Were you or someone you know recently diagnosed with psoriasis or hidradenitis suppurativa? Are you feeling embarrassed or frustrated that everything you read seems to make it about your weight? At Chicago Skin Clinic, we’re always trying to fight healthcare misconceptions, and the truth is your weight might not be the reason you’re experiencing one or both of these conditions. Keep reading to discover the role of obesity in psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa and how you can use this information to help your symptoms.
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis (which has various types, listed below) is an immune system disorder that produces an overproduction of skin cells that results in noncontagious, itchy, scaly rashes. It’s most common on the knees, elbows, chest, abdomen, pelvis, back, and scalp.
- Plaque Psoriasis
- Nail Psoriasis
- Guttate Psoriasis
- Inverse Psoriasis
- Pustular Psoriasis
- Erythrodermic Psoriasis
Unfortunately, this painful condition, which can impact patients’ quality of life in the same way living with insulin-dependent diabetes, depression, and angina, has no permanent cure as of now. However, there are many very effective therapies that Dr. Del Campo is an expert with his patients.
What Is Hidradenitis Suppurativa?
Like psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurative (HS) is a painful, noncontagious, lifelong condition in the groin, bottom, breasts, and armpit areas. Because of its symptoms (see list below), HS disease is often mistaken for acne or ingrown hair, forcing many to live with HS for years before they are properly diagnosed and treated. This time-consuming road to a diagnosis can be frustrating, stressful and even result in a disability if the HS is left untreated long enough.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa Symptoms Include:
- Boil-like lumps
- Cysts
- Blackheads
- Channels under the skin that leak pus
- Scarring
Obesity & Psoriasis
There is still much unknown about psoriasis, including what causes it, and much is still up for debate. Regardless, one thing is for certain—psoriasis can be affected by weight, and your weight can be affected by psoriasis.
- The more fat you have, the more pro-inflammation adipokines your body releases into your bloodstream, triggering inflammation and leading to psoriasis.
- Weight gain can also affect your body’s microbiome, which is like all the micro-gears and cogs that keep your skin healthy. When it’s out of whack, you can be at a greater risk of psoriasis.
- Overweight and obese psoriasis patients have a higher risk of nail involvement and psoriatic arthritis because of higher inflammation triggers in the body.
- Some foods that overweight people might enjoy more than non-overweight patients have been shown to worsen psoriasis (food high in fat and sugar and ultra-processed food).
- Losing weight can help to prevent psoriasis flare-ups, with one study showing that patients with psoriasis who lost weight through diet and exercise improved their condition by 50%.
- Exercise can help increase the presence of anti-inflammation adipokines in your blood, which can help lessen psoriasis symptoms.
Unfortunately, psoriasis is a vicious cycle. Gaining weight can trigger psoriasis, and psoriasis can make you gain weight. Researchers aren’t entirely sure why psoriasis patients have a high predisposition to obesity, but theories include the depression, self-consciousness, and physical discomfort psoriasis can cause. However, if you can safely push through these hurdles, you might notice fewer flare-ups, less intensity in your flare-ups, and improved overall well-being.
Note: We want to stress that psoriasis is not caused by obesity alone. There are many factors and triggers. Obesity is just one of them.
Obesity & Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Like psoriasis, obesity is not the only factor in HS development, nor does HS only affect the overweight and obese. Also, like psoriasis, researchers are still not sure what causes HS. This means that while people with HS are three times more likely to be overweight or obese, it should not be dismissed as a consequence of a person’s size.
Let’s take a closer look at the relationship between obesity and HS:
- The pain and discomfort from HS symptoms and the intensely painful slow-to-heal wounds caused by HS prohibit many HS patients from performing the necessary exercise to prevent weight gain.
- HS can create scarring that limits mobility, especially if it affects the armpit or groin.
- HS forms in places with hair follicles and skin folds and was once thought to have something to do with sweat. Those who are overweight and obese sweat more and have more folds for HS to form and spread, which might be why some believe excess weight leads to HS.
- Hormonal changes can cause weight gain, and weight gain can cause hormonal changes. Either can potentially trigger HS.
- According to some small studies, weight loss might lessen or clear HS symptoms. Most patients in one of these studies who lost 15% or more of their body weight experienced reduced symptoms, with nearly 50% seeing their HS clear and 20% seeing fewer lumps.
- These same studies showed that weight loss worked best as a treatment for HS in the early stages of the condition before you develop channels under the skin. In short, weight loss is better as a way to prevent serious symptoms than to treat them once they start.
- Though this is still being researched, a few studies have shown that your diet can play a role in HS, even if weight loss isn’t your goal. For example, those who follow a Mediterranean or plant-based diet were shown to have a lower likelihood of developing HS or having flare-ups. There are a few theories for this, including the hormonal changes and gut microbiome diversity produced by some foods.
Chicago Skin Clinics Board-Certified Dermatologists Can Help You Manage Your Psoriasis & HS Symptoms
Many overweight patients struggle with doctors dismissing their symptoms and conditions as a result of their weight. At Chicago Skin Clinic, we know that your size isn’t the only factor, so we don’t treat our psoriasis or HS patients based on weight alone. When putting together a treatment plan for you, we’ll take in all the necessary information, such as family history, lifestyle, and medical history. See a team you can trust in an office you feel comfortable. See Chicago Skin Clinic. Schedule an appointment today.