C
Clarity News Hub

Can psoriasis make you gain weight?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 10, 2026

Another piece of the psoriasis and obesity puzzle falls into place. Previous studies suggest that patients with psoriasis have higher frequencies of overweight, the metabolic syndrome, and myocardial infarction than the general population.

How can I lose weight with psoriasis?

Weight and Psoriasis

Exercise burns calories and builds calorie-burning lean muscle, both of which help with weight loss. It also eases inflammation throughout your body, which can improve your psoriasis while reducing your risk of related health problems like heart disease. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise daily.

How does psoriasis lead to obesity?

Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain how psoriasis might lead to obesity. These include progressive social isolation, poor eating habits, depression, increased alcohol consumption, and decreased physical activity (more pronounced in patients with psoriatic arthritis).

Is obesity associated with psoriasis?

Evidence suggests that obesity is a risk factor for incident psoriasis, aggravates existing psoriasis, and that weight reduction may improve the severity of psoriasis in overweight individuals.

Is weight gain a symptom of psoriatic arthritis?

When someone has PsA, painful joints can make it difficult to exercise. This can lead to weight gain, which in turn puts extra pressure on the joints, making symptoms worse. Studies have shown that people living with PsA who are overweight have more severe symptoms and find it more difficult to control their condition.

27 related questions found

Will psoriasis go away if I lose weight?

Those who lost 5% of their body weight had far less psoriasis on their skin. This trial shows that even a small amount of weight loss can reduce the amount of psoriasis on your skin. Weight loss can help because both psoriasis and being overweight increase inflammation in your body.

Is it hard to lose weight when you have psoriatic arthritis?

Although psoriatic arthritis symptoms such as fatigue and stiff, achy joints can make it more challenging to move, it's possible to drop extra pounds with the right strategies and support.

Does psoriasis cause loss of appetite?

When pus-filled bumps cover the body, you may have inflamed skin and feel ill, exhausted, have a fever, chills, severe itching, rapid pulse, loss of appetite, or muscle weakness.

Does CBD oil work for scalp psoriasis?

The same study suggests that CBD can also slow down excess skin growth, reducing the buildup of excess skin cells involved with psoriasis flare-ups. The anti-inflammatory qualities of CBD help reduce the swelling, redness, and irritation associated with psoriasis.

How do you permanently treat psoriasis?

There's no cure for psoriasis. But treatment can help you feel better. You may need topical, oral, or body-wide (systemic) treatments. Even if you have severe psoriasis, there are good ways to manage your flare-ups.

Can psoriasis go away?

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that is not curable and it will not go away on its own. However, the disease fluctuates and many people can have clear skin for years at a time, and occasional flare-ups when the skin is worse.

What triggers psoriasis?

Common psoriasis triggers include:

  • Infections, such as strep throat or skin infections.
  • Weather, especially cold, dry conditions.
  • Injury to the skin, such as a cut or scrape, a bug bite, or a severe sunburn.
  • Stress.
  • Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • Heavy alcohol consumption.

Can psoriasis spread to your face?

Although psoriasis is more likely to affect your elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp, it can also appear on your face.

Are Epsom salts good for psoriasis?

Epsom salt uses for body psoriasis

According to the NPF, baths with Epsom salts, Dead Sea salts, oil, or oatmeal may help remove psoriasis scales and soothe itchy skin. Remember to take warm, short baths; rinse and pat your skin dry; and follow up with moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated.

Is the sun good for psoriasis?

Healing potential of sunlight

Sunlight is composed of ultraviolet light, consisting of UVA and UVB rays. The UVB rays slow the rapid rate of skin growth that appears as psoriasis. Ultraviolet light is so powerful in easing psoriasis symptoms that it's used in phototherapy.

What happens if psoriasis is untreated?

Without treatment, the symptoms of psoriasis can worsen, and it can lead to other complications, such as psoriatic arthritis and diabetes. Psoriasis causes the body to produce new skin cells in days rather than weeks. These cells accumulate on the skin's surface, producing thick and scaly patches that can be itchy.

Is there a link between sugar and psoriasis?

A study led by UC Davis Health researchers has found that a diet rich in sugar and fat leads to an imbalance in the gut's microbial culture and may contribute to inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis.

Is psoriasis a symptom of diabetes?

Psoriasis and diabetes are two distinct conditions that are common comorbidities for each other. This means that people with psoriasis have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers do not fully understand the mechanisms behind this link, but evidence suggests that inflammation may play a role.

Does inflammation cause weight gain?

Studies show that inflammation is a common underlying factor in all major degenerative diseases — including heart disease, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes — and that it can also cause weight gain and difficulty losing weight.

What arthritis causes weight gain?

Obesity and being overweight are known risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis. Also, while the condition can cause some people to gain weight, others experience weight loss. According to a 2015 study , people with obesity are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

What foods to avoid if you have psoriatic arthritis?

Foods like fatty red meats, dairy, refined sugars, processed foods, and possibly vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants (you might hear them called nightshades) may all cause inflammation. Avoid them and choose fish, like mackerel, tuna, and salmon, which have omega-3 fatty acids.

How often should you shower with psoriasis?

Bathe (or shower) only once a day. Soak for no more than 15 minutes. Gently wash your skin.

Does drinking water help psoriasis?

Psoriasis sufferers are urged to drink enough water each day to keep their body hydrated. The skin needs hydration to keep it looking radiant and beautiful.

Does Vaseline help psoriasis?

Use over-the-counter products that your doctor suggests. These may include Cetaphil, Lubriderm, or Eucerin. Petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) and vegetable shortening (such as Crisco) also work. If you have psoriasis on your scalp, use a shampoo with salicylic acid, such as Sebcur.

Does psoriasis worsen with age?

While psoriasis may get better or worse depending on different environmental factors, it doesn't get worse with age. Obesity and stress are two possible components that lead to psoriasis flares. However, the severity of your psoriasis is ultimately determined by your genetics.