psoriasis affects the body
6 ways
6 ways
(Hover over the red dots to see more)
Patches may itch, burn, or sting. The most common places include the elbows, knees, and scalp.
Patches on the skin
01
People living with psoriasis may develop an inflammatory form
of arthritis known as psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis affects about 30% of people with psoriasis.
Joint pain
02
• Cardiovascular disease
• Obesity
• Increased blood sugar
• Increased risk of stroke
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
People with psoriasis may be at higher risk for:
Increased risk of other health issues
03
Psoriatic patches that occur on the scalp can lead to hair loss. Once treatment has cleared a patch of scalp psoriasis, the hair in that area should regrow.
Hair loss
04
Psoriasis can occur around the nail beds. When this happens, the nails can become brittle or crumbly, or they may not grow back.
Nail damage
05
Research shows a link between psoriasis and depression. It appears that the severity of psoriasis can lead to increased depression and vice versa.
Depression
06
Sources
About psoriatic arthritis. (2020). https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriatic-arthritis/
Chamoun, A., et al. (2015). Psoriasis and depression [Abstract]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25856968/
Psoriasis. (2020). https://www.cdc.gov/psoriasis/index.htm
Rachakonda, T. D., et al. (2014). Psoriasis prevalence among adults in the United States [Abstract]. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(13)01268-1/fulltext
Related conditions of psoriasis. (2020). https://www.psoriasis.org/related-conditions/
Sahi, F.M., et al. (2020). Association between psoriasis and depression: A traditional review. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7489316/
Scalp psoriasis: 10 ways to reduce hair loss. (n.d.).
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/treatment/genitals/scalp-hair-loss
What is nail psoriasis, and how can I treat it? (n.d.). https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/treatment/genitals/nails
palms of the hands
knees
lower back
scalp
face
elbows
soles of the feet
![](https://media-s3-us-east-1.ceros.com/healthline/images/2020/12/10/1af34ba286f24a9cbd0fef59ae25d1d0/36.png)