Tag Archives: psoriasis severity

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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Posted in Psoriasis Self Care

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Psoriatic Arthritis Development May be Predicted by Psoriasis Severity and Family History

Posted on April 26, 2010 | 1 Comment

Psoriatric arthritis is more likely to develop among people with a family history of psoriatic arthritis and a greater greater maximum body surface (BSA) affected by psoriasis. This was the conclusion of a study published in the April issue of the The Journal of Dermatology “Risk factors associated with having psoriatic arthritis in patients with cutaneous psoriasis“.

The study recruited 400 people with psoriasis attending a psoriasis clinic in Singapore. 134 (33.5%) of the participants also had psoriatic arthritis.

The researcher found that 25% of participants with a family history of psoriatic arthritis were 20.5 times more likely to also have psoriatic arthritis than those without a family history. Previous episodes of severe psoriasis, as defined by the body surface area (BSA) affected by psoriasis and documented in previous medical records, was also a risk factor for developing psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis was not significantly associated with sex, race, age of onset of psoriasis, a family history of psoriasis, smoking and alcohol consumption

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Posted in Psoriatic Arthritis

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Psoriasis Severity Not Impacted by Age of Onset

Posted on April 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

The age at which people first experience psoriasis does not appear to have a significant impact on the course of the illness through a person’s life. This information was published in a April issue of the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Researchers surveyed nearly 2,000 people with plaque psoriasis and found that the severity of psoriasis symptoms did not differ significantly between those people whose psoriasis first developed in childhood and those who had adult-onset psoriasis.

Plaque psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is the most common form of psoriasis. It is diagnosed in 80% of people with psoriasis.

The plaques appear as red, raised, inflamed lesions covered with a silvery white layer of flakey scales. They may vary in size from a half inch to six inches in diameter. Plaques may grow together, creating large affected areas.

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Posted in Psoriasis Research

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