Your ability to manage stress might significantly influence your risk of developing psoriasis. Recent research indicates that young men with lower resilience to stress are considerably more likely to experience chronic skin conditions as they age.

The study published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology investigated stress resilience in 1.6 million Swedish men enlisting in the military from 1968 to 2005. It found that those with low stress resilience were 31 percent more likely to develop psoriasis compared to those with high stress resilience.

Understanding Psoriasis

As per the Mayo Clinic, psoriasis symptoms follow a cyclical pattern, with flare-ups lasting weeks or months before easing temporarily. While certain medications can alleviate the symptoms, health experts advise patients to also focus on lifestyle adjustments and coping mechanisms to enhance their overall well-being.

Researchers analyzed psychological assessments conducted before military enlistment to evaluate stress resilience among men. The study found that 20% had low-stress resilience, 21% had high-stress resilience, and the rest fell into an intermediate category. Data from Sweden’s National Patient Register indicated that 36,000 men later developed psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

Interestingly men with low-stress resilience had a 31% higher risk of developing these skin conditions compared to those with high resilience. Severe cases were strongly associated with stress, and men with both clinical stress diagnoses and low resilience were 79% more likely to develop psoriasis than their highly resilient counterparts.

Low stress resilience increases psoriatic arthritis risk

Men with low resilience who are under stress have a 53 percent higher chance of developing psoriatic arthritis, which is a type of arthritis that affects individuals with psoriasis. This condition is characterized by joint pain, stiffness, and swelling and can impact any part of the body, including the fingertips and spine.

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have identified a link between stress sensitivity and the onset of psoriasis, with inflammation as the connecting factor. Prior studies have shown that stress triggers an inflammatory response in the body. Marta Laskowski, the study’s lead author, highlights that low stress resilience during adolescence is a risk factor for psoriasis, particularly in men.