Psoriasis: How It Affects Your Gut, Heart, and More
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How Psoriasis Affects Your Whole Body

Psoriasis is more than skin deep. It involves an overactive immune system and inflammation throughout the body, which can contribute to a host of health complications.
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Updated on June 6, 2025
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T he cause of psoriasis — an autoimmune condition that most commonly causes thick, scaly patches of skin — isn’t fully understood, but an overactive immune system, which triggers inflammation throughout the body, is thought to play a role, says Steven Feldman, MD, PhD, a researcher and dermatologist at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

This inflammation not only results in a buildup of psoriasis plaques, but it can also impact your joints, gastrointestinal tract, and other organ systems.

How Psoriasis Can Affect Other Parts of Your Body



Psoriasis can affect the health of these organs and systems.

Heart

Psoriasis-related inflammation can affect your heart and blood vessels, increasing your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Treating psoriatic disease with an oral or biologic medication can help lower cardiovascular risk, says Jonathan Greer, MD, a rheumatologist at Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates of Palm Beach in Florida. One 2022 analysis emphasized the need for monitoring for cardiovascular risk in people with psoriasis.

Blood Sugar

Over time, an overactive immune system may attack cells that make insulin, increasing your risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Luckily, you can take steps to manage psoriasis to reduce this risk. And if you do have type 2 diabetes, research shows that certain treatments, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, may even improve skin symptoms of psoriasis.

Joints

Around 30 percent of people who have psoriasis will also develop psoriatic arthritis, a condition marked by joint pain, morning stiffness, and fatigue.

“The same inflammatory process that causes psoriasis can invade the joints and cause psoriatic arthritis,” says Dr. Greer. Most people have psoriasis, sometimes for years, before they develop psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

If you have psoriasis, be on the lookout for any signs of arthritis, and tell your doctor right away. The sooner you can be diagnosed and treated with psoriatic arthritis, the better your outcome and the likelier you’ll delay its progression.

Digestive System

“We know that some of the genes that make our immune system overactive in psoriasis also make our immune system overactive in the bowel,” says Dr. Feldman.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can have an impact on both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, which are associated with a type of IBD known as Crohn’s disease.

Psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) fall under the same spectrum of diseases called the spondyloarthropathies.

Eyes

The same inflammation that causes dry, scaly skin can also affect your eyes, which can be uncomfortable and impact your vision, says Galen Foulke, MD, a dermatologist and an assistant professor at UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Eye involvement occurs in about 10 percent of people who have psoriasis.

Psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of inflammatory eye conditions such as uveitis (inflammation of the iris).

Nails

Your nails may also be affected by psoriasis, because nails are produced by the skin. “The root of the nail is very close to the last joint of your finger,” Feldman explains. “If psoriasis gets in those cells, in what’s called the nail matrix, which is what forms the nail, that can cause little pits in the nail. If the inflammation is in the skin under the nail, it can cause a buildup of scales between your skin and the nail, which may cause it to loosen and thicken.”

Nails may also change shape, turn a yellow-brown color, or develop horizontal ridges, called Beau’s lines.

People with psoriasis who experience nail symptoms also appear to be more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis than those who don’t have nail involvement.

Mental Health

Because psoriasis is a visible condition, it can lead to self-consciousness and even social withdrawal. This can lower a person’s quality of life and contribute to depression. Depression is common in people who have psoriasis, especially if it comes with psoriatic arthritis,” says Feldman.

Meanwhile, the pain and fatigue that accompany psoriatic arthritis often keep people from being as active as they want, adds Feldman. “This contributes to a sedentary lifestyle and obesity, and further contributes to heart disease.”

The Link Between Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are types of psoriatic disease that often go hand-in-hand.

Treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis aggressively is important, not only to improve the symptoms of both those conditions, but to reduce the risk of other health conditions as well.
— Jonathan Greer, MD
In most cases, the skin disease shows up first, years before joint symptoms begin. And the longer a person has psoriasis, the greater the chances they’ll develop psoriatic arthritis, says Greer.

It’s also possible to have psoriatic arthritis without psoriasis.

Psoriatic arthritis can look different for everyone. “It’s often asymmetric, where it’s present on one side of the body but not the other,” says Greer. “It can also appear as enthesitis — that’s inflammation of the entheses, which is where the tendons and ligaments attach to the bone (for example, the Achilles tendon). It can also cause an entire finger or toe to swell up, called sausage digits,” he explains. And all of these things can occur if you don’t manage the skin disease first, he adds.

Luckily, treatment options are available that can treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis simultaneously by targeting the underlying inflammation in the body

“Treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis aggressively is important, not only to improve the symptoms of both those conditions, but to reduce the risk of other health conditions as well,” Greer says.

It’s estimated that more than 15 percent of people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis but don’t know it.

