Are you obese or know someone who is obese that are suffering from psoriasis? You are not alone. There may be a connection.

Psoriasis is a common systemic inflammatory disease that distinguishes symptoms and signs such as elevated itchy plaques of raised red skin covered with thick silvery scales. It is usually found on the elbows, knees, and scalp, although, other areas of your body can be effected as well. Psoriasis is considered an autoimmune disease so the immune system plays a big role in this skin disease.

There are many factors that can trigger psoriasis. Some of those factors include smoking, sunburns, strep throat, and alcoholism. Injury to the skin has also been known to trigger a flare up. These flare-ups can last for weeks or even months. It will most likely go away and then return.

There is currently no cure for psoriasis. However, there are many topical and systemic treatments that could improve your skin irritation and appearance.

OBESITY & PSORIASIS

There has always been a connection between obesity and psoriasis. If you are obese, you have a higher chance of developing psoriasis then someone who is of an average weight. Obese individuals tend to have more severe cases of psoriasis.

So, why might obesity cause psoriasis? Your immune system and your BMI is the explanation here. If you are curious about what your BMI is, you can either speak with your doctor or calculate yourself online. For example, I weigh 214 pounds. I calculated my BMI at 40.4. The calculator tells me I am obese. This is a good way to find out. For my height I should be between 98 and 132 pounds to be considered a normal weight.

Being obese causes a lot of stress on your immune system. Since psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, you are vulnerable to flare-ups and other diseases.

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PSORIASIS & OBESITY

There is also evidence that having psoriasis can lead to obesity. For example, you may have a flare-up with your psoriasis and may not be able to go to the gym. You may be laying in bed in pain or just being lazy around the house. This can lead to the obesity. You may also find yourself embarrassed over the appearance of your skin which may lead to you eating more to comfort yourself.

Researchers have asked individuals to reveal their actual weight at three different stages of their life. Those stages were: before the psoriasis developed, when it developed, and at that very moment. The study had shown that the participants only started struggling with obesity after they had developed psoriasis.

TREATMENT PLAN

Since there are many treatment options available for psoriasis, a direct plan can be customized for your by your physician based on the severity of your psoriasis. Light therapy can also be an option added with or without the topicals. The light therapy will help to suppress your immune system through exposure to the ultraviolet rays. In certain severe cases, the only thing that might show improvements is biological medication, which in turn will improve your immune system. If your are obese, coming up with a plan to loose weight can improve your results. If you are taking medication for psoriasis and are obese, the medication may have little to no effect on your condition and you may experience unwanted side effects.