What Diseases Are Associated With Psoriasis?

October 23, 2024

Psoriasis is a chronic, or long lasting, autoimmune disease that affects the skin and causes dry plaques or patches to appear on different parts of the body, most commonly on the scalp, back, knees and elbows. Psoriasis is brought on by rapid overproduction of skin cells, causing the build up of scaly patches. While psoriasis is often described as a skin problem, it’s much more than that. Psoriasis is a systemic disease associated with multiple other diseases. Research indicates that people with psoriasis are more likely to have a number of comorbidities, including cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and gastrointestinal disorders and mental health issues.

In this article, we’ll examine the many diseases and conditions that accompany psoriasis, and how treating this complex condition requires a holistic approach.

Cardiovascular Disease

People with psoriasis are more likely to develop heart attacks and strokes. The condition is considered as a chronic inflammatory disease which is linked to the development of atherosclerosis, a medical condition where the arteries get narrow and harden because of plaque build up. Psoriasis doesn’t just affect the skin, but the inflammation that comes with it can also affect blood vessels and increase the chances of cardiovascular complications.

Furthermore, research has shown that the risk of heart attack doubles when you have severe psoriasis, even if you have no previous history of cardiovascular disease. Psoriasis also puts people at risk for high blood pressure, which further raises the risk for heart disease.

Do you or someone you know have Psoriasis? Watch and learn from our informative video on “What Are The Causes Of Psoriasis”

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that puts a person at risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Conditions include high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, excess stomach fat around the waist, or abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels. The correlation between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome is very strong. Studies show that individuals with psoriasis are more likely to develop the syndrome than the average population.

Insulin resistance, weight gain and dyslipidemia (abnormal cholesterol levels) are all due to the inflammation present in psoriasis and the disruption of normal metabolic processes. This connection highlights the importance of early intervention of psoriasis and its associated metabolic disorders.

Diabetes

Psoriasis is closely related to type 2 diabetes. People with moderate to severe psoriasis have a much higher risk of developing diabetes than people without psoriasis. Part of the reason for this is that psoriasis comes with chronic inflammation that makes it harder for the body to use insulin well, causing insulin resistance – a precursor to diabetes.

Lifestyle factors such as obesity, which is common in people with psoriasis, actually make matters worse, but it’s more of a coincidence than anything. Blood sugar control and reduced body weight can minimise risk of diabetes and improve psoriasis symptoms.

Request for our free guide 6 Proven Secrets To Improve Your Psoriasis.

If you are suffering from Psoriasis, discover natural proven techniques to improve and even completely reverse your condition by enrolling in our online course Psoriasis Expert Secrets.

Obesity

Psoriasis is both a risk factor for and a consequence of obesity. It is also known that people with psoriasis are more likely to be overweight or obese than those without it. Chronic inflammation in the body is caused by obesity, and can also worsen psoriasis symptoms. Besides, the condition tends to be worse in people who are overweight because the skin folds and creases are more prone to psoriasis.

Also a major risk factor for developing metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, obesity is another vicious cycle in which psoriasis and obesity feed into each other. Diet and exercise to lose weight have been proven to help improve psoriasis symptoms and reduce the risk of other related diseases.

Psoriatic Arthritis

The majority of people with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis, which is a form of inflammatory arthritis that occurs in up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis. Joint pain, stiffness and swelling, and if left untreated, joint damage. Psoriatic arthritis can affect any joint, but the fingers, toes, the lower back and Achilles tendon are most often involved. Skin psoriasis is not a good predictor of how severe the psoriatic arthritis will be, and joint symptoms can come before or after skin changes.

To prevent permanent joint damage, psoriatic arthritis must be diagnosed and treated promptly. Most often, medical treatments include disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologic therapies that slow down the inflammation and prevent joint destruction.