Source:

National Library of Medicine

It’s estimated that more than 15 percent of people with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis but don’t know it.

How to Limit the Impact of Psoriasis-Related Inflammation

how-to-limit-the-impact-of-psoriasis-related-inflammation-1440x810

Although psoriasis is linked to a greater risk of other health conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis and heart disease, there are things you can do to take care of your skin, joints, and overall health.

  1. Moisturize regularly. Look for over-the-counter moisturizers that contain aloe vera, jojoba, zinc pyrithione, or capsaicin. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides are also important to help lock in moisture.

  2. Overhaul your bathing routine. Soaking in mineral water may help hydrate and soften your skin. Consider adding colloidal oatmeal, Epsom salts, or Dead Sea salts to your bath to help soothe skin psoriasis — but stay away from hot water and harsh soaps, which can worsen your symptoms, says Feldman.

  3. Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can be related to higher levels of inflammation in the body, says Greer. “We also know that the drugs used to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis do not work as well when you are overweight,” he says.

     If weight loss is necessary, talk with your provider about the best way to achieve your goal. Greer recommends switching to a Mediterranean diet and exercising with low-impact activities, such as walking, riding a bicycle, or swimming.
  4. Know your numbers. Given that psoriasis is linked to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, it’s a good idea to know your numbers, Feldman says. “Get your blood pressure checked, and make sure your cholesterol isn’t too high.”
  5. Stay on top of your care. Psoriasis isn’t a condition you can ignore and hope for the best, says Greer. “Follow the instructions from your doctor and dermatologist.” In addition to regular follow-ups with your specialists, it’s good to stay informed about your condition, says Feldman. Checking out the National Psoriasis Foundation is one way to stay educated.
  6. Be your own advocate. “Sometimes, dermatologists don’t look past the skin, but they should be asking about joint involvement, gut involvement, eye involvement, and systemic symptoms of fatigue,” says Greer. Likewise, he adds, a good rheumatologist should look not only for skin disease, but also for other organ system involvement.

The Takeaway

  • Psoriasis, an autoimmune disease, can also affect other systems in the body, including the heart and eyes.
  • When psoriasis affects the joints, this is called psoriatic arthritis.
  • Biologics and other systemic medications can treat symptoms in other areas of the body.
  • Lifestyle strategies and regular medical care are important for keeping your body as healthy as possible.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Does Treating Psoriasis Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke? American Academy of Dermatology Association.
  2. Gao N et al. The Association Between Psoriasis and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Analysis. Frontiers in Immunology. June 28, 2022.
  3. Abramczyk R et al. Diabetes and Psoriasis: Different Sides of the Same Prism. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy. October 7, 2020.
  4. Costanzo G et al. Two birds, one stone: semaglutide is highly effective against severe psoriasis in a type 2 diabetic patient. Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Case Reports. August 31, 2021.
  5. About Psoriatic Arthritis. National Psoriasis Foundation.
  6. Li Y et al. Causal Association Between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Psoriasis: A Two-Sample Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study. Frontiers in Immunology. June 9, 2022.
  7. Spondyloarthropathies. Kaiser Permanente. July 31, 2024.
  8. Ruggiero A et al. Ocular Manifestations in Psoriasis Screening (OcMaPS) Questionnaire: A Useful Tool to Reveal Misdiagnosed Ocular Involvement in Psoriasis. Journal of Clinical Medicine. March 3, 2021.
  9. Eye Inflammation and Psoriatic Arthritis. National Psoriasis Foundation. April 19, 2021.
  10. What Your Nails Can Tell Your Doctor About PsA. National Psoriasis Foundation. March 31, 2020.
  11. Kaeley GS et al. Nail Psoriasis: Diagnosis, Assessment, Treatment Options, and Unmet Clinical Needs. The Journal of Rheumatology. February 2021.
  12. Sahi FM et al. Association Between Psoriasis and Depression: A Traditional Review. Cureus. August 13, 2020.
  13. Over-the-Counter Topicals. National Psoriasis Foundation. March 27, 2023.
  14. What Should I Eat if I Have Psoriasis? American Academy of Dermatology Association. November 11, 2020.
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Blair Murphy-Rose, MD

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Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and the founder of Skincare Junkie. She is an accomplished cosmetic, medical, and surgical dermatologist, specializing in leading-edge facial rejuvenation techniques, including injectable fillers and botulinum toxin injections, advanced laser procedures, noninvasive body contouring, and removing lumps and bumps with precision. She is an expert in the treatment and detection of medical conditions, including skin cancer, acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. Dr. Rose believes in a comprehensive approach to skin health and incorporating a skin-care routine tailored specifically for each individual and utilizing a wide array of tools to target specific skin concerns.

Rose has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Dermatology Surgery, and Pediatric Dermatology, and has been featured in numerous publications, including Vogue, Elle, Allure, Cosmopolitan, Self, Women’s Health, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.

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