As someone with psoriasis, you already know that adopting healthy habits (including reducing stress, using milder soaps, and avoiding trigger foods) might help alleviate flare-ups. However, losing weight might be one of the most effective ways to check skin conditions.

Weight Loss May Alleviate Symptoms

Autoimmune diseases like psoriasis occur when the body's immune system mistakenly targets healthy tissue. As a result, you may have itching, nail deformity, or dry, cracked skin in addition to elevated red, white, or silvery spots on your skin.

Psoriasis is a lifelong disease. However, it may be managed in part by reducing body fat. Psoriasis may be managed in part through lifestyle changes, according to New York City-based dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD.

Participants with obesity and psoriasis who reduced 10% to 15% of their body weight had considerable improvement in symptoms, according to a new Danish research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Those who shed at least 22 pounds from their starting weight had a higher quality of life a full year after the research concluded.

Psoriatic Arthritis Risk Increases With Weight

Those with psoriasis who are overweight or obese may be at a higher risk. Researchers observed an association between obesity and an increased risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis in a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Over 15 years, researchers analyzed data on over 75,000 persons in the UK and discovered that the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis rose with body mass index.

Weight Gain May Aggravate Psoriatic Arthritis

People living with Psoriatic arthritis who are overweight may experience a worsening of their condition due to the added stress placed on their joints. Smaller and larger, weight-bearing joints like the knees can be affected by psoriatic arthritis, and more weight can place excessive strain on them, resulting in increased pain and disability.

James R. O'Dell, MD, chairman of rheumatology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, states, "weight is particularly detrimental for weight-bearing joints, the hips, and knees in particular."

What little research there is seems to support this: Canadian scientists discovered that people with psoriatic arthritis who were overweight had a decreased chance of going into remission in 2014 than those with average weight.

Weight Might Hinder Drug Effectiveness

There may be a correlation between obesity and a lower chance of remission in psoriatic arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation reports that the condition may not react as effectively to treatment in those who are overweight or obese.

A perfect storm, as Dr. O'Dell puts it. There is a higher likelihood that you will experience difficulties and a reduced response to treatment.

Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis treatments may have a more significant effect on weight loss patients. Biologic medication therapies were shown to be more effective in a 2014 study of obese psoriasis patients who lost weight.

Weight Loss Reduces Another Illness Risk

As an extra motivation to slim down, lowering weight can also lessen your odds of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke—conditions that people living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis have a higher risk of getting. In this video, Dr. O'Dell discusses why he stresses the importance of his patients reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.

People with Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis are prime examples of this. He emphasizes that "weight loss is twice crucial" for them. "I would tell just about anyone that," she said, "but some individuals need a different or additional incentive [to lose weight]."

Does Psoriasis Induce Obesity?

Psoriasis has been linked to obesity in specific research. It's common for those with psoriasis to be heavier than the general population. It is unclear why this is the case, although psoriasis has been linked to feelings of depression.

Obesity may result from changes in diet and activity patterns brought on by depression. Seek medical help and counseling from a therapist or other mental health expert if you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of depression.

Does Psoriasis Respond To Weight Loss?

Psoriasis is greatly helped by weight loss. According to a 2018 meta-analysis of 14 research, dieting and exercising to lose weight can reduce the intensity and size of psoriasis patches. Psoriasis treatments can be improved by losing weight. Reliable Sourcing.

But does psoriasis go away if you lose weight? Right now, we don't have any idea. Psoriasis flare-ups can be avoided with the proper diet. Foods that may aggravate psoriasis symptoms include:

• full-fat dairy and red meat
• Sweetened meals.
• Highly processed foods

You should cut back or abstain from these foods if you want to keep your psoriasis under control.