Gastrointestinal Disorders

It’s known that psoriasis is associated with several other diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis to name a few. Both psoriasis and IBD are autoimmune conditions with inflammation as the driver, and people with psoriasis have an increased risk in developing these gastrointestinal problems.

In particular, both psoriasis and Crohn’s disease show a genetic predisposition. They both have something to do with genes that control the immune system causing inflammation in the gut (Crohn’s) or the skin (psoriasis). Crohn’s disease symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation, and weight loss, and treating one condition often helps the other.

Learn about the different Types of Psoriasis.

Liver Disease

Psoriasis is also commonly linked to another condition, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Often because of obesity and metabolic syndrome, excess fat builds up in the liver causing NAFLD. Psoriasis may also result in a progression of a liver disease called NAFLD, where the chronic inflammation of psoriasis may affect the liver. Patients with severe psoriasis are especially at risk of liver disease.

NAFLD can get worse over time and lead to other very serious liver conditions, including cirrhosis and liver failure. People with psoriasis can lower liver disease risk by changing their lifestyle, such as weight management and diet.

Depression and Mental Health Disorders

Psoriasis can have a particularly damaging effect on a person’s mental health if it’s chronic and visible. People with psoriasis are also more likely to be depressed, anxious, and have low self-esteem. Psoriasis and its associated stigma have yet another negative psychosocial impact: the feeling or perception of feeling socially isolated, and poor quality of life.

Psoriasis may also spur the development of depression because the systemic inflammation that occurs in psoriasis may play a part in it. Studies are showing inflammation has a part to play in mental health disorders, and that managing psoriasis symptoms will improve both mental and physical health.

Osteoporosis

Psoriasis has been associated with emerging evidence that also links it to osteoporosis, a condition which weakens and makes your bones brittle. Bone loss may be accelerated by chronic inflammation in psoriasis. Corticosteroids — some of the treatments for psoriasis — can also be linked to the development of osteoporosis if used long term.

People with psoriasis can reduce the risk of osteoporosis by taking preventive measures, like consuming enough calcium and getting enough vitamin D as well as doing weight-bearing exercises.

Cancer

People with psoriasis may be at a higher risk of developing certain cancers, including lymphoma and skin cancers. In part, the higher risk of cancer is a result of the chronic inflammation that comes with the disease, as well as some of the therapies used to treat it — immunosuppressive therapies and phototherapy. Immunosuppressive drugs, if used long term, can reduce the ability of the body to fight cancer cells.

People with psoriasis, and particularly those receiving long-term immunosuppressive treatment, should be monitored regularly for cancer, and cancer should be detected as early as possible.

Our skin is our largest organ and a reflection of our internal health. Watch our insightful video to learn more about “What Diseases Are Associated With Psoriasis?“

Conclusion

Psoriasis is no longer just a skin disease; it is a systemic disease involving multiple other medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, psoriatic arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders and many more. To manage psoriasis effectively means treating the comorbidities associated with it and the skin symptoms as well. Although there’s no medical cure for psoriasis yet, there is a combination of lifestyle and dietary changes, natural remedies and mental health support that can help those with psoriasis live fuller, healthier lives and help limit the development of these related diseases and can possibly even reverse psoriasis.

Start your Psoriasis journey with confidence, using our resources that are meant to guide and encourage you. Start by downloading our FREE Psoriasis guide booklet, containing all relevant information and helpful tips. For those interested in gaining further knowledge and learning more about comprehensive approaches, enrol in our special Psoriasis course. Furthermore, you can book a free consultation from our wellness clinic to get professional help that will be aimed at meeting your needs. Do not let Psoriasis be a hindrance – begin your path to improved skin health right away!

To learn more about Psoriasis, check out our other related blogs:

How Does Psoriasis Affect Quality Of Life?

Can the sun help with Psoriasis?

Can Psoriasis Affect My Pregnancy?

How To Get Rid of Psoriasis Using Iridology

What Is The Best Treatment For Psoriasis?

Are any other conditions linked to Psoriasis?