

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