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Updated: Jun 1, 2026
02:28
Measuring Psoriasis Severity at Home
Published on: March 1, 2024
Stress as an influencing factor in psoriasis
1Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Skin Therapy Letter
|May 26, 2011
Summary
Emotional stress significantly impacts psoriasis development and severity. Many patients report stress worsening their condition, highlighting the need for stress management in psoriasis treatment.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Psychoneuroimmunology
- Psychology
Background:
- Emotional stress is frequently reported by psoriasis patients to influence their skin condition.
- A significant proportion of psoriasis patients (37%-78%) identify as "stress responders."
- Stress may exacerbate psoriasis severity and delay disease remission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between emotional stress and psoriasis.
- To investigate the potential role of stress in psoriasis exacerbation and clearance.
- To discuss therapeutic implications for stress management in psoriasis patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on stress and psoriasis.
- Discussion of proposed pathophysiological mechanisms, including the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic adrenomedullary system.
- Analysis of the bidirectional relationship between psoriasis and psychological distress.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests a strong association between stress and psoriasis flares.
- The causal relationship requires further confirmation through controlled studies.
- Psoriasis itself can lead to adverse psychological outcomes, creating a stress cycle.
Conclusions:
- Stress reduction interventions, including psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, may benefit psoriasis patients who are "stress responders."
- Addressing the stress component is crucial for comprehensive psoriasis management.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms linking stress and psoriasis.
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