Severe psoriasis can cut short life

According to a new study having some forms of psoriasis can shorten a person's lifespan.

Psoriasis is a chronic, recurring inflammatory disease of the skin and joints; it causes red scaly patches to appear on the skin which are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production.

The skin which rapidly accumulates at these sites, often the elbows and knees, has a silvery-white appearance; psoriasis can affect any area including the scalp and genitals.

The disorder varies in severity from minor localised patches to complete body coverage and fingernails and toenails are often affected.

Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints, which is known as psoriatic arthritis and ten to fifteen percent of people with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis.

Although it is not known what causes psoriasis it is suspected to have a genetic component and is aggravated by stress, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.

Sufferers often suffer from depression and loss of self-esteem and while there are many treatments available for psoriasis its chronic recurrence makes it a challenge to manage.

Psoriasis affects both sexes equally and can occur at any age, but it most commonly appears for the first time between the ages of 15 and 25 years.

According to a study by Dr. Joel Gelfand of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, people with severe types of the condition tend to die earlier.

The researchers reviewed the health records of thousands of people in the United Kingdom between 1987 and 2002 and found that men with severe psoriasis lose an estimated 3.5 years off of their life spans while women lose 4.4 years of their life spans.

The researchers say the study illustrates just how serious the condition is and they suggest that patients with severe psoriasis should receive comprehensive health assessments to enhance preventive health practices, improve overall health and decrease the risk of death.

Dr. Gelfand says psoriasis is more than just a disfiguring skin condition and the immunological illness has a profound impact on the health and well-being of people who suffer with it and it probably cuts their life short.

The study is published in the Archives of Dermatology, a journal of the American Medical Association